Why would he leave LSU to go to Florida State? This lateral move makes LSU look like a second rate program. Why would he leave a program on the way up to go to a program on the way down? Does he feel he will get more recognition at FSU either way this does not help LSU in any way. Does any one else have any information as to why he left?
It had to be because they pretty much guaranteed him the head coaching position once Bowden decides to retire in the next three years. That and I thought I heard elsewhere that he and Miles never really saw eye to eye on some things.
That would be my guess. Who always sees eye to eye with someone......unless one of two in any kind of relationship is dishonest. I wouldn't want Assistants who were "Yes men" and would encourage them to be sounding boards. Granted, if there were other problems, it could have been more deep seated issues but the fact that they can disagree is not always a bad thing. I'm sure many here have had the "Boss" who was a dictator and can relate. Generally speaking, no one of a group is smarter than the group together. Just something to consider.
There was an article on this in the Jacksonville paper recently. Jimbo Fisher, as I learned, has extensive ties to the Bowden family, having played for Terry, then coached with Terry, then was an assistant at Auburn with both Terry and Tommy. Tuberville didn't retain him at Auburn, Saban didn't haul him off to Miami... and he wasn't exactly hand picked by Miles. ... so he starts attending meetings with his new coach and Les' hand-picked guys, you notice you're getting slightly "les love" than the others, you confide in your wife. She says "when were you the happiest, honey bunny?" Or she says, "screw 'em", whatever. The one thing in his favor is the FSU offense can go nowhere but up... and you get to eat Momma Bowden's cupcakes.
No way FSU promised Fisher anything regarding the head coaching position. It'll be a great audition for the job should he turn around their offense in the next couple of years, but it would be stupid to promise him anything. Coaches will be knocking down the door to take over that program when Bowden leaves. Fisher left b/c this will be his offense with very little interference from the HC. Bowden has pretty much turned over the day-to-day stuff to his assistants. This will be Fisher's offense and he'll be in complete control. This is something that he would never get at LSU ... nor with Saban at Bama.
Fisher was ready to leave. He got tired of Miles overturning his calls. I dont think Miles did it alot but Jimbo was ready to go. There was no way Jimbo was going to Bama even though Saban threw out over 500K. This should show you how much Jimbos wife is not fond of Saban at all. This is speculation - I believe he is thinking if he turns the FSU offense around he will get the opportunity for the HC. Remember he took the paycut for some reason.
It was time for Fisher to move on. He should have taken a head coaching job this year and had one at UAB until the Bama Trustees screwed him. He's been at LSU for a long time and interest will begin to drop off in time. FSU will have Jimbo for a year and he'll get some experience in another program rebuilding an offense and then he'll get hired as a head coach about this time next year.
This isnt surprising. Les kept a few of the old staffers like Jimbo and Searls. Its only natural that now after a couple seasons Les is more comfortable about himself and his place so it was time for Searls and Jimbo to leave. They probably wouldnt have been hired by Miles in the first place and where on his staff because they were already here. I see this as a natural progression for Miles in shaping his staff exactly how he see's fit. I suspect he will hire a guy he knows or is well known to coaches he trusts.
It's not Jimbo's team, it's Les' team. You may have noticed than LSU and Les Miles did not make any attempt at all to pursuade Jimbo to stay. Sometimes a boss has to tell a valued subordinate that for the good of the team, he needs to find some greener pastures.
