TALLAHASSEE - In his first game as Florida State's offensive coordinator, Jimbo Fisher described the Seminoles' inept offense in the opening half as "unorganized chaos." In his second game, FSU today faces UAB, a program that appeared stuck in "unorganized chaos" as it conducted a search for a new head coach last winter.
At one point during UAB's hunt, Fisher was the school's top choice to replace Watson Brown, who left soon after a 3-9 season for Tennessee Tech. UAB targeted Fisher when former Blazers assistant Pat Sullivan, a candidate to replace Brown, was passed over for the job and later hired as head coach at Samford.
"I was very interested in the job," Fisher said this week. "They were going to come down [to LSU] and talk with me, and then whatever happened, happened."
According to at least one published report, Fisher is FSU's offensive coordinator today rather than UAB's head coach because of Paul Bryant Jr., son of late legendary Alabama coach Bear Bryant. A member of the University of Alabama Board of Trustees and good friend of Alabama athletics director Mal Moore, Bryant Jr. reportedly wielded his powerful influence to persuade the Board of Trustees to deny UAB's request to hire Fisher.
Bryant apparently held out hope that Fisher, who was new Alabama coach Nick Saban's top choice to be the Crimson Tide's offensive coordinator, might decide to re-unite with Saban, his former boss at LSU. But Fisher eventually landed at FSU to help Bobby Bowden rebuild the Noles into a national power.
"He was a hot commodity, no doubt about that," Bowden said of Fisher. "I'm just glad we have him here."
Fisher's name surfaced at schools with head-coaching jobs several times before he was hired as Jeff Bowden's replacement in January. Fisher acknowledges he hopes to be a head coach someday, but he has no hard feelings about not getting the UAB job.
"That's just part of this business that comes and goes," Fisher said. "I was very fortunate that there was an opportunity there. I'm happy to be here and am looking forward to getting better here. I don't ever look back. You make your decisions and go on. I love where I'm at.
"My hands are full right now trying to figure out what we can do and how we can do it."
As for UAB, the school hired former Georgia offensive coordinator Neil Callaway to replace Brown. Like Fisher, Callaway had never been a head coach. And also like Fisher, his new team struggled in his first game, losing 55-18 at Michigan State last week.
Callaway is familiar with Fisher, sharing common friends and having competed against each other the past six seasons as SEC rivals.
"Everyone is familiar with Jimbo Fisher and the great job he did while at LSU," Callaway said.
Bear Bryant Jr. included.
Reporter Scott Carter can be reached at (850) 294-3088 or scarter@tampatrib.com.
