Fisher encouraged heading into game at Arkansas
Coming off a 45-23 drubbing at the hands of top-ranked Alabama, the Texas A&M Aggies (2-2, 0-1 SEC) travel north to face the struggling Arkansas Razorbacks (1-3, 0-1 SEC).
Alabama manhandled the Aggies — who faced their second team ranked in the top two of the season as Clemson and the Crimson Tide have accounted for both of Texas A&M’s losses.
“After evaluating the film from Alabama, it was a great opportunity for us against our opponent,” Texas A&M head coach Jimbo Fisher said. “From a competition standpoint, we played hard but we need to play better and take advantage of our opportunities better. That’s what Alabama did and we didn’t do enough of.”
Now the Aggies get a reprieve against Arkansas, an SEC foe that has struggled mightily in 2018 with losses to the likes of North Texas and Colorado State.
While Texas A&M is sitting on a .500 record through four games of the season, the Aggies are confident in the road ahead.
“I’m not discouraged, I am encouraged by the way we played,” Fisher said. “But I hope we can learn from this situation.”
So far, Fisher has been pleased with the play of quarterback Kellen Mond, who won the job in fall camp.
Mond has fond memories of playing against Arkansas last season, when his big plays included an 81-yard touchdown pass, a 79-yard run and a 10-yard scoring pass to Christian Kirk that provided the winning points in a 50-43 victory.
“Whether we’ve won or lost I think he’s really competed well as a quarterback,” Fisher said. “And as a play caller, you can look at a guy’s eyes and see that he’s got good numbers, but things aren’t going well … I’ve never gotten that out of him.”