Later this year,
Jimbo Fisher and Nick Saban will meet in their first matchup as head coaches when Alabama and Florida State open the 2017 season. Fisher says he can’t wait.
TALLAHASSEE — It has been about 13 years since Jimbo Fisher served as Nick Saban’s offensive coordinator at LSU.
The fiery coaches have had countless battles on the practice fields, supplementing the foundation for Saban’s first national championship in 2003.
On Sept. 2 in Atlanta, Fisher and Saban — two of four active college football coaches with a national title — will meet in their first matchup as head coaches when Alabama and Florida State open the 2017 season. It’s a matchup Fisher is looking forward to.
“When you’re a competitor, you want to measure yourself against the guys that are highly competitive and highly successful. Of course, Nick has been as successful as anybody in college football — there’s no doubt about that,” Fisher said during
an appearance on ESPN’s “Mike and Mike” show Tuesday morning.
“It was great learning under him, but we went in our different directions. It’s going to be a highly competitive football game.”
Fisher made the rounds at ESPN, doing several interviews on different shows a week before the Seminoles begin fall camp in preparation of the highly anticipated season opener.
Winston in Hall of Fame?
Fisher knows his response may have sounded a little bias in nature, but he believes Jameis Winston
has the intangibles to become one of the great quarterbacks in the NFL and could reach the Hall of Fame.
“A lot of people think it’s because I’ve coached him. But I’ve been around him. I know,” Fisher said when asked about Winston’s potential by former LSU standout Ryan Clark on ESPN’s “First Take.”
“When you’re a freshman and you walk off the field, we’re in there watching film as coaches and 9:30, 10:00 [p.m.], he knocks on the door. ‘Coach, I did these six things wrong. Did you see anything else? Tomorrow, on third down, I like this. In the red zone, I like this.’
“…I know the physical talent, but I know the mental and physiological disposition of him. You don’t want to jinx the guy, but I
think he’ll be a Hall of Fame guy, and be one of the great guys. I really do.”
Francois’ biggest improvement?
Quarterback Deondre Francois, a former Orlando Olympia High standout, has focused on improving his mechanics, decision making and accuracy this offseason in preparation for his second season as a starter.
But there’s one area of improvement Francois has made significantly more important strides in.
“Where I’ve really saw his growth is his relationship with the players,” Fisher said.
“I think once he’s established his feet on the ground: ‘OK I can play. I’m a tough guy. They respect
me. They’ll follow me.’ But what he has learned is how to control his teammates and help them. The guy he has to get on in practice. The guy he has to get on in private and pat on the tail. …
“No matter how much talent you have at quarterback, will those guys lie down and play for you? They respect him that way, but they see him in a different light.”
Fisher said Francois has helped his teammates understand his mindset as they head into another season with hopes of winning the program’s fourth national championship. He later said on “SportsCenter” that Francois is the team’s “commanderin-chief.”