Thrasher is hopeful Fisher will not leave
TALLAHASSEE — Florida State University president John Thrasher is extremely confident head football coach Jimbo Fisher will stay put despite being linked to other head coaching jobs for the third consecutive year.
But Fisher had no comment Thursday when asked directly about the coaching rumors and other college football teams potentially inquiring about his services, with Texas A&M the latest college football program reportedly interested in Fisher.
“I’m never going to speak about personnel and I’m never going to speak about jobs,” Fisher said while wagging his right index finger after practice on Thursday. “I’m never going to speak about jobs and I’m never going to speak about personnel.”
Fisher’s comments came hours after Thrasher shared optimism his eighth-year head coach will remain with the school for the foreseeable future.
Earlier this week, USA Today reported Texas A&M will likely gauge Fisher’s interest in assuming its head coaching position after current coach Kevin Sumlin is terminated at season’s end.
Fisher’s existing relationship with Texas A&M athletics director Scott Woodward, dating back to their time together at LSU, and FSU’s disappointing season are factors Fisher could consider if he wanted to leave the Seminoles program after his eighth season as head coach, according to the report.
“Jimbo's here forever — as long as he wants to be, he's good. He's as good as gold,” Thrasher said during a Periscope interview with Florida Times-Union reporter Tia Mitchell on Thursday. “He's going to be here.”
FSU is 3-6 highlighted by losses to No. 1 Alabama, No. 2 Clemson and No. 3 Miami in the midst of the worst seasons in recent program history under Fisher, who is the sixth highest paid head coach in the country making $5.7 million this year.
Fisher signed an extension last year that runs through the 2024 season.
But if Fisher were to leave FSU for another coaching job, he would owe at least $7 million for assistant coaches and other football personnel still under contract.
The Seminoles, who host Delaware State (2-8) at noon Saturday in Doak Campbell Stadium, need victories in their final three games of the season to be considered eligible for a bowl game at the end of this season.
Thrasher was reflective about mishaps that have hindered the team this season, mainly the season-ending knee injury to quarterback Deondre Francois and a three-week layoff between the first two games of the season because of Hurricane Irma.
When Thrasher was asked if Fisher’s job was safe if the Seminoles produce another disappointing season, he shared a more optimistic view about the team’s ability to rebound next season.
“Well we’ll cross that bridge when we get to it, right?” Thrasher said. “But I’m confident we’re going to be good next season. I’m very confident. I think we’ve had some tough breaks this year.”
“I’m very confident we’re going to be fine,” Thrasher later added. “Jimbo is going to be fine.”
FSU players on the team are also dealing with the coaching rumors for the third straight season after two years of Fisher being linked to LSU, where he helped Nick Saban win a national championship in 2003.
Senior defensive tackle Derrick Nnadi says if players discuss the topic of coaching changes among themselves, it is usually in a joking manner. But they are not fazed by the outside distraction.
“It’s just that they’re rumors,” Nnadi said earlier this week. “I feel like if he was going to leave, he would have … told us by now. I really feel like he’s loyal to this establishment so I don’t see him leaving anytime soon.”