Report: Jimbo Fisher, Texas A&M snags key assistant from LSU's staff
Last month, Texas A&M RB coach Jay Graham was hired by Tennessee, returning to his alma mater.
So, what are the Aggies and coach Jimbo Fisher doing to replace Graham? According to a report that came out on Monday night, they’re snagging a current SEC RB coach, too.
Per Billy Liucci, LSU RB coach Tommie Robinson is joining the Aggies’ staff in the same position:
SOURCES: Jimbo Fisher, A&M add former LSU assistant Tommie Robinson to staff as running backs coach.
— Billy Liucci (@billyliucci) February 25, 2020
Robinson had been at LSU since 2017. He has previously coached at USC, Texas, Miami and other colleges, as well as with a couple of NFL teams.
This is a great addition for Fisher’s staff if it does soon become official. And now, LSU will need a new RB coach.
I’m surprised Robinson left. Oh well.
It looks like LSU was letting him go anyway to promote Faulk. He was on an expiring contract. That’s why he interviewed with the Browns, SC, and now the Aggies.
Programs are going to spin it, but Robinson is a proven on-field coach and excellent recruiter. I know Faulk has done it as a running back, but he has never been a full time coach or recruiter at this level. Faulk may be great, but no one is going to convince me Robinson is a lesser choice.
Robinson’s contract with LSU was up in March and there was no offer of an extension. He has interviewed with multiple teams trying to find a new landing spot. He finally found one. He is a good coach and recruiter, so certainly not a bad hire for the Aggies. He just wasn’t going to be at LSU next season regardless.
And I’m thinking it was just as much his idea as Orgeron’s. If LSU was so excited about Faulk, it seems they would have made an announcement before this move.
Why would they do that? Faulk was already there, so there was no rush on LSU’s part. Head coaches don’t like to fire assistants if they don’t have to. It happens often. They let the guys land elsewhere. It could have been either’s initial idea, but it seems apparent this relationship was over.
I guess I’m just saying there is spin from “insiders” in both camps. You hear the “LSU was letting him go anyway”, I’m hearing rumors Orgeron made a last counter offer to keep him. Spin happens.
I don’t think it matters. The relationship, for whatever reason, was over. I doubt either side says much about it.
Not a knock on Robinson, but Faulk can offer things Robinson can’t: Faulk is a native Louisiana RB who played at LSU, went to the NFL, played for Belechik and with Tom Brady, went to 5 Super Bowls and won 3. Basically, he’s just like the players he’ll be recruiting and coaching, except he’s succeeded at fulfilling all their dreams and can tell them how to do the same. That’s pretty attractive to those kids.
Like I said, not a knock on Robinson, but Faulk is a great fit for LSU.
So if a program is going to spin it, as you say, then what was A&M’s spin when Woodward left Aggieland to take the athletic director position at LSU?
Woodward was going home. Family in the area and a great athletic program. There’s no denying any of that. Very similar to Bear Bryant leaving for bama. Sometimes you just tip your hat and say thanks for all you did.
You say “sometimes you just tip your hat and say thanks for all you did” and that’s what LSU did with Robinson. He was thanked for his service to LSU football and was told that his contract wasn’t going to be renewed. That is why Robinson was interviewing with different teams. Without a doubt Robinson is a very good coach & recruiter but Orgeron feels that Faulk will exceed his efforts. A&M got a good coach.
Where did you hear his contract wasn’t getting renewed? Everything I’ve seen shows he had no interest in negotiating an extension even though Coach O wanted him back. He was close with Orgeron but clearly was never happy at LSU for whatever reason. Nothing wrong with that, it happens, but no need to spin it otherwise.
Doesn’t seem quite the honest spin though. Robinson has interviewed with other teams long before his contract was up, the Browns interview was 2 years ago, and Coach O certainly didn’t sound like he wanted him to leave. It sounds much more likely that Robinson never really felt settled at LSU and planned on leaving at the end of the contract so LSU was forced to have a contingency plan. Coach O pretty much said as much back when he interviewed with South Carolina.
I suspect O has a contingency plan for everyone on his staff by now. You want to coach at LSU tomorrow? Become an analyst today!
The way coaches and players move around these days it would be a smart move by any coach no doubt.
Works for ‘Bama.
I almost mentioned them in my reply. They pretty much have the blueprint for everyone to follow since they’ve been facing this long before it became a “thing”.
LSU insiders have been saying for over a year Robinson’s contract would not be renewed. All parties knew this break was coming for a long time.
This is been in the works for a long time. Faulk has been on the staff for a few years already, just not with an on-field coaching job. He’s been in personnel development, and he’s reportedly been phenomenal. The players have been raving about their relationships with him. LSU wanted him to be a coach but would not fire Robinson; they made Faulk wait until Robinson’s 3-year contract expired. That being said, there’s certainly nothing wrong with Robinson. I really wish he’d gone somewhere outside the SEC, because I think he’ll be an asset to the Aggies. Overall, forget the spin. It’s a win for all involved.