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Fisher Responds To Latest Rumors

By SCOTT CARTER, The Tampa Tribune

Published: November 20, 2007

TALLAHASSEE - Get ready, Florida State fans. The annual offseason coaching carousel is starting to spin, and like a year ago, Jimbo Fisher's name is expected to pop up in nearly every rumor.

"If you have success in a business, generally you have opportunities," Fisher said Monday. "That's not a bad thing. It doesn't mean you are going anywhere, and you can't stop rumors."

Fisher's much-hyped hiring in January to replace Jeff Bowden as FSU's offensive coordinator capped several weeks of gossip about where Fisher would land. He was linked to several head coaching jobs, including Alabama-Birmingham, Louisiana Tech and Cincinnati.

Fisher, 42, eventually agreed to a three-year contract that included a financial package of $425,000 per season, providing Noles fans a dose of optimism considering Fisher's previous success at LSU and Auburn. Some believe Fisher is the front-runner to replace FSU coach Bobby Bowden when Bowden retires.

LSU and Auburn are primarily responsible for the latest round of speculation. LSU coach Les Miles, a Michigan grad, is expected to garner significant attention from Michigan to replace Lloyd Carr, and Auburn coach Tommy Tuberville's name has surfaced as a possible replacement at Texas A&M, where Dennis Franchione is expected to be fired at the end of the season.

"They're both great programs," Fisher said Monday in response to a question about LSU or Auburn being a dream job. "They're both great programs. There are not many of those types of jobs out there, but they have two head coaches. The thing being, I coached at both places. The speculation is natural.

"The dream job is the job you have. I never thought 20 years ago I would be sitting here in this job. My job is to be the best offensive coordinator at Florida State. You're flattered that people talk about you and say things, but we've got a lot of work to do here."

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