Florida State boss Fisher refuses to talk about LSU but doesn’t deny interest
Florida State coach Jimbo Fisher took a firmer stance on the LSU coaching rumors, two days after declining to comment on the matter.
“I love this university. I plan on being here for a long time,” Fisher said of FSU during Wednesday’s ACC coaches’ teleconference.
“I love Florida State, and that’s all I’m saying. I’ll talk about myself and Florida State. Anything else is clutter, and does not concern me, and is not involving me.”
Fisher’s name has continually been linked to LSU in the last year, and the chatter is heating up with the school finally firing Les Miles on Sunday.
Fisher may have created some angst during his Monday news conference before FSU hosts North Carolina on Saturday, during which he did not flat-out deny interest in LSU like Louisville coach Bobby Petrino and Stanford’s David Shaw.
“I’m not talking about LSU,” Fisher said. “No, I haven’t (heard from LSU). And I’m not talking about it. We’re talking
about North Carolina.”
Fisher coached seven seasons as an offensive coordinator at LSU, helping Nick Saban win a national championship in 2003.
ALABAMA: Redshirt freshman quarterback Blake Barnett, who was the opening-day starter for the Crimson Tide, is planning to transfer and has left the program, AL.com reported. Barnett was pulled in favor of Jalen Hurts in the opener vs. USC, and Hurts has started the last three games for the No. 1 Crimson Tide (4-0).
FLORIDA: Coach Jim McElwain says the Southeastern Conference has overturned receiver Brandon Powell’s suspension for throwing a punch.
Powell was ejected in the fourth quarter at Tennessee for seemingly swinging at safety Rashaan Gaulden. Replays showed Gaulden dramatically flopped as Powell turned in his direction. The official flagged Powell for unsportsmanlike conduct and kicked him out of the game.
Under league rules, Powell also would have been suspended for the first half Saturday against Vanderbilt.
Coach Mike Riley said he expects Michael Rose-Ivey to represent himself well when he meets next week with Gov. Pete Ricketts, who criticized Rose-Ivey and two other football players for kneeling during the national anthem last weekend.
As Riley came off the practice field Wednesday night, he said it was “awesome” that the governor had agreed to sit down with the senior linebacker.
“Let’s get the conversation started,” Riley said, smiling. “Michael will do great.”
Rose-Ivey, Mohamed Barry and DaiShon Neal each took a knee during the anthem before the game at Northwestern to protest police brutality and racial injustice. After Ricketts said on his weekly radio show Monday that the players’ anthem protest was “disgraceful” and “disrespectful,” RoseIvey tweeted at the governor requesting a meeting. Ricketts tweeted back Tuesday night that he would arrange a meeting as soon as possible.
A day for the meeting is still to be determined.