Florida State Football: Jimbo Fisher's Contract Shows FSU Wants to Be Elite

Around this time of the year, you'll find many reports focusing on Florida State's spring practices. It is beneficial and (obviously) necessary to evaluate the talent pool for the Seminoles. While I see Mario Pender having a great three- or four-year career, I can't help but feel like there is a nagging question that hasn't been addressed.

Will the next Pender finish with a different head coach?

Jimbo Fisher has done an excellent job with the Seminoles, but he has been left on a four-year plan. Every other major coach in the Southeast has their contract through the 2017 season, but Fisher (whose team just won 12 games, an ACC championship and an Orange Bowl for the first time in the same year since 1999) only has an extension through 2016.

It's not that Florida State isn't willing to put the money into its future. The 'Noles are set to open their indoor practice facility soon, which should allow the Seminoles to recoup practice time that is often lost to inclement Tallahassee weather. So no one should say FSU isn't willing to invest.

Florida State has yet to reach a national championship or even stay in the hunt throughout an entire regular season since Bobby Bowden's retirement. By not giving Fisher an extension and by not giving him a raise after 2011's disappointing 9-4 slide, FSU president Eric Barron is drawing a line in the sand.

Florida State will not be mediocre. Florida State, despite being in the ACC, will not allow itself to be clustered with that group that is considered to be inferior to the almighty SEC. Jimbo Fisher has gotten them there, and while the contract question is valid, it actually gives fans a reason to let out a sigh of relief if Jimbo cannot bring home the Sears Trophy.

No matter who is at the helm, national success will always be employed at Florida State.