Jimbo gets rolling in College Station

Jimbo Fisher said he never intended to leave Florida State.

But Fisher’s past relationship with Texas A&M athletics director Scott Woodward, the potential to relive their glory at LSU and the richest coaching contract in college football history ultimately presented an opportunity Fisher could not pass up.

Fisher was introduced as Texas A&M’s new football coach on Monday, three days after resigning from Florida State. He agreed to a 10-year deal worth $75 million after his eight seasons at FSU where he led the Seminoles to the 2013 national championship.

“First of all, I never had any intention of leaving Florida State,” Fisher said during his media conference in College Station. “And after Scotty contacted, and I started to research . ... I think it was a no-brainer in a crazy way.

“Again, my time at Florida State: it was phenomenal. I love it. It was a tremendous place. But in our life, there are opportunities out there and you see it. I had no plans on leaving there, had no plans on ever leaving there. … I thought it was an opportunity that I could not pass up and a challenge I thought I could not pass up.”

Despite expressing his affinity for his old job, Fisher repeatedly praised Texas A&M’s vision and commitment to its football program during his introductory conference — two points of contention late in his tenure at Florida State. He questioned FSU’s willingness to support the football program while providing no comment about his commitment to the Seminoles last week.

“You can have the greatest coaches in the world, but if your administration doesn’t see things in the way you see things and allow you to do things that way, nothing can be achieved,” Fisher said.

“You have to be one. … I knew [Woodward] had the same visions I did.”

Fisher first met Woodward in 2000 during their time together at LSU, where Fisher served as an offensive coordinator to Nick Saban, and Woodward was an administrator at the school.

They enjoyed Saban’s national-title run in 2003 and hope to bring the first national championship to Texas A&M since 1939.

“Success is part of his DNA,” Woodward said of Fisher before he was introduced.

“We did some great things at LSU, and we can do them again,” Fisher said to Woodward.

Before the Texas A&M praise, Fisher was gracious in thanking former FSU coach Bobby Bowden, who hired him as an offensive coordinator in 2007 before Fisher replaced Bowden as head coach in 2010.

Fisher also thanked former FSU president T.K. Wetherell, current president John Thrasher and athletics director Stan Wilcox for their support at the school.

“I’ll always be grateful and the way you treated my family, and I wish you nothing but the best,” Fisher said.

After an 83-23 record with three ACC championships and 42 players selected in the NFL draft during his FSU tenure, Fisher will now be tasked with helping Texas A&M win its first conference title since 1998.

When asked if he wants to retire at Texas A&M, Fisher had a laugh to end his press conference.

“That’s the Fisher said.

Florida State will end its season with assistant coaches leading the team against Southern Miss at the Independence Bowl on Dec. 27 in Shreveport, La.

The Seminoles are working to quickly complete their coaching search, with Oregon coach Willie Taggart considered one of the top targets. objective,”