Kyle Field has always been one of the great venues in college football, but it was rocking just a little differently a year ago. Credit the 75-Million Dollar Man.

In Jimbo Fisher’s first season, the Aggies had a renewed sense of excitement that hasn’t been on campus since Johnny Manziel. Texas A&M gave Clemson its most competitive game of the year in Week 2, and then captured a thrilling win over LSU in the highest-scoring and longest college football game of all-time.

When the dust settled A&M won nine games and won a bowl game for the first time since Manziel. Program building doesn’t exactly come with a measuring stick, but it wasn’t hard to see the growth in College Station. But with some wind in the sails, Fisher still sees the forest of program building for the trees of short-term success.

“I think the first two years of the organization is critical to set that foundation so that the young guys coming in only know one way. I think that’s going to be very critical,” Fisher said.

Building a program-wide culture will be even more important with all the departures on both sides. Seven Aggies were picked in the NFL draft, including top running back Trayveon Williams, star tight end Jace Sternberger and standouts on the defensive line Daylon Mack, and Kingsley Keke. Linebackers Tyrel Dodson and Otaro Alaka both went undrafted but were outstanding college players as well.

“You never replace great players,” Fisher said. “They set a standard for the young players to work with, not just the results but how to practice and go to work every day. They set the example so that those guys know how to do those things.”

Some of the players who Fisher will look at to step into those roles are from the two most recent recruiting classes. Defensive linemen Max Wright and Bobby Brown pushed for playing time a year ago but benefitted from the new redshirt rule. Safety Leon O’Neal is a potential difference maker in the secondary.

The talent in the 2019 class is comparable to anyone in the nation. Tight end Baylor Cupp is ready to play right away, and defensive tackle DeMarvin Leal might be too at a notoriously difficult position. Seven players in the Top 100 signed with Texas A&M, including a pair of five-star recruits. Building a championship roster starts in recruiting, and the Aggies are win- ning those battles.

A strong first season under Fisher will obviously leave Texas A&M fans hungry for more. If the Aggies are ready to rise as a program, the schedule will quickly prove it.

Playing in the SEC is never easy. Especially in the SEC West, when Alabama comes to Kyle Field and you play LSU on the road. Especially when you get Georgia in the cross-conference slate on the road. Especially when you scheduled a road trip against the national champion Clemson Tigers in the second week of the season.

“It’s a tough schedule but it also provides opportunity,” Fisher said. “We had some of those last year that we capitalized on and others we didn’t. We have to grow in that area.”

The Aggies played well at home against those top opponents but struggled when they left Kyle Field. Texas A&M was 6-1 at home with wins over No. 7 LSU and No. 13 Kentucky, and the lone loss coming against Clemson. In true road games, the Aggies were a cool 1-3. The only win was a three-point win over South Carolina that was much closer than it should have been.

But when trying to build a championship program, you take those tough games. Just going 1-3 in those four exceptionally tough games would be enough to build some momentum, both on and off the field. If Texas A&M can survive this season, every single one after feels that much easier.

“You want to be relevant,” Fisher said. “You want to be in relevant games and we’re going to do that. Hopefully we can keep establishing the foundation for the future of our football program.”