For the second straight year, Florida State head coach Jimbo Fisher has been connected to the head-coaching gig at LSU.
When Les Miles’ status with the Tigers was up in the air last year, representatives for Fisher, the former LSU offensive coordinator (including the national title-winning team in 2003), were reportedly in contact with the university. The school opted to keep Miles after last season, but moved on from him after a 2-2 start this year.
According to a report from the New Orleans Times-Picayune, LSU again has its sights set on Fisher. The report says Fisher, who is in his seventh season as FSU’s head coach, and current interim head coach Ed Orgeron “have emerged as strong candidates” to replace Miles.
LSU athletic director Joe Alleva, who was in hot pursuit of Fisher last fall, has maintained the lines of communication with Fisher’s representatives.
Fisher’s buyout at Florida State would be $5 million if he were to leave prior to the 2017 season. Sources said that steep figure would not deter LSU from hiring Fisher as the program is preparing to invest heavily in the pursuit of national championships.
Salary for Fisher and his assistants — plus the buyout for Miles — was reportedly a sticking point last year. It will reportedly be an important part of the equation this time around, too (it always is).
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Multiple coaches who have worked for, or with, Fisher said it’s highly likely he would take the job if LSU meets his salary demands and gives him a long-term deal. Fisher signed a new contract with Florida State last year that will pay him up to $44 million through 2022.
“Jimbo was Joe’s guy from the beginning, and I just don’t see him passing on hiring him,” a source close to the situation said, referencing the AD’s pursuit of Fisher last fall when Miles was first under fire.
This is all to be expected. Agents speak with athletic directors often and have to do their due diligence for their clients, even if it is just leveraging for a raise at the coach’s current school. That’s not to say Fisher wouldn’t seriously consider LSU, but these tidbits leaking out about Fisher and LSU aren’t groundbreaking.
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Plus, Orgeron is making a strong care to have the interim tag removed. The Tigers are 4-1 under his watch, with the only loss coming at the hands of top-ranked Alabama. The Times-Picayune’s report says “some of LSU’s largest financial backers” are beginning to “warm up” to the idea of Orgeron taking the reins of the program moving forward.
Orgeron, a defensive line coach by trade, has opened up the offense quite a bit. The lack of creativity on that side of the football was a big downfall for Miles. Fisher is an offensive coach known for developing quarterbacks. The decision could come down to that.
Orgeron’s fate might hinge on his ability to lure a top offensive coordinator to Baton Rouge to join his staff if he were hired.
“He would have to have the right guy lined up, or there will be a lot of resistance from influential people,” according to a source briefed on the search.
In addition to Orgeron, other purported candidates for LSU include North Carolina’s Larry Fedora, Oklahoma State’s Mike Gundy and Houston’s Tom Herman.
Once LSU’s regular season ends Thanksgiving night, expect things to really heat up.
For more LSU news, visit TigerBait.com.
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Sam Cooper is a writer for the Yahoo Sports blogs. Have a tip? Email him or follow him on Twitter!
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