January 2010 Jimbo Fisher officially became the Head Coach at FSU with 'no hc experience.' I know for one, I was not too sure about how he would work out. In 2010 FSU finished 10 - 4, got back to the ACCCG but lost and closed with an impressive win over South Carolina.
The next season saw FSU go 9-4 with a decimated OL most of the season and 4 freshman started the Bowl game against ND. (side note: where are they now?). Many were even calling for not only Fisher to hire a OC (yes, I was one of them) and Trickett to be fired. Again, where are those freshman now?.
In Fisher's 3rd season , 2012, FSU won the ACCCG, finally made it to a BCS game finished with a 12 - 2 record but have bitter losses first to NC ST and the Florida (5 turnovers). Was this the season that Fisher made that transition from a 'rookie HC' to the beginning of being potentially a really good or even great HC. Meanwhile, we could see the unbelievable effort he and his staff was making on the recruiting trail. Also, FSU sent 11 players to the NFL. Who would have thought that back in 2010 after the 'lost decade.' Unfortunately, the two losses that season left some with a doubt in their mind.
As we all NOW know, Fisher hit the jack pot with Jameis Winston and his coming out party as a redshirt freshman in the Pitt game on Labor Day night. FSU not only won the ACCCG, but also went on to win the BCSNCG over Auburn in one of the more thrilling title games in BCS history. FSU set an offensive scoring record that season but it actually overshadowed what we learn in 2014 was one heck of a defense. Even with replacing 11 NFL players off the previous years team, the defense was outstanding. That leadership on the defensive side of the ball was lost the next season. Was this Jimbo's defining moment, or did he find lightening in a bottle with Winston. On the recruiting side, he hit another homerun, just not a grand slam.
Then in 2014 there was both a Jeckyl and Hyde performance by both the offense and defense between the first half of many games to the second half. While Winston and the offense struggled, the defense at times could not stop running water. All that lost leadership and talent combined with a new DC (third in three years) had the defense looking almost lost in the first half and somehow, as the offense got kick started, then so did the defense and vice versa. The UF game was a great illustration of that. Three Winston T/O's and the defense not only forced FG's but also scored a defensive TD just as it looked like UF might put a nail in the coffin, but both the offense an defense had other ideas. We saw this play out all season. Also, with 4 returning starters on the OL, when the center was lost, they struggled until the Offensive staff made position player changes the jelled the OL towards season's end. While FSU ran its winning streak to 29 games, the Rose Bowl left a bitter pill to swallow to end the season. Meanwhile, the staff had done 90% of the recruiting BEFORE the Rose Bowl, so even though signing day did not bring an 'unrealistic' class, it still was a really good one. However, Fisher saw his lightening in bottle opt to head to the NFL and now has to 'retool' and reload, and find a starting QB.
Meanwhile, there seems to be a bit of unrest among some FSU fans about how good Fisher is or questioning whether or not Fisher is or will become a great coach. Now I agree it is too early to say Fisher IS a great coach, only time and years ( most likely at least 10 of them) when we all look back we be able to say, "Yes or No" to that question. But right now as he enters the next phase of his very young Head Coaching career IMHO it appears that he does have all the makings of becoming one of the next generation's great coaches. Nick Saban, Les Miles, Steve Spurrier, are in the waning years of their careers (unless like Joe and Bobby and Mack and have to be forced out).
So who will be or are the next group of great coaches and where do you think Jimbo Fisher fits into that discussion?
The next season saw FSU go 9-4 with a decimated OL most of the season and 4 freshman started the Bowl game against ND. (side note: where are they now?). Many were even calling for not only Fisher to hire a OC (yes, I was one of them) and Trickett to be fired. Again, where are those freshman now?.
In Fisher's 3rd season , 2012, FSU won the ACCCG, finally made it to a BCS game finished with a 12 - 2 record but have bitter losses first to NC ST and the Florida (5 turnovers). Was this the season that Fisher made that transition from a 'rookie HC' to the beginning of being potentially a really good or even great HC. Meanwhile, we could see the unbelievable effort he and his staff was making on the recruiting trail. Also, FSU sent 11 players to the NFL. Who would have thought that back in 2010 after the 'lost decade.' Unfortunately, the two losses that season left some with a doubt in their mind.
As we all NOW know, Fisher hit the jack pot with Jameis Winston and his coming out party as a redshirt freshman in the Pitt game on Labor Day night. FSU not only won the ACCCG, but also went on to win the BCSNCG over Auburn in one of the more thrilling title games in BCS history. FSU set an offensive scoring record that season but it actually overshadowed what we learn in 2014 was one heck of a defense. Even with replacing 11 NFL players off the previous years team, the defense was outstanding. That leadership on the defensive side of the ball was lost the next season. Was this Jimbo's defining moment, or did he find lightening in a bottle with Winston. On the recruiting side, he hit another homerun, just not a grand slam.
Then in 2014 there was both a Jeckyl and Hyde performance by both the offense and defense between the first half of many games to the second half. While Winston and the offense struggled, the defense at times could not stop running water. All that lost leadership and talent combined with a new DC (third in three years) had the defense looking almost lost in the first half and somehow, as the offense got kick started, then so did the defense and vice versa. The UF game was a great illustration of that. Three Winston T/O's and the defense not only forced FG's but also scored a defensive TD just as it looked like UF might put a nail in the coffin, but both the offense an defense had other ideas. We saw this play out all season. Also, with 4 returning starters on the OL, when the center was lost, they struggled until the Offensive staff made position player changes the jelled the OL towards season's end. While FSU ran its winning streak to 29 games, the Rose Bowl left a bitter pill to swallow to end the season. Meanwhile, the staff had done 90% of the recruiting BEFORE the Rose Bowl, so even though signing day did not bring an 'unrealistic' class, it still was a really good one. However, Fisher saw his lightening in bottle opt to head to the NFL and now has to 'retool' and reload, and find a starting QB.
Meanwhile, there seems to be a bit of unrest among some FSU fans about how good Fisher is or questioning whether or not Fisher is or will become a great coach. Now I agree it is too early to say Fisher IS a great coach, only time and years ( most likely at least 10 of them) when we all look back we be able to say, "Yes or No" to that question. But right now as he enters the next phase of his very young Head Coaching career IMHO it appears that he does have all the makings of becoming one of the next generation's great coaches. Nick Saban, Les Miles, Steve Spurrier, are in the waning years of their careers (unless like Joe and Bobby and Mack and have to be forced out).
So who will be or are the next group of great coaches and where do you think Jimbo Fisher fits into that discussion?
