Fisher has no regrets about Alabama loss
TALLAHASSEE — Even after Alabama kicked a 33-yard field goal midway through the fourth quarter to increase its lead to 24-7 over Florida State last Saturday, Jimbo Fisher never thought once about running down the clock with a backup quarterback.
The Seminoles were down by 17 points with less than six minutes remaining but believed they could have made a run behind starter Deondre Francois, despite his two interceptions earlier in the second half after Alabama mounted a lead.
Unfortunately for FSU, Francois suffered a seasonending knee injury on the ensuing drive. And the Seminoles are turning to a true freshman to start at quarterback for the first time since Chip Ferguson did in 1985.
“No. Heck no. Why?” Fisher said after being asked about not taking Francois out of the game despite Alabama’s lead. “We’re down six minutes to go with three scores. We moved the ball. You get a score and an onside-kick. Heck no.
“You see the Tennessee and the UCLA games? They came back. They didn’t pack it in. You never pack it in. We had plenty of time to get a quick drive right there, and get back in the football game. You don’t even think about that. We were still competing to win the game.”
The No. 10 Seminoles (0-1), who host LouisianaMonroe at noon on Saturday, were the preseason media favorite to win the Atlantic Coast Conference this season. FSU also had hopes of earning a College Football Playoff semifinal berth.
Now those seasonal goals become loftier after a season-opening loss that ended with the star quarterback sidelined until next season.
Naturally, some teams might express some regret for scheduling such a highprofile opener. Former Florida coach Steve Spurrier believes the Seminoles can still compete for an ACC title, he said, “But these are the dangers of playing that earlyseason game against a really, really good opponent, an opponent that has the best players in college football.”
“So if FSU were to upset Alabama, it would have been a wonderful day, and now they’re probably saying, ‘Why in the world are we going to go get beat up by these guys and get our quarterback knocked out of the game?’ ” said Spurrier, a new Sirius XM radio analyst, on Tuesday.
“But Jimbo’s a heck of a head coach, and he’ll get the next kid ready to play, and they do have an excellent defense. So I’ll look for them to be in practically every game. They’re not done. I don’t know who’s going to be favored over them the rest of the way unless it’s Clemson and maybe Louisville.”
Clemson coach Dabo Swinney expressed concern for Francois while meeting with local media earlier this week. He also believes the Seminoles will still be in ACC contention.
“I hate it for him. Never want to see that,” Swinney said of Francois. “That’s a really disappointing thing for the young man, and for his team, and Coach Fisher and their staff. That’s never something that you want to see, but it’s part of the game. … No doubt about it they’ll be right there in the hunt all the way.”
Even former LSU coach Les Miles sent some wellwishes to Francois on Twitter.
FSU will navigate its second straight season without a star player.
Fisher will replace Francois with true freshman James Blackman while depending on his stout defense led by returning standout safety Derwin James, who missed 11 games last season with a torn meniscus.
Losing Francois in the Alabama opener does not bother Fisher in the sense that he wished FSU started the season against an easier opponent. After all, James injured himself last season in Week 2 against Charleston Southern after delivering a routine hit to a receiver.