It’s clear that Jimbo Fisher is doing something right in his first season at Texas A&M.

The No. 17 Aggies appear to be ahead of schedule and should make things quite interesting down the stretch in the SEC. Texas A&M ended then-No. 13 Kentucky’s bid at an undefeated season two weeks ago and has perhaps the best collection of losses in the nation, nearly upsetting No. 3 Clemson and giving No. 1 Alabama a more competitive game than anyone else this year.

So when Fisher was asked during his Tuesday press conference when he could tell his players bought into his culture, he opened his response in an unexpected way.

“They have?” Fisher jokingly asked.

Fisher quickly corrected course and issues a lengthy statement about how the Aggies, especially the leaders of the team, have embraced his way of coaching.

“As a coach, you’re always on that because that can come and go, is what I’m saying. I think we kept going on and I saw all of a sudden in practice — once you’ve got it across to the leadership of the team and the main guys, it’s like you start to hear them say you’re sayings. You see a mistake, and you go to get on them and somebody says, ‘Hey, we can’t do that.’ You know what I’m saying? I don’t want to run the team; I want them to run it. We’re going to set the rules and how we want to do it, but when you start seeing our players after the season and a little bit in camp. But then more and more of them now buying in and saying what you say, also addressing those issues in practice to other players. ‘Listen, it ain’t personal, man, but we don’t do it that way. We’ve got to do this. Hey, remember this, remember that. When (Coach is) getting on you, think about this.’ And you start hearing that. So I think as the years come on, it’s gotten better and better. Hopefully it’ll continue because there are still things that we’ve got to continue to do and do well. But the leadership of the team and the overall attitude of the team — I think they’re starting to have some success, and they like it. Hopefully that’s there. I think the other key part of it is be honest with them. When they’re wrong, they’re wrong; when they’re right, they’re right. This is what we want. It’s non-negotiable. But it’s also why we do this. If I’m chewing your butt, this is where it’s going to pay off, this is where it’s going to happen. And I think also doing that away from the field is just as important as what you’re telling them on the field.”