November 19, 2007
What about Jimbo Fisher?
With all the potential job openings in college football, one name that is starting to get tossed around with some regularity is that of Florida State offensive coordinator Jimbo Fisher.
Steve Ellis of the Tallahassee Democrat notes that Fisher could be considered a candidate for several possible openings, including Auburn and LSU.
Fisher coached at both Auburn and LSU, but does not have experience as a head coach. Given the stature of those two programs, it's difficult for me to see either school rolling the dice with a "first-timer". Even if the Tigers (either of 'em) were willing to overlook Fisher's resume -- because there's no question he will be a HC somwhere someday -- there are other potential roadblocks to signing Fisher.
At LSU, it's believed that current DC Bo Pellini would be the school's #1 choice. Pellini is one of the top assistant coaches in the country and one hell of a recruiter. He's been at LSU and had a key hand in their current roster/recruiting. Meanwhile, Fisher has been fully devoted to FSU for the past year. It's also unclear as to how quickly LSU is willing to let bygones be bygones, as Fisher left the Tigers to take a lateral move at Florida State.
While Fisher may be on the list at Auburn, I don't believe Fisher has Auburn on his list. Fisher has a well documented friendship with his former boss and former AU head coach Terry Bowden. Given the circumstances surrounding Bowden's departure at Auburn, it's hard to believe that Terry wouldn't try to dissuade Fisher from getting into bed with the Tigers. And I still hold that the Tigers treatment of Tuberville - making flights across the country to recruit Pelini despite Tuberville's success - will cause more than a few coaches to think twice about a job on the Plains.
Another potential opening for Fisher is Georgia Tech - and it's hard to make any argument either way about the Yellow Jackets top job, should it become available. Fisher would be a pretty good fit at Tech and would likely take GT back to the National Championship level that the boosters are wanting.
That said, I don't expect that FSU would sit idly by and allow Georgia Tech to sign Fisher without a fight.
Given the relationship between Bobby Bowden and the FSU president, I would expect that the Noles would show Jimbo the money. If that - combined with Fisher's Bowden family loyalty - isn't enough, then I don't think it is out of the question that Bobby Bowden sits down Jimbo & the FSU brass to work out a succession plan.
(It's important to mention here that many FSU boosters believe that a handshake deal already exists between Fisher & FSU as to Jimbo taking the reins for the Seminoles.)
I don't know if Bowden *wants* to talk about his retirement, but I don't think he wants FSU to lose Fisher long term, either.
I don't know - maybe I'm just being a homer, here - but I think the "Jimbo Fisher to X school" is all just a little premature. Y'all?
Comments:
Ramblin' Gator said:
posted on November 19, 2007 3:21 PM — 143.127.131.4 — link — abuse?
I suspect this situation could force Bowden to retire sooner than later. On the other hand, I like the idea of Fisher going to GT. Thanks, Kevin! Did you stick that in there as an X-mas present for me? :-)
If Les Miles does go to Ann Arbor and Bo Pellini does not get the HC job, I'm betting his house goes on the market VERY soon. He's too good NOT to be a HC. I could make the same observations for Jon Tenuta at GT and Charlie Strong at UF too.
gatorhippy
posted on November 19, 2007 3:41 PM — 209.16.115.5 — link — abuse?
said:
Couple of things...
All the expectations I've seen have Bo Pellini heading to Nebraska to replace Callahan...
Why would programs be willing to take a chance on Pellini (who has no HC experience) but not Fisher?
I agree that Auburn will have a VERY tough time finding a replacement for Tuberville should he leave and the "airplane" episode being exactly why...
I too thought that Fisher would be the next in line behind Bowden when he took the job at FSU...
However, my eyebrows perked up a bit when I saw that Amato received the Executive Head Coach title over Fisher...
A title previously held by Kevin Steele before he bolted for Bama; whom many thought was being groomed as the next HC for the Noles...
My thought on that is if there was a "handshake" deal for Fisher to take the reigns, wouldn't the title of Executive Head Coach come with it...
FSU_Fan said:
posted on November 19, 2007 4:27 PM — 74.175.68.235 — link — abuse?
If you are insinuating Chuck Amato will be the next HC at FSU, Gatorhippy, let me just say NO WAY. Him dancing all over the field at doak when he upset the seminoles for thier first ACC home loss like a retarded cheerleader is still burned in many FSU fans minds, not to mention he couldn't make much of being a HC at NC state. It was the most disgusting display and I still hate his bad manners and poor sportsmanship. I know I am not the only one. I don't think we are looking for a continuation of the program decline seen in the last 7 years.
I don't know what to make of this year yet, it has been an improvement since our schedule was A LOT harder this year and we already have one more win then last year. Also we lost to EVERYONE on our side of the conference last year... though losses this year are inexplicable. Losing to a suckbutt clemson, Wake Forest, and MIAMI are pretty inexcusable losses, I am not mad about VT loss and probably would not have been upset about losing the Alabama game but those three games make me quite ill.
posted on November 19, 2007 5:00 PM — link — abuse?Kevin Donahue
said:
Amato got the title to ensure that his NC State contract didn't bite anyone in the backside. Had he been given a more appropriate title, he would have repaid some Wolfpack money (which FSU would have had to front, of course).
If I were hiring a coach today, I would hire Pelini. Hands down, no questions asked the best "future head coach" out there. Period.
If I were hiring a coach in say... two years... it would be Fisher.
If I were hiring a coach in five years, it would be Major Applewhite.
schmed said:
posted on November 19, 2007 5:41 PM — 63.241.223.4 — link — abuse?
K-hue, I can't judge either way, but your opinion on Pelini is the first and only instance I've seen that tags him as a "helluva recruiter". Regardless, odds are good some school can live with such a deficiency in a HC.
It's also just possible that Jimbo is happiest as an OC.
But, the way the CFB Coaching Carousel is careening off the tangental orbit of this wacko-bizarre season, I wouldn't put too many things on the "never happen in a million years" shelf.
Gator said:
posted on November 19, 2007 8:02 PM — 24.170.194.91 — link — abuse?
check out what FSU players have to say about tebow! Not a smart thing to say, the coaches are gonna use this to fuel the energy for the gators all week.
http://www.gainesvillesun.com/article/20071119/NEWS/71119035
TE
posted on November 19, 2007 8:49 PM — 70.180.43.182 — link — abuse? said:
Kevin,
Pelini is not even an on the road recruiter for LSU. He recruits on campus and via phone calls only.
To be a DC, that's a tad on the worrisome side, until you look at his age...
The knock on Pelini is that he is deficient in handling the "glad-handing" functions and recruiting that are invaluable tools in the box of any young coach...
Not sure where you got that info from, but it ain't accurate...
posted on November 19, 2007 9:29 PM — link — abuse? said:
Maybe you should review some of the larger picture perspectives on Pelini's recruiting efforts. Maybe we settle on him being a "B" recruiter, but I still think he's good.
All things equal - yes, Fisher is the better recruiter.
1st_and_NOLE
posted on November 20, 2007 8:06 AM — 71.14.108.232 — link — abuse? said:
In regards to Jimbo Fisher...
I honestly don't think programs are going to offer him a HC job and trusting him to turn around their entire programs until Fisher proves he can simply turn around only FSU's offense.
Fisher was on top of the mountain at LSU as a OC. When he cames to FSU, the country took noticed and raised an eyebrow. Fisher put his reputation on the line and I think programs are waiting to see if Fisher can get FSU's offense back on top before they trust him to get their entire programs back on top.
Just my $0.02
Stouds said:
posted on November 20, 2007 9:45 AM — 68.143.5.138 — link — abuse?
Come on Guys......you know the inside sources are saying Spurrier to FSU. I talked to a high ranking source in the FSU camp that said Spurrier wants to be in Florida again, he is not happy at SC, and he contacted FSU not the other way around.......So how many days until we have to hear this?
jonsey said:
posted on November 20, 2007 10:25 AM — 167.197.127.130 — link — abuse?
What about jimbo fisher??? he hasn't done anything special that i can see. he was just an offensive coordinator at LSU. now that he left LSU, they are the top of the SEC, and on the way to a NC. He hasn't done anything real special at FSU either. Wetherford is still a Dr. Jekyell and Mr. Hyde
Stouds said:
posted on November 20, 2007 10:40 AM — 68.143.5.138 — link — abuse?
#16: Kevin, it was a joke buddy. In fact I was basically making fun of your article(I believe) about Spurrier going to LSU. Every big school in the past two years with an opening gets some fool saying that he talked to a guy on the inside, and that Spurrier is on a plane in ______________ school. Bama, Miami, LSU, A&M, take your pick. Obviously SOS is not going to FSU, I think this might be the only team that isn't pursuing him.
TE
posted on November 20, 2007 2:30 PM — 204.68.245.11 — link — abuse? said:
Stouds,
I don't expect you to believe or not believe me, bud...but Sexton contacted Board of Supervisor members on Spurrier's behalf more than two weeks ago to express interest...and it wasn't for Tuberville, Saban, or Nutt...It was for Spurrier.
No one was on a plane. There was no clandestine meeting in a small Italian eatery in Memphis, somewhere.
But the call was put in...Like it or not, lump it or whatever...The metaphor escapes me, which is sort've unlike me, but you get the point...
gatorhippy
posted on November 20, 2007 5:18 PM — 209.16.115.5 — link — abuse? said:
TE (#19):
I ask again as I asked before...
What is so different now that Spurrier and LSU would want to get in bed together than before SOS went to SoCar???
Given they have the same agent, surely Sexton was aware that Saban was to leave LSU for the Fins and would have told the OBC to wait out the SoCar opportunity for the more attractive LSU position then...
So again I implore what is the difference now that didn't make that plausible then???
gatorhippy
posted on November 20, 2007 5:24 PM — 209.16.115.5 — link — abuse? said:
K-Hue:
You didn't address my question back at post number 9...
Is it a contract issue that if Chuck was fired by NCSU he couldn't just be an assistant but had to have some type of head coaching job or the school employing him had to pay a buyout even though he was fired and the Pack didn't want him as a coach any longer???
If that's the case, the Chest might want to see about getting a new lawyer/agent because that's a pretty cruddy contract...
owen1111 said:
posted on November 29, 2007 11:06 AM — 70.147.33.3 — link — abuse?
As bad as it is for many of us to digest, the thought of Steve Spurrier coaching FSU would be the best thing that happeneded to the seminoles since Bobby Bowden took the control of the reigns. We consistently have a top defense, thanks in much part to Mickey Andrews, who by the way deserves more recognition, but we need an offensive attack like those of the FSU teams in the late 80's to early 90's. Who better than Spurrier? No one would care if Spurrier wore Garnet and Gold, as long as the Noles were a national powerhouse contender again and WINNING! Thats the truth! Let the egos take a back seat, and hire a guy who has built a dynasty, not hire a guy who's trying to build name for himself! We could hire Spurrier and win again or just keep going 7-5 every year, while losing recruits and count on Virgin head coach Jimbo to bring us back? The embarrassment years are over. Make a smart move Noles!
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gatorstud said:
posted on November 19, 2007 3:13 PM — 69.95.111.248 — link — abuse?your right kevin...fsu needs to step up and show jimbo the money before he bolts....but if he does get head coaching job somewhere else in the ncaa...i wouldn't be surprised to see a "les miles" excape clause in it for when bobby steps down at fsu....
but like you said...he just got back to fsu....he isn't going anywhere soon....
heading down for the florida - fsu game wednesday......looking forward to tailgating, eatin turkey samiches and then watching the next heisman winner dismantle the fsu defense.....it is always fun getting together with the fsu bunch to tailgate....always a good time.....
go gators...and hokies