USA TODAY International Edition
Fisher: Fla. State working on issues
Florida State football coach Jimbo Fisher, talking with the news media for the first time since two off- the- field incidents involving Seminoles players became national stories, took responsibility for his team’s actions and said there was no tolerance for hitting women.
“As the head coach you take responsibility and it is your responsibility,” Fisher said Tuesday at the Atlantic Coast Conference football media days. “Like a parent you continue to educate.”
Quarterback De’Andre Johnson was kicked off the team. Running back Dalvin Cook is suspended indefinitely. Fisher also confirmed his players weren’t allowed to frequent bars, at least for the time being.
Johnson was seen on video punching a young woman in the face inside a Tallahassee bar.
“It was a major league poor choice,” Fisher said. “I’m not minimizing it at all. … There’s no tolerance for hitting women.”
Cook was accused of doing the same thing outside a different Tallahassee bar the night before. Fisher said he couldn’t comment on the Cook case because it was an ongoing investigation and added he had no idea when the starting running back would play this season. “Or even if he’ll play,” Fisher said.
Fisher said such incidents were not just a Florida State problem but a national problem.
“I don’t think what’s happening at Florida State is relative to Florida State,” he said. “It’s happening all over this country. We get more attention of it because of the success of our program, and I understand it. That’s part of winning. That’s part of being one of the top programs in America, and I accept that responsibility and our players have to accept that responsibility.
“But we have to continue to work on the problems we have.”
When asked about his discipline measures, the FSU coach listed Jarmon Fortson, Greg Reid, Greg Dent, Ukeme Eligwe and Johnson as talented players he had to dismiss from the team in recent years.
“I look at myself and say I could not reach those guys,” Fisher said. “Why could I not reach those guys?”
Asked if he thought he and his team had been unfairly judged by the national media, Fisher answered, “No. You’re judged by what you do.”
Those incidents follow the Jameis Winston saga, which had the quarterback who won the 2013 Heisman Trophy and led FSU to a national championship as a freshman accused by a fellow student of rape. Winston, now a rookie with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, was never charged, but the case continually made national headlines.
All of the negative attention prompted FSU President John Thrasher to meet with players last week to reiterate that the offfield actions of the team must reflect well upon the university.
“We’re under a microscope,” FSU kicker Roberto Aguayo said. “Everything you do is out in the public. It’s unfortunate, but we’re learning from our mistakes and just moving on.”