FSU coach Jimbo Fisher emphatic in his defense of Jameis Winston
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. -- Jimbo Fisher has been answering questions regarding quarterback Jameis Winston's sexual assault investigation for over a year now. Florida State's head coach is usually calm, calculated, and politically correct when addressing the situation -- usually.
Monday's news conference -- held before reports surfaced that the school was investigating whether Winston accepted money in exchange for autographs -- featured a different Fisher, one that made his feelings concerning the media's handling of the sexual assault allegations against Winston very clear.
"I know the facts of the case, the facts haven't changed in the case," a visibly upset Fisher said. "There is nothing new out there, we've been through this. What I think we need to be very careful of in today's society is to convict people in public before they actual do in court or anywhere else.
"This country is based on innocent until proven guilty, not guilty until proven innocent. Listen, I don't want a victim for anything, but there is no victim because there was no crime. We're convicting a guy over things that aren't true... there's no evidence."
Fisher then delivered a poignant message to the media.
"I think we need to be more responsible in our reporting and our opinions and base it off facts," Fisher explained. "And not write articles that are half true and not all the way true and put things out there that may ruin someone's career."
And as a good coach should, he followed that up by commending his Heisman-winning QB for his handling of the whole situation.
"It's credit he deserves," Fisher said emphatically of Winston. "Becasue he can put things away like a man does, compartmentalize things like a man does. Take care of his teammates, take care of his family, take care of everyone involved because he's very mature and the reason he can do that is because he knows the facts."
The questions about Winston won't end anytime soon for Fisher though with Winston now in a similar situation to that of University of Georgia running back Todd Gurley, who was indefinitely suspended last week. Fisher said Winston denied accepting payment for his signature.
Pairing this situation with the possibility of Winston facing a suspension pending the outcome of a FSU student code of conduct hearing makes for an extremely stressful week leading the Seminoles' matchup with No. 5 Notre Dame.
One of the marquee games of the college football season, Fisher explained it in its simplest form.
"They've got a very good team, we've got a very good team, we're both undefeated and that's what college football is all about."
