The Nation Underestimates Jimbo Fisher
Posted by NoleCC
If there’s one thing that I know about FSU Football heading into the 2010, it’s that they have a leader in Jimbo Fisher. Sure, that seems pretty obvious considering he’s the head coach, but just because someone is in charge doesn’t mean that person is a good leader. I also have absolutely no personal knowledge of whether Jimbo Fisher is a good leader day-in, day-out or if his players and coaches think he’s a leader. All I have is my own power of observation. From what I can tell everyone out there is totally underestimating Fisher.
I have Clemson friends that compare the situation to Dabo Swinney. Dabo hadn’t proved anything and neither has Jimbo according to them. There’s no reason to be so optimistic about a guy that hasn’t done anything yet. My brother-in-law, a knowledgeable Georgia fan, didn’t express any excitement over Fisher. Florida fans can’t see past Urban Meyer, and Miami fans will always believe their better off than FSU (and in general they have been). The national media seems to like him so far, and ESPN even went as far as featuring a recruiting day article about him, but there still seems to be a perception that Fisher might not be the guy to lead FSU back to relevancy and eventually prominence. The questions remain about a first year head coach that takes over for the legendary Bobby Bowden, no matter how good he’s been as an offensive coordinator.
I know, I know. Jimbo Fisher hasn’t proven a thing. He hasn’t proven that he can win as a head coach. He hasn’t had the responsibility of a head coach. He hasn’t this, he hasn’t that. It doesn’t matter, because he is doing good things for FSU, NOW. Already, Seminole fans can see the changes. Check your email this morning, you probably have an email from Seminole Boosters complete with a mock up of an FSU jersey featuring your last name. Welcome to the 21st century FSU Football, it’s nice to see you finally. Seminoles.com is buzzing more and more with live video from War Parties and press conference. Players are going to get the tools they need to not only deal with the classroom, but deal with the pressures of the world that has Facebook, Twitter and a blog every three feet. For the first time in years Seminole fans have some hope for a new season. They have a coaching staff that is willing to put in the hours to make a successful program, and they have a modern program that will compete with the best of the best.
When will the underestimating end? After the 2010 season, if the Noles are successful. What defines successful? As a coach, that will change depending on how the season pans out. For a fan like me, I think 8 or 9 wins with the schedule FSU faces and a massive defensive rebuilding project ahead of it is a big success. Playing for the ACC Championship would shoot the moon. Anything more is the wishes of unrealistic fans, not that there is anything wrong with that. I do believe at the end of 2010, the nation won’t be doubting Jimbo Fisher any more. The media will have to write about the new Noles, the SEC-like Noles, the Jimbo Fisher FSU Seminoles. Be ready, nation, the Seminoles of Florida State will be relevant, exciting and fun again in 2010…
… either that or I’m going to have a lot of egg on my face.
Loading ...
ecwforever on 
Lpnoles86 on 
Luvunoles on 
It will be interesting, and I do hope the results are positive come next bowl season, but why would anybody outside of maybe LSU and Samford feel FSU has struck the mother lode? The nation as a whole does not turn on UF, FSU, Miami, ND, Bama, USC, etc… People care about their coaching staff and possibly what is going on with their rival(s) and maybe conference foes. The big news has been the firings and ship jumping and possible medical leaves (when does he leave)… that can be nice. Let lil ol’ FSU, irrelevant since… oh, George W. Bush was President and we won ACC and played in Orange Bowl, let us prepare for the new season in peace and quiet.
Seems 2010 has a built in excuse for not being in the title hunt. SCHEDULE! yes, we go to Oklahoma and then face BYU (betcha Tally isn’t as excited for BYU as Provo was for FSU). And we have that dreaded Thursday night game in Raleigh!!! horrors! I just wonder what the excuse will be when we buy our way out of a few “tough” games and play the cupcakes that the fanbase is drooling over now? Like the new President seems to do, just blame the mess he inherited. The will be interesting days ahead. I have too much time/money/emotion invested in this program to want anything other than success… I just wish all those who wanted to MOVE FORWARD would refrain from the subtle (and not so subtle) jabs at the previous staff.
wolf,
I think it’s interesting that you view the schedule as an “excuse” for not being in the title hunt. To me, excuses are like “we didn’t start in the top 10, the pollsters are keeping us out” or “it’s only our first year.” The fact of the matter is that the schedule puts FSU at a disadvantage compared to other teams, thanks to the scheduling mentality. I love playing good teams, but under the BCS system it doesn’t reward FSU to go to Norman, Oklahoma, play BYU at home, play and ACC schedule and then finish with Florida. It’s insane, especially when the ACC is not the lackluster ACC of the mid-90’s.
I don’t quite get your jabs comment either. Pointing out flaws in the previous staff isn’t a jab, it’s an opinion and / or a disagreement with the way things were run. You continue to defend Bobby Bowden and a staff of coaches that didn’t try to make the program the best it could be. I appreciate what Bowden did, but when the nepotism and favoritism began, with disregard to the results on the field, it was time to move on.
I think if you read the posts, not just this one but others as well, there is the little pokes at how much better things are or are going to be. hmmmm let’s play a game or two or three and see if that is true. As I said, I want Jimbo to succeed, but that is an exclusive wish that then requires bashing or “pointing out” past flaws or complacency. The program is moving forward… that was the wish. I will never apologize for being a Bowden supporter, the 34yrs was the 34yrs I remember… before that, well… I was a baby. I can say Jimbo could win the National title this year and it wouldn’t change my opinion of Bobby and his contributions. Oh, in reference to the schedule… I agree. It is a damn shame that you have to play cupcakes and pad your record & stats. I like competitive games and a schedule that makes you eager for each weekend. I guess it would be more palatable if we were talking of adding Vanderbilt, Syracuse, Indiana, Nevada, SMU, etc… but these Samford, Chattanoooga, Jax St., are not appealing and speaking only for ME, I have no desire to travel 12hrs to see that crap.
26 years out of the 34 were impressive and memorable for the fans, the University and Bobby Bowden.When Bobby began to put his ego and his family before the team and the University, his exit couldn’t come soon enough! Please take a look back to Ann Bowden ’s remarks about the University needing Bobby and her, more than they needed the University. How many times did we hear Coach Bowden say that he wanted to decide when to leave. Since when does the employee dictate his exit when he has a one year contract? How many times did we hear Coach Bowden say that it wasn’t about Joe Pa and the record? Watch one of the interviews after the Gator Bowl and you will hear Coach Bowden discuss that he would have liked one more year to come closer to Joe Pa and the record. Why do you think so much money was spent to appeal the decision by the NCAA? I didn’t hear too much talk about the student athletes whose records were in jeopardy. I heard way too much commentary about how that might effect Bobby Bowden’s record. Take a good look at the increase in Booster donations, the renewal of Season Tickets and the recruiting results following Bobby’s exit. Bobby Bowden didn’t know when to leave the party. He stayed too long! By the way, lets give Coach Fisher lots of credit for keeping the offense improving while under his care and for being loyal to Bobby Bowden. Jimbo keeps exhibiting the leadership and class that FSU Football has been generally lacking for a number of years. Jimbo Fisher is taking FSU football into the 21st Century!
Even if FSU goes undefeated this year, ESPN will still find a way to claim we would’ve done better if BB was still in charge.
(hint: you need a subscribe to comments plugin here)
Excellent idea… I’ll poke around for one Robert.
It should be ready to go Robert. Thanks again for the suggestion, hope it helps! Let me know if it doesn’t work properly for you.
Clemson fans compare the situation to Dabo Swinney?!? The blinders that fans wear are always so fun.
In all fairness to Dabo, I think his situation was more extraordinary than Jimbo’s… Swinney was wet behind the ears and managed to take Clemson to the ACC Championship game in his first season as head coach and completely change a culture of playing not to lose implemented by Tommy Bowden.
Wow, quality write-up. Probably true, but sad, about FSU becoming more like an SEC team.
Jimbo hasen’t proven to be an excellend HC. He hasn’t had to make the decisions yet that people will look back and say, “well he should have been able to see that W would have happened if he did X” and “There must be a reason for him to do Y and that reason is Z.”
Jimbo has proven to be an outstanding OC and recruiter and I am excited. Heck, I was excited to watch the offense again only after a year after Jimbo was hired! Does anyone remember what it was like to sit and watch and agonize over the offense trying to eek out one more jump pass or some other dumb play? I think Jimbo will turn out to be great. Its the people he puts around him that will sustain greatness, IMO, and that will be a key to him having the success Bowden did (and hopefully not staying too long).
I’m not sure I’d agree that it’s sad FSU will become more like an SEC team. We hear year-in and year-out how great the SEC is, and they have done very well as a conference. As much as I dislike Nick Saban, he knows how to run a program.
Speaking of Jimbo not overstaying his welcome, I think that’s my biggest worry. I figure if he’s successful, then we might only have him for 5-7 years max. Long term stability of FSU’s football program is going to fall in line with pretty much everyone else now.
Having success like the SEC wouldn’t be bad, I agree, but hopefully we will have some ingenuity in our style.
Probably right about the length Jimbo will be here. I say as long as you can continue to win, stay as long as you want. If you start making lame excuses about being one or two players away for YEARS then its time to show yourself the door.