Jimbo Fisher and Reporter Discussed NIL Situation/Saban's Comments In An Awkward Exchange

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During a tense exchange with KSAT reporter Greg Simmons, Texas A&M coach Jimbo Fisher criticized accusations that his program relied on money via Name, Image and Likeness deals to lure top recruits, (Nick Saban's comments.). During the interview with, Fisher was asked about Saban’s recent accusations, which Fisher bristled at, saying that only one of the 11 early enrollees from his most recent recruiting class has received an NIL deal...

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“It was written on social media. … So everybody believed it,” Fisher said. “All the people obviously believed it. I went and checked with our compliance people—because we have nothing to do with it—one guy, of the early enrollees.”

When asked about the perception that Texas A&M has access to large amounts of money via NIL funds, Fisher accused the media at large—and Simmons specifically—of failing to do their due diligence.

“When they said we had $35 million in the [NIL fund]—it’s all false,” Fisher said. “It was written on social media so everybody believes it. You’ve got news channels believing it, and you believed it.”

Simmons adds that Saban, apparently, believes it, too, but Fisher pushed back at the longtime reporter.

“Well, he’s not news. You’re news, you’re media. Did you guys not research? I’m asking you, did you do your research? No, see, you can’t answer. So you just assumed,” Fisher said. “And that’s the way this world goes now: As soon as it’s written on social media and someone says it, you believe it. So where does that put you guys as reporters?

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