Jimbo Fisher came out firing Thursday, unleashing an angry response to Nick Saban’s improper recruiting accusations with unmistakable anger.
The Texas A&M coach went scorched earth on his former boss in a nine-minute, 30-second news conference called the morning after Saban said the Aggies “bought every player on their team” at an event in Birmingham.
The response was an unprecedented escalation of the simmering behind-the-scenes feud over Texas A&M record-breaking recruiting class in Year 1 of the NIL era.
Fisher didn’t cite specifics but insinuated Saban had a past of breaking the rules.
He began by calling the whole episode “despicable” before unleashing a string of insults.
“It’s despicable that a reputable head coach can come out and say this when he doesn’t get his way or things don’t go his way,” Fisher said. “The narcissist in him doesn’t allow those things to happen. It’s ridiculous when he’s not on top. And the parity in college football that he’s been talking about? Go talk to coaches who’ve coached for him. You’ll find out all the parity. Go dig into wherever he’s been. You can find out anything.”
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Fisher’s anger was directed at the insinuation that the high school recruits did something wrong in their recruitment to Texas A&M. He repeated that several times while taking digs at Saban.
“Some people think they’re God,” Fisher said. “Well go dig into how God did his deal, you might find out about a guy who … a lot of things you don’t want to know. We build him up to be the czar of football. Go dig into his past or anybody who’s ever coached for him. You can find out anything you want to find out. What he does and how he does it. It’s despicable. It really is.
“Is it personal to us? Yes it is. It’s personal to A&M. It’s personal to our players, personal to our coaches and everybody involved. And I know the guy. Know him really well. It’s amazing that we’re allowed to do those things. It’s really despicable.”
Fisher said he promises to Texas A&M fans that there are no violations related to the 2022 signing class that ranked the highest in the modern history of recruiting rankings.
“This is the second time we’ve had to do this when grown men don’t get their way and want to pout and throw a fit and act up,” Fisher said. “Just go ask all the people who worked for him. They know exactly what he’s about. I always said this, my dad always told me this, when people show you who they are, believe them. He’s showing you who he is.”
Fisher said Saban has called him since the Wednesday night comments were made in Birmingham but he hasn’t answered.
“We’re done,” Fisher said. “He showed you who he is.”
Fisher paused.
“He’s the greatest ever, huh?” he continued while a follow up question was being asked. “When you’ve had all the advantages. It’s easy.”
Asked if he was disappointed in his former employer saying these things about A&M, Fisher took a few more shots.
“You coach with people like Bobby Bowden and learn how to do things,” Fisher said. “You coach with other people and learn how to not do things. There’s a reason people … I didn’t go back and work for him with opportunities. I don’t want to be associated with him.”
Fisher was an assistant for Saban at LSU from 2000-04 before working under Bowden at Florida State from 2007-09.
Fisher on Thursday went on to talk about his upbringing and how it impacted him.
“You can call me anything you want to call me,” Fisher said. “You ain’t call me a cheat. I don’t cheat and I don’t lie. I learned that when I was a kid, if you did that, your old man slapped you ‘side the head. Maybe somebody should have slapped him.”
Texas A&M plays at Alabama on Oct. 8, a year after Fisher became the first former Saban assistant to beat him, 41-38 in College Station.
Michael Casagrande is a reporter for the Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter @ByCasagrande or on Facebook.