Fisher Doing More Than Calling Plays

TALLAHASSEE - A trademark of Bobby Bowden's tenure at Florida State has been stability among his coaching staff. Prior to an overhaul of the offensive staff after the 2006 season, Bowden's staff had remained largely intact through the years.

But with offensive coordinator Jimbo Fisher in place as Bowden's eventual successor, the winds of change are beginning to blow.

Longtime FSU tight ends coach/recruiting coordinator John Lilly recently left to become tight ends coach at Georgia. FSU defensive ends coach Jody Allen, a member of Bowden's staff for eight seasons, interviewed last week to become special teams coach at LSU. As FSU prepares to hire Lilly's replacement, Florida International offensive coordinator James Coley, a former LSU graduate assistant who worked closely with Fisher from 2003-04, is considered a leading candidate.

"We're working on that," Fisher said of finding Lilly's replacement. "That's the next project. We've got somebody we're working on."

As for the process, Fisher clearly has more input than the average assistant coach. The rest of the assistants, those who become part of Bowden's staff prior to Fisher, know that, which could mean more staff shuffling than usual as Fisher's time nears and Bowden's ends.

COSTLY SCANDAL: After FSU shipped off its initial report to the NCAA late last summer documenting an academic cheating scandal involving athletes, the NCAA recommended FSU do a more thorough investigation.

To comply, FSU hired former NCAA compliance official Chuck Smrt, who now runs The Compliance Group, an independent firm based in Kansas City that works with schools in dealing with the NCAA about rules violations and other compliance issues.

According to a public records request obtained by The Tampa Tribune on Tuesday, FSU's booster organization, Seminole Boosters, Inc., has paid Smrt's firm $121,537.17 over four payments - the most recent one issued Monday - since Nov. 20. FSU's final report to the NCAA is expected to be released possibly as early as this week.

COMMITMENT CENTRAL: A week removed from National Signing Day, FSU is off to a quick start in building its 2009 recruiting class.

The Noles already have received verbal commitments from Madison County defensive tackle Jacobbi McDaniel, rated the state's top junior by Rivals.com; and Tallahassee Godby receiver Willie Downs.

PARTY HOST: The NCAA Division I Women's Basketball Committee announced Tuesday that FSU will host first- and second-round games in the 2010 NCAA Tournament. FSU last served as a NCAA Tournament host in 2004.

NOLE NUGGETS: New athletic director Randy Spetman, formerly the AD at Utah State, is scheduled to start work Thursday. ... Former Rays director of business development and Orlando Rays general manager Thomas Ramsberger, a St. Petersburg lawyer, was one of more than 20 applicants to replace Dave Hart as FSU's AD. ... Freshman tennis player Clint Bowles, a Tampa native, made his ATP Tour debut Monday, losing to Chile's Paul Capdeville - the world's 105th-ranked player - 6-2, 6-4 at the Delray Beach International Championships. "I thought Clint really held his own out there," FSU coach Dwayne Hultquist said. ... FSU junior Laura Bowerman, a former star at King High, made a triumphant return in her first race since May, winning the women's Gasparilla Distance Classic 5k on Saturday.

FSU SHORTS

HONOR ROLL: Freshman Kim Williams earned ACC Athlete of the Week honors for her school-record triple jump of 45 feet, 0.25 inches at the New Balance Armory Invitational in New York. Williams' is the longest indoor triple jump in the nation this season.

SOUND-BITE CENTRAL: "This year reminded me of an Easter egg hunt. Usually we go into an Easter egg hunt and our basket is half-full. This year, you're going in with a basket full and where are you going to put them when you get them?'' - FSU coach Bobby Bowden on the atmosphere on National Signing Day.

LOOK OUT FOR: A sneak preview of "The Good Fight,'' a documentary film on Bowden by acclaimed filmmaker George Butler, scheduled to debut Feb. 29 at the Gasparilla Film Festival in Tampa. The showing is at 8 p.m. at Channelside 9 Cinemas.

QUESTION OF THE WEEK: What's the greatest challenge facing new athletic director Randy Spetman? To vote or monitor results, visit TBO.com, Keyword: Noles.

TBO.COM POLL: Should FSU consider building a roof over Doak Campbell Stadium as recently mentioned by school president T.K. Wetherell? No (79.8 percent); Yes (20.2).

BLOG BONUS: Walking up College Avenue here in Tallahassee on Monday afternoon to grab some lunch, I passed a guy actually wearing a T-shirt with the following reminder: Garnet & Gold Game, April 12, 2008. To read more of this blog post, visit TBO.com, Keyword: Noles.