College Football

FSU Football: Who LSU Will Probably Hire Instead of Jimbo Fisher

Updated Mar. 4, 2020 5:06 p.m. ET

foxsports

Nov 19, 2016; Syracuse, NY, USA; Florida State Seminoles head coach Jimbo Fisher has a word with an official to dispute a call during the fourth quarter of a game against the Syracuse Orange at the Carrier Dome. Florida State won 45-14. Mandatory Credit: Mark Konezny-USA TODAY Sports

FSU football fans are worried that coach Jimbo Fisher is heading back to Baton Rouge. We discuss who LSU will likely decide to hire next week.

FSU football fans should expect to have Jimbo Fisher as head coach in 2017. We gave you the top five reasons why Jimbo Fisher stays at FSU a few days ago.

Many FSU fans are disgruntled with this entire process, and feel like Jimbo Fisher is trying to play FSU for more money.

They either want him to say he’s staying or leave but it’s not that simple.

Listen, someone in his position should ALWAYS listen to other offers. It’s a business and there’s no such thing as having enough money no matter how many millions he has. That money is not only for him and his family, but it potentially sets up generational wealth.

Oct 8, 2016; Miami Gardens, FL, USA; Florida State Seminoles tight end Mavin Saunders (88) celebrates during the second half against the Miami Hurricanes at Hard Rock Stadium. FSU won 20-19. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports

The Media Game

LSU is caught a lot of flack for how they handled the Les Miles situation last year, and they are not handling this situation the best either.

Jimbo Fisher is their No.1 target by all accounts as he was last year when he turned them down. However, they have an ace in the hole when it comes to public perception.

LSU has sent out some reports via the media that Fisher is “very interested” in the LSU position. Fisher has smartly not commented on the situation, but it does paint the picture that he is interested as they know he won’t comment on it in the public.

Jimbo Fisher’s agent Jimmy Sexton is playing the same game as a report came out Tuesday that he is asking LSU to up their price.

It’s a price that LSU likely can’t afford when combined with paying the staff that Fisher would want/need to hire at LSU.

They would have to pay the 5 million dollar buyout to FSU, pay him 6 million or more annually, give him a housing allowance and pay the staff he would bring on.

Nov 19, 2016; Baton Rouge, LA, USA; LSU Tigers interim head coach Ed Orgeron watches his team take on the Florida Gators during the game at Tiger Stadium. The Gators defeat the Tigers 16-10. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports

Who LSU Probably Hires

Current interim head coach Ed Orgeron.

I think that’s who LSU will ultimately hire. He has done a very good job as the interim coach (4-2), and has head coaching experience in the SEC. More recently he had a successful stint as interim head coach at USC.

LSU also didn’t see a mass exodus from their 2017 recruiting class when he was named interim coach which has to account for something too.

The current players like him and a lot of people in Louisiana want the interim tag lifted after the season. If LSU rolls Texas A&M Thursday night those cries will only become louder.

If LSU does promote Orgeron, they can spin it a couple of ways. They can present it as if they were tired of negotiating with Fisher and name Orgeron their coach before Fisher could decline the job publicly. Also, they could present it that they were blown away in their meeting with Orgeron Friday and feel he’s the best fit for the job.

Orgeron is meeting with LSU brass on Friday to pitch himself, and supposedly has an idea of who he wants to hire as offensive coordinator.

They can also play Orgeron A LOT less money and use more funds to hire the offensive coordinator they need.

Dec 6, 2014; Charlotte, NC, USA; Florida State Seminoles head coach Jimbo Fisher celebrates after defeating the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets in the ACC Championship game at Bank of America Stadium. FSU defeated Georgia Tech 37-35. Mandatory Credit: Jeremy Brevard-USA TODAY Sports

Conclusion

Situations are fluid, but I expect Jimbo Fisher to remain with FSU football. The only real positive would be more money at LSU.

Extra money could help funding research for the KidzFirstFund that he and his ex-wife Candi started after their son was diagnosed with a rare disease.

Some people are touting Fisher could get a fresh start in Baton Rouge due to the recent divorce from Candi and some of the things that happened in Tallahassee.

She’s the mother of his kids and she will always be in Jimbo’s life because of that. If he moves to Baton Rouge, either he’s going to leave his kids in Florida or she and the kids will have to move to Baton Rouge.

Either way she’s still in the picture. The relationship can’t be that crazy as she has made appearances in the Showtime series “A Season With Florida State Football” this year.

Some believe Fisher wants a new challenge after winning a national championship in 2013. What’s harder? Getting to the top of the mountain or getting there and staying there?

He’s working to get back there at FSU. Also, I’m not sure he’d get full credit for winning a national championship at LSU in the next couple of years. All those players would be Les Miles recruits.

I think it’ll be Ed Orgeron at LSU, not Jimbo Fisher.