Jimbo Fisher, still of FSU, isn’t talking.
And what does that say?
The LSU football job had been open, oh, about nine seconds before Fisher’s name was mentioned again. If you remember, LSU reportedly had “ongoing” negotiations with Fisher (Fisher denies it) when the school was considering canning Les Miles after last season before Miles saved his job.
This time, both Houston’s Tom Herman, one of the hottest commodities out there, and Fisher were quickly mentioned.
“I ain’t talking about that,” Fisher said. Herman, too, has denied contact. So has Louisville’s Bobby Petrino and Stanford’s David Shaw.
Well, the rest of us can. LSU would undoubtedly pay Fisher a lot more money — otherwise, why flirt with him? — and a five-year contract.
But don’t you think FSU would pony up to keep Fisher? And don’t you think they would give him a new contract?
So which is the better job?
FSU, without a doubt, has less pressure. The Seminoles were drubbed two weeks ago, and no one mentioned Fisher’s job security. He has a young team, and he has excellent facilities.
LSU has the crazy Saturday night atmosphere, and it’s recruited well over the years. But the SEC West is a battlefield. It would take some doing to dislodge Alabama as the team to beat. There is less in-state competition for athletes than here in Florida, but there probably are fewer athletes.
So why change? Does Fisher want new scenery out of his window? Does he want to be wanted? Or is he content with the fiefdom he’s built? Bottom line: There is nothing that a coach can win at LSU that he can’t win at FSU.
Look, FSU has become one of the top handful of jobs a coach would leap for: Alabama, Ohio State, and Michigan are others. Florida, USC, and Oklahoma. Clemson, Notre Dame, and maybe Texas. Everything else is a negotiation.
Because of that, I don’t see Fisher leaving. I can see him listening, and flirting, but I don’t think LSU is such a magical program it can snap its fingers and get the coach it wants. Put it this way: If you were another football coach, and you could have either the FSU or LSU job for the same money, which would you take?
I’d take FSU.
