Tuesday, November 28, 2017

Seminoles' Head Coach Jimbo Fisher has burnt too many bridges at Florida State University


There is a tide in the affairs of men. Which, taken at the flood, leads on to fortune. - from Julius Caesar

The Jimbo Fisher saga is now a stagnant, mess of an issue at Florida State, and Fisher is largely to blame.

Media outlets have confirmed that the Texas A&M Board of Regents is set to meet on Thursday in order to approve Fisher's potential contract. This has been public knowledge the last day and a half, and it's something Fisher could've easily dispelled or turned down to end all speculation.

Instead, he let it play out.

Considering Fisher is mum on the situation leads administration and boosters to believe Fisher is gone.

If that's the case, Fisher needs to come out and say it one way or the other. It's not exactly fair to the University, its students, its fans, the boosters, and especially recruits who're currently looking elsewhere.

Wanya Morris, a 4-star offensive lineman, has already backed out of his commitment to the Seminoles and more will soon follow.

Even if Fisher decides to get cold feet and return to FSU, he has burnt some powerful bridges. The Auburn drama of 2010, the consecutive years where LSU tried to pull Fisher, and now the TAMU fiasco is creating distrust with the boosters - many of whom would like to see Fisher take the Aggie gig.

Jimmy Sexton, Fisher's long-time agent, has leveraged money every time Fisher has been sought after by other schools. Florida State President John Thrasher isn't budging and won't give Fisher another raise, but is allegedly willing to put more money into finding competent assistant coaches.

Upgraded facilities and a football-only complex is supposed to be in the works, as well.

If Fisher stays, it'll play out again next season where a new SEC team will try and poach Fisher eventually leaving Florida State to scramble for a new coach.

The Seminoles won't be caught off guard.

Rumors are circulating that administration has contacted Oregon Head Coach Willie Taggart about the potential vacancy, and Taggart has expressed interest.

Taggart knows the State of Florida and is a relentless recruiter.

More will be known in the next couple of days, and regardless of how this is played out Fisher has done some serious internal damage within the program.

Florida State is currently a better program than TAMU, but Texas money combined with SEC funds could potentially change that.

Maybe it's time for Fisher to take his money and go.

Tuesday, November 7, 2017

Love them or hate them, give the Miami Hurricanes props


Wise men ne'er sit and wail their loss, but cheerily seek how to redress their harms. - from King Henry VI

"The U is back" is a yearly joke.

The ACC was arrogantly dubbed by fans the "All 'Canes Conference" after Miami joined in 2004.

The Hurricanes have never played in the ACC Championship Game. Miami's last conference title was 2003 and haven't been in a National Championship game since the controversial contest against Ohio State in 2002.

Since then, the U hasn't come close to even resembling the early 2000's teams.

Randy Shannon once had the Hurricanes "back," leading Miami to a 9-4 record in 2009. He did so with a brutal schedule, surpassing all expectations. Prospects were high for 2010.

He was fired the next season after a Sun Bowl loss to Notre Dame and a 7-6 record.

Not back.

Al Golden also had the Hurricanes "back," starting the 2013 season 7-0 and reaching No. 7 in the AP poll. Golden's Hurricanes were soundly beaten by Florida State and finished the year 9-3 - losing to Louisville 36-9 in the Russell Athletics Bowl.

With a couple of solid recruiting classes, expectations were once again rising.

He was fired in 2015 after losing to Clemson 58-0.

Miami was "back?"

Enter Mark Richt.

He had the U back in 2016, beginning the season 4-0 with hated FSU coming to Miami.

A blocked extra point led to a Seminole's victory and the Hurricanes would lose four straight.

The memes and jokes were back, but this was different. Miami would rebound, winning five straight including a victory against West Virginia in the Russell Athletic Bowl. Perhaps the weather in South Florida was changing.

The 2017 Hurricanes weren't impressing anyone.

They struggled in the first half against Toledo.

They needed a last-minute touchdown against the worst Florida State team in 40 years.

They needed a last-second field goal against Georgia Tech.

They needed a fourth quarter to seal victories against a pesky Syracuse and stingy North Carolina squad.

There's no reason for the 'Canes to be 8-0 and ranked 7th in the AP poll. Not with late-game heroics. Not against inferior competition.

These were the games they were losing when pundits pegged them as "back."

But here they are. Dismantling a good Virginia Tech team and setting up a potentially epic top-10 match-up against Notre Dame.

This team is resilient, plays hard, doesn't quit, and most importantly they're having fun. Look to the sidelines and watch the players with the "turnover chain" and laughing it up with their team mates. They play for each other. They're a family.

They're the U. It's what has been missing the last 15 seasons. That continuity. That passion.

"The U's back" hasn't been uttered yet. Perhaps ESPN is waiting for Miami's first ACC Championship Game appearance. Maybe FoxSports will wait and see if Miami defeats Notre Dame this Saturday.

Regardless, the joke's over. Put the memes away.

Miami's for real.