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West Virginia Pursuing FSU's Fisher?

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By SCOTT CARTER, The Tampa Tribune

Published: December 21, 2007

TALLAHASSEE - The rumors just won't die. As hours ticked off the clock Friday without West Virginia officials calling a news conference to announce its new head coach - Florida assistant Doc Holliday is reportedly the leading candidate - Florida State offensive coordinator Jimbo Fisher's name kept popping up as a possible candidate.

Internet reports suggested West Virginia officials wanted to gauge whether Fisher is having second thoughts about his new three-year, $625,000 per season head coach-in-waiting agreement to replace Bobby Bowden in light of the current academic cheating scandal engulfing the Seminoles. And Friday evening, ESPN hinted Fisher wants to at least explore his options through his agent, Jimmy Sexton.

Since FSU's academic misconduct probe gained national attention Tuesday, running back recruit LaGarrette Blount has decommitted to the Noles, and according to The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Gainesville (Ga.) defensive end Keith Wells is reconsidering his verbal commitment to the Noles.

As Bowden spoke to reporters after Friday's practice, Fisher left the field without addressing the latest round of rumors. And a call to Sexton, who represents several of college football's top coaches, was not returned Friday. FSU President T.K. Wetherell, who orchestrated the deal to keep Fisher at FSU, did not return an e-mail seeking comment while on vacation in Montana.

On Monday, when reports first surfaced Fisher could be a candidate to return to his home state and replace Rich Rodriguez, who left to become Michigan's head coach, Fisher reiterated his commitment to replace Bowden one day.

"I'm here at Florida State," Fisher said. "That's why we did it. I haven't talked to anybody from West Virginia. Until the I's are dotted and the T's are crossed, you never know what can happen. Negotiations went great and the whole deal went good."

In a statement released on the naming of Bill Stewart on Thursday as West Virginia's interim coach, West Virginia athletic director Ed Pastilong characterized the Mountaineers' search as a "wide-open search with interest and interaction involving candidates with and without WVU ties."

FSU offensive line coach Rick Trickett interviewed for the job Tuesday, and former Auburn coach Terry Bowden is also considered a candidate. If West Virginia is serious about talking with Fisher, it will need to pay the $2.5 million buyout clause in his new contract, which has a clause that states Fisher "shall not seek, solicit, invite, discuss, entertain, interview for, or accept" another job before Jan. 10, 2011.

NOTE: Kentucky coach Rich Brooks announced Friday that freshman RB Derrick Locke (fractured rib) is out of the Music City Bowl against FSU on Dec. 31, and leading receiver Keenan Burton (59 catches, 685 yards) is doubtful due to a knee sprain.

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