Sun Sentinel Palm Beach Edition
FSU moves past Jimbo Fisher era with win
TALLAHASSEE — During the first game after Jimbo Fisher’s departure to Texas A&M, the Florida State football team ended its season thankful for the past, content about the present and hopeful for the future.
Seminoles players, coaches and fans were left reeling after news of Fisher’s exit broke on Friday.
But during Saturday’s regular season finale, Fisher’s presence may not have been missed as much as initially thought.
Florida State relied on pride and improved to 6-6, extending the nation’s longest bowl streak to 36 years after a 42-10 victory over Louisiana Monroe on Saturday afternoon at Doak Campbell Stadium.
The Seminoles rallied around interim head coach Odell Haggins, who played defensive tackle under the direction of Bobby Bowden and Mickey Andrews and is FSU’s longest tenured assistant on staff. Running backs Jacques Patrick and Cam Akers scored two touchdowns apiece to help the Seminoles improve to .500 for the first time this season.
“I’m not going to say Florida State is 6-6 and they had a subpar season,” said Haggins, who was grateful for the chance to lead the Seminoles during an emotion-filled game.
“I’m going to say this: Our kids learned a lot this year about life. I’m so happy for them.”
Florida State has a chance to end its turbulent season, which began by tying for the worst start since Bowden’s first year in 1976, with a bowl bid that could help clinch the program’s 41st consecutive winning season.
While Fisher wanted to lead FSU one last time, he resigned Friday to accept college football’s richest coaching contract — a 10-year deal worth $75 million guaranteed from Texas A&M.
The Seminoles have already begun meeting with potential candidates for their vacant job and are tasked with their first coaching search in 41 years after a seamless transition from Bowden to Fisher.
“We want somebody that wants to be here and continue the legacy that has been built here,” athletics director Stan Wilcox said after the game.
FSU players found out about Fisher’s departure on social media before a scheduled 2 p.m. meeting Friday, during which he addressed the team one last time to cap his eight-year tenure.
While emotions were contentious just a day ago, the Seminoles have come to terms with Fisher’s ultimate decision to move on.
“Coach Fisher gave us all opportunities. Whether there were guys on our team that came from nothing or guys that came from something, at the end of the day, Coach Fisher gave us a chance,” offensive lineman Alec Eberle said.
“When someone like that leaves your program, it hurts definitely. But we’re happy for him and the opportunity he’s getting.”
Standout safety Derwin James says Fisher helped give him the “best three years of my life.”
“He made a business decision,” James said. “He had to do what he had to do. He has a family. You can’t be mad at him.”
Fisher’s absence after a testy week negotiating his new deal, along with the Seminoles’ push to take care of business on the football field, made for a positive ending to an emotion-filled regular season. The game marked the regular-season finales for both teams after being rescheduled from its original Sept. 9 date due to Hurricane Irma.
But now while the Seminoles and remaining assistant coaches will prepare for a bowl game, FSU’s administration is focused on finding a coach.
FSU wants a coach with a winning track record, potential ties to the state of Florida and the ability to recruit top talent, Wilcox said.
Oregon coach Willie Taggart, a Bradenton native and former USF coach, is among few known candidates for the job along with Virginia Tech coach Justin Fuente and USF coach Charlie Strong.
“We think we should be able to move very, very fast, but we also want to be very thorough in our research in every coach we want to look at,” Wilcox said. “There are a number of individuals that rise to the top … but I can’t say that we have one individual in mind right now.”
In the meantime, the Seminoles will be led by Haggins, an ideal bridge to connect the program’s past, present and potentially its future.
“I want Mr. Wilcox, [FSU president John] Thrasher to hire the best person for it. Take me out of it. I’m not trying to keep this job,” Haggins said in a serious tone when asked if he would like to be a head coaching candidate.
“The reason why I say that, as a coach at Florida State, a former player at Florida State, I can impact lives,” he continued before laughing. “I hope the next coach keeps me.”