Jimbo Fisher Reportedly 'Pushing Hard' for FSU HC Job, New Rumors on Search to Replace Mike Norvell

Jimbo Fisher is doing his part to make a reunion with Florida State happen.

USA Today's John Brice reported Tuesday that Fisher "is pushing hard for the job and calling potential staffers, and Georgia defensive coordinator Glenn Schumann."

Granted, Brice spoke to one college executive who cautioned against extrapolating anything from the rumors about the FSU job. The school is only a day removed from officially naming Jeff Purinton as the new athletic director.

"Anyone telling you much has happened at Florida State in their coaching search is full of it," the college exec said. "They just hired Purinton as AD. Nothing of consequence has happened yet."

Even before the Seminoles fired Mike Norvell, Fisher was linked with a shocking return to Tallahassee. He posted a .783 winning percentage in eight years at the school and delivered its most recent national title in 2013.

FSU hasn't enjoyed the same kind of consistency after Fisher exited for the Texas A&M job, so it's understandable why some fans and boosters might want him back.

But Fisher left the program in a state of disarray, which played a role in the Seminoles' broad downturn.

The 61-year-old was also a flop with the Aggies. They paid him a record-setting buyout of almost $77 million, which was a sign of how bad things had gotten in College Station.

Coaches are no different from athletes in that they can have a peak and decline phase.

Excluding the pandemic-shortened 2020 season, 2014 is the last time one of Fisher's teams finished in the top five of the Associated Press Top 25 poll. In addition, it's not a complete coincidence that his intricate pro-style offense delivered diminishing returns at the same time the transfer portal caused more roster turnover than over.

Coaching hires can be a complete crapshoot. Candidates who seemingly check off every box and prove to be a major disappointment. That applied to Fisher and his A&M run.

Florida State could nonetheless see Fisher as a relatively safe choice given his overall track record, specifically his previous experience with the Seminoles.