From Radio Row: Fisher impresses SEC Network personalities on Day One

Key notes from SEC Network personalities

Peter Burns

• I'm a Texas guy, so I always love coming on with you guys. A&M has always had a special place in my heart from my time there. But I also used to hate the Ags, growing up in Baton Rouge, the Wrecking Crew used to beat us down every year.
   
• A&M did what LSU couldn't the last two years. They broke out the pocketbook and got Jimbo Fisher into the SEC. If I was a college football investor, I would be investing every dollar I own into Texas A&M. They have everything going right now. Recruiting ground, facilities, great coach, great administration and boosters. They have everything they need. I think the best trajectories right now, Alabama aside, is Georgia in the East and Texas A&M in the West.
   
• I thought Kevin Sumlin was a good guy, good coach, but I feel like he chases headlines too much. The five-star quarterbacks and the big road wins, he was always looking to make a big splash/ I think this 10-year contract gives Jimbo the ability to build for the future of the program. Bring guys in who are great for your programs for a long time, not just make noise for a few days.
   
• I think nine wins is the ceiling for Texas A&M, but who wouldn't take that the first season in the SEC? I think this year is more about finding out who wants to be apart of the process over the next two to three years will be the goal of this season.
   
• I was not surprised at all with the way Jimbo handled himself yesterday in front of the media, he was just himself. I can see the pain of LSU fans in how good they think Jimbo Fisher at Texas A&M is going to be. I think when other fans want your coach, that's the ultimate sign of success.

Jordan Rodgers

• I've loved being here at the SEC Network. I'm a big football guy, I just really love being around the game. I think getting to prep and watch film every week like I'm still a player is great. I still get those butterflies before a game in the booth, so I think I'm in the right place.
   
• I think we have a lot of great quarterbacks in the SEC this year, and Nick Starkel is one of them. I wonder how different the Aggies' season would've gone last year if Nick Starkel didn't ger hurt. I think Starkel fits what Jimbo wants to do on offense so well. I think you have him throwing to Jhamon Ausbon and that's a pretty good duo. That's a rough schedule though, facing Alabama and Clemson in the first four weeks.
   
• I think the Aggies needed the culture change more than anything. that's not a knock on the previous staff. I think they just needed something different. every player I talked to this spring, clearly knew what the vision of the team is and where they're headed.
   
• It's believable that they can win a championship when you start to see the changes in the program. I noticed a huge culture shift when James Franklin arrived at Vanderbilt and started to change our mindset. Texas A&M is a lot more talented then we were at Vandy, so I wouldn't be surprised if they see some early success and start to buy in more.

Tom Hart

• What impresses me most about the SEC is not just the winning, but the fact that they are at the forefront of change in sports. They are progressive in the way they do things. What I would love to see though is them move to pod scheduling. A&M and Georgia haven't even played. There are so many great stadiums and fans and game day experiences to not have teams playing each other more often. Keep your rivals and bring pod scheduling in.
   
• I think pressure from television partners would make that change in scheduling happen. If the national trend of declining attendance seeps into the SEC, which it hasn't, then maybe we could see that. For example, A&M isn't losing any attendance numbers this year with Jimbo Fisher. Say the attendance did drop off in the SEC, Greg Sankey and those guys would fix that quick, maybe by way of scheduling. They did it in men's basketball and they had their best year in the postseason ever. They have already invested so much in football so they could easily do that. 
   
• You could make it a thing to go to nine games in a season. The fans are as invested in this league and the football teams as anyone else. So you have to treat them like stakeholders and consumers, before things change. Week two is going to be a great week in college football. Why do we have to go to Jerry World and the Mercedes Benz stadium, the playoffs are already out of town. I want to see these huge games played on campus. Think about a lesser school playing a huge team at their stadium, that would be awesome.
   
• A&M and Clemson could have a close game in the 4th quarter. That's why they hired Jimbo Fisher. It may be crazy to expect that with the quarterback battle going on but they hired him so he could develop players and win. I visited a practice in Spring to see Fisher coach, he is definitely developing players. He was getting into them and letting them have it. It's his way or the highway and you better buy in. It was amazing. 
   
• Brands matter to the playoff committee. Ohio State has the brand that could come back from an early season loss, Washington does not. Clemson could lose early and recover. With A&M if they lose to Clemson to it doesn't matter, nobody was going to win that game. 
   
• Foster Moreau the tight end out of LSU is my new favorite player. He is just a well spoken guy and he talked about having pride to play in that uniform and play for LSU. He says when we go to other states we have a duty to represent our school and state. Read up on him, he is a class act.