Jimbo Fisher thinks Winston Publix 'hook up' was 'isolated incident'
In an episode of ESPN’s “Draft Academy,” former Florida State quarterback Jameis Winston said he had a “hook up” for free food with a Publix employee that led to his infamous citation for shoplifting crab legs.
A day after the episode aired, FSU head coach Jimbo Fisher said he believes Winston’s belief that he could walk out of the store with free food was an “isolated incident,” according to Warchant.com.
In past interviews, Fisher said that Winston made a mistake when he walked out without paying. Fisher said Wednesday that Winston’s explanation on “Draft Academy,” which took place in a classroom segment with Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh, was the first time he heard of the “hook up” arrangement.
“If he says it is (true), I guess it is,” Fisher said on an ACC coaches’ teleconference. “I had no knowledge of it until I came in this morning.”
Fisher said FSU’s compliance department reached out to Publix after the incident.
“We did make contact with Publix back then to make sure there was nothing going on … talking to our compliance this morning. They had communications about that before, and they’ve had communications today,” Fisher said. “They think it’s a totally isolated incident that happened. They’re in the process of working with it right now. They don’t think it’s anything else more than that.”
Winston never made a public comment about the incident, but did say he made a “terrible mistake” in a statement released through FSU.
“In a moment of youthful ignorance, I walked out of the store without paying for one of my items,” the statement said in part.
Winston was suspended from the Seminoles’ baseball team for three games and performed community service after being cited.
For more Florida State news, visit Warchant.com.
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Sam Cooper is a contributor for the Yahoo Sports blogs. Have a tip? Email him or follow him on Twitter!
