On Tuesday, reports surfaced alleging that Texas A&M committed NCAA violations under the new staff led by head coach Jimbo Fisher. The issue was brought about by former Texas A&M LB Santino Marchiol (who transferred to Arizona) in a waiver request to secure immediate eligibility at Arizona.
In the appeal to the NCAA, Marchiol states that a TAMU assistant gave him hundreds of dollars to host recruits on unofficial visits. He also says that the new coaching staff held practices in the summer that did not comply with NCAA rules, and that they mishandled an ankle injury he sustained in June.
Fisher responded to the report in a media session after Tuesday's practice:
"I was informed the article came out, I haven't read it. I don't know anything about it, so I can't comment on it. I’ll comment on the players on our team right now. That’s all I can do." - Jimbo Fisher via Dallas Morning News' Ben Baby
Texas A&M opens the season at home against Northwestern State on August 30th.