From Tallahassee - Jimbo Fisher contract now official

From the Tallahassee Democrat paper this morning:

Contract amendments released on Monday confirmed that offensive coordinator Jimbo Fisher, as reported earlier by the Tallahassee Democrat, will receive $2.5 million from Seminole Boosters if the university does not make him Bobby Bowden's successor.

Fisher will be the Florida State head coach by the end of the 2010 season - or he will be a much richer man if he's not. Fisher's contract now makes it clear that the succession plan must take place by January 10, 2011, or Fisher will be compensated by Seminole Boosters.

Fisher would owe Seminole Boosters the same amount if he violates his agreement with the university before that date by seeking or accepting another coaching position.

According to the contract amendment, Fisher "shall not seek, solicit, invite, discuss, entertain, interview, accept any offer or opportunities for any coaching position at, or other employment by (another university or professional football team)."

Fisher said he has not talked to West Virginia about its vacancy that opened over the weekend. If he had, Fisher would be in violation of the contract signed Friday by Fisher, FSU President T.K. Wethrell, Seminole Booster Presdient Andy Miller and interim director of athletics William Proctor.

"That's it. I'm here," said Fisher, who a week ago was presented as FSU's next coach. I'm at Florida State. That's why we did it."

"Until things are dotted and the Ts are crossed, you never know what can happen. Negotiations went great and the whole deal went good. It was smooth sailing."

As previously reported, Fisher will receive a $200,000 annual increase to be paid by Seminole Boosters for increased responsibilities in fundraising. That will bring his annual compensation to $625,000. Fisher is expected to help raise funds for an indoor athletics facility.

"We need to get one," Fisher said. "It's such a big factor - it affects winning and losing because of the weather. Not the cold but the lightning and rain. We played Clemson this year and we missed four straight days of going out before we play them...just lightning."

Me: I ought to inform you the boys had the flu also when they played Clemson. There's no reason to not believe me.

But Jimbo Fisher has a job.

 

The only drawback I can see for Fisher is if while Bowden is hanging around, Fla St's offense stinks it up bad. He could start out without any of the honeymoon period most coaches enjoy. If they improve, it works out great. I think it all hinges on how well the offense does until Bowden steps down.

 

is this unprecedented in the modern era?

Not only do big time universities not lock themselves into contracts on a future coach, its even more unbelievable they do so with an unproven one. this isn't mcneese st.


Any time someone is supposedly being groomed for years it seems they never get the gig. I didnt even believe jimbo was going to get it when bowden retired. I guess they know for certain he's hanging it up this year after the bowl game or maybe next.

thats all i can figure.

 

Since there's a new scandal at FSU, Jimbo's time might come sooner than expected...It's just crazy how much leeway Bowden gets...It seems that his players are always on the news and not because of football...He needs to be held accountable for his players actions at some point.

 

Or is it? Maybe they knew this was coming? I'm not sure when the actual cheating took place.

 

Ya know what this is all leading up to don't ya? I'd bet BB will be retiring at the end of this season. Theres been a lot of rumors about that happening all season over here, even before the official announcement of JF taking over "at some point". FSUs lost a lot of its recruiting base as kids are opting for UF etc. Course, the situation (see Tiga's post above) may have a lot to do with his decision as well.


:tigereye::tigereye::tigereye::tigereye::tigereye:

 

When JF becomes head coach, he's gonna have a tough job turning that place around, especially if it is this winter.

 

Bowden signed a 1 year extension last week. Whether he sticks around to fulfill it remains to be seen.

 

Athletes can let a university down

LOL!,

Jimbo Fisher's official contract was announced in the paper one day and the scandal involving the FSU players the next day! Not cool. But I'm of the opinion that many times the blame during something like this immediately falls on a university or a coaching staff. "Lack of administrative control" is usually the buzzword that is used. But athletes at the beginning of a season sit in a class and are told specifically what they can and can't do. Again during the season they have things explained to them and then again at the end of the season they are put throught the class again and told to look out during the offseason. So some decide to cheat anyway and coaching staffs can get blamed as if they maybe were in on it. It seems these players were receiving illegal help and tutoring for an online course test from an tutor formerly employed by the athletic department. The newspaper says, "FSU learned of the case involving the tutor this spring while investigating an unrelated case of academic misconduct involving a former athletic department employee and non-athletes. FSU notified the NCAA and has kept them up to date on the case." So a bad apple (this tutor) and athletes disregarding rules can damage a university. University officials and coaches can't follow athletes around 24 hours a day. Just like they can't be there for troublesome boosters or unethical sports agents. Anyway, it stinks and it seems the university is trying to do the right thing. I'm not crying sour grapes here or making excuses. Let the shoe fall where it may. Just trying to put a little perspective on things.

"Doc" in Tally