What new Texas A&M AD Ross Bjork said at his introductory press conference
The Texas A&M Aggies recently hired former Ole Miss AD Ross Bjork to replace Scott Woodward, who left this offseason for the LSU job.
On Monday, Bjork held his introductory press conference, taking questions from reporters for the first time since his hire.
He gave an opening speech and then took questions. Here’s a sampling of what he had to say now that he’s in College Station:
On Texas A&M’s standing in the NCAA:
New A&M AD Ross Bjork: “Texas A&M is a Top 5 athletics program, it’s in Texas, and it’s in the best athletics conference in the country."
— TexAgs (@TexAgs) June 3, 2019
On Jimbo Fisher:
Ross Bjork says it's a great starting point to have a championship head coach in football. Says A&M is a global athletic brand. Still work to do and battling against Alabama, but Jimbo knows how to do that. Ingredients are in place but have to keep working and get after it.
— Gabe Bock (@GabeBock) June 3, 2019
Bjork: "I’ve been really impressed with what Jimbo has done here already, he made the SEC better when he came into the league last year and I can’t wait to work with him."
— TexAgs (@TexAgs) June 3, 2019
On feeling the Kyle Field stands shake:
Ross Bjork says he remembers going to Kyle Field in the '90s and being in the press box when it started shaking. "I thought, 'Is that an Earthquake?' I know a lot has changed since '98 but you know you're at a special place when you show up here."
— Gabe Bock (@GabeBock) June 3, 2019
On how long he’s admired A&M:
Ross Bjork said his first visit to Aggieland was in 1998 and has been a place that "piqued his interest" since then.
— ?????? ?. ????? (@Travis_L_Brown) June 3, 2019
On discussions with interim AD RC Slocum:
Bjork said he called RC Slocum as soon as Slocum was named interim athletics director to offer any help he could provide, having no idea that he’d be the one taking over at A&M.
— TexAgs (@TexAgs) June 3, 2019
On what he will bring to the AD job:
Ross Bjork says that an AD's job is to…
1. Mentor and develop coaches and staff.
2. Be involved with all of the revenue sources (12th Man, etc.).
3. Help with life after sports for student-athletes.
4. Be teachers and educators.It's about attitude and effort from top down.
— Gabe Bock (@GabeBock) June 3, 2019
On finding appropriate attire for his press conference:
Bjork also said he's wearing the only maroon tie he could find in the city of Oxford.
— ?????? ?. ????? (@Travis_L_Brown) June 3, 2019
Bjork said late in the press conference that July 8 will be his first official day on the job at A&M.
