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Fisher’s succession is confirmed
December 10th, 2007, 2:35 pm · 2 Comments · posted by Brad Milner
FSU officially announced on Monday that Jimbo Fisher will succeed Bobby Bowden as the Seminoles’ head football coach when Bobby Bowden moves on. It also was announced that Bowden has agreed to a one-year extension to coach his 33rd season at the school.
This isn’t new news, but it is official now. Details on both contracts weren’t released, but The Associated Press reported the same things as ESPN last week: That Fisher is set for a hefty buyout should he not be named the head coach.
This move had everything to do with showing recruits that there will be a guy in place when Bowden moves on. I say move on as a nice way of saying, ‘here’s to hoping he doesn’t die, or worse, while coaching.’
So Fisher is the man. But should he be?
He has no head coaching experience. Chuck Amato has way more and has been successful, yet he wasn’t in the conversation. Fisher has a great offensive mind, but being a head coach is a whole new thing.
I’m not convinced and I don’t think many FSU fans should be. But you have to deal with it.
What do you think?
If not Fisher, then who? Chuck Amato? He’s a great guy who knows FSU well and recruits Dade/Broward like a bandit. But he wasn’t successful at N.C. State (though he beat FSU) and his age is a little bit of a drawback. MIckey Andrews? He’d be the second coming of Frank Solich. A great assistant but probably without the tools to succeed as a head coach. Mark Richt? He’s not leaving Georgia. While Fisher has never been a head coach he does have other things that recommend him for the job. First, he is loosely connected to the Bowden legacy by having played for Terry Bowden. Second, he was successful at LSU in developing a superstar quarterback in JaMarcus Russell and designing an offense that prospered in the much tougher Southeastern Conference. Third, he’s young and fits a mold that should be attractive for recruits who have a desire to advance to the next level. Fourth, by the time he takes over as head coach, Fisher will have had two years on the FSU staff that will get him ready to sit in the big chair. Beyond Fisher there may be numerous possibilities, but realistically, who would sign up to follow a living legend and potentially be the next Ron Zook (or the aforementioned Frank Solich)? There will never be another Bobby Bowden. Not only has he been a truly great coach he is cut from cloth that is no longer made. He’s the closest thing left on the scene to Bear Bryant, which given the changes the game has seen may no longer be a benefit. Fisher is the future. Give him three years in the corner office and see what he can do. If he fails I’m sure Seminole Boosters will develop an attractive financial package to entice a replacement.
Beleaguered Taxpayer, I agree completely. I was merely making a point. I don’t think Fisher will be the next Ron Zook, because I think he’ll do well once Bowden steps aside.