Jimbo Fisher excited to pen the next chapter of FSU-Miami rivalry
TALLAHASSEE -- Jimbo Fisher took to the podium for his weekly press conference Monday and it was clear that the University of Miami was on his mind. It took less than a minute and a half for Florida State's coach to transition from the win over Virginia to Saturday's matchup versus the 6-3 Hurricanes.
"Virginia was a great game, we got by it, now we're getting ready to go play Miami," Fisher said. "It's one of the reasons you come to Florida State to play in this great rivalry. It's one of most traditional rivalries in college football, a lot of tradition, a lot of history."
Winners of seven out of the last nine meetings between the two teams, the Seminoles also enter the game with a 25-game win streak that dates back almost two years.
All that being said, Las Vegas has the reigning national champions as only a two-point favorite in Saturday's matchup. It's a perplexing line to many, especially after the two teams met last year when both were undefeated and the Seminoles were favored by 21 points. Florida State's head coach, however, is just fine with the close-game prediction.
"They're better, I think they're better," Fisher said of this year's Hurricanes squad. "They've all been in the system longer. [James] Coley has been down there for another year, the guys are older. Defensively they've been in their system a lot more, those guys are more experienced. They seem to be playing very good football."
Regardless of the spread, this game is special to many Seminole players as it will serve as a homecoming of sorts for the 20 of them that are from Miami-Dade and Broward counties.
"We have so many guys from south Florida and with the interaction of the two schools there is a great sense of pride for all of them," Fisher explained. "I also think there's a great sense of respect between the schools through the players and how they compete against each other -- I think it's one thing that makes this rivalry very unique."
Saturday's game is important for future recruits as well. Rivalry games like this can often sway a high schooler's decision on where to spend the next three to four years of his life. When asked how much of an impact this game has on recruiting, Fisher had a little fun with the media in attendance.
"Nothing," said Fisher straight-faced before breaking into a smile. "No, it means a lot. For a lot of kids it matters to them. it's a game they all want to play in and I think it's significant. They get to see where each program is going and figure out where they want to be. Which team is going to play for a championship or be significant in the national title contention -- I think it does matter, it really does."
While a game of this magnitude carries with it high emotions and intense pressure, Fisher said as a coach, he has to treat it like any other.
"A game is a game, you got to play it just like any other game," Fisher said "You just have great respect and you enjoy doing it. You're fortunate that you're able to play in a game of such significance."
