Fisher declines to speak about LSU job: 'I love being at Florida State'
In the wake of a report that his representatives are talking with LSU about its vacant head coaching position, Florida State football coach Jimbo Fisher refused to talk about the situation other than saying he's happy at FSU.
"I'm not going to talk about any jobs," Fisher told reporters after Florida State's Tuesday practice. "I love being here at Florida State. I plan on being here and I'm just getting ready for Syracuse."
Fisher then said he would have no further comments on the matter.
*** Warchant Extra: What we're hearing on the Jimbo Fisher/LSU situation
FSU's players who were made available to the media on Tuesday said that Fisher hasn't mentioned the report to them, and they're not expecting him to.
"How you deal with them (reports) is you block them out," junior tailback Dalvin Cook said. "We know Coach Fisher loves us. He loves the university. That's why he hasn't addressed us ... 'cause it's a rumor. So you address the rumor by just blocking it out.
"We've got a game to play this Saturday. Block the noise out and go play football."
Fisher, who was offensive coordinator at LSU in the early to mid-2000s before leaving for the same position at Florida State, has been reportedly courted by the Tigers since former coach Les Miles came under fire last year.
Reports out of Louisiana stated at the time that LSU athletics director Joe Alleva was hoping to fire Miles and bring Fisher in as his replacement. The deal never materialized, and Fisher said repeatedly that he was never in talks with the school.
As soon as Miles was fired during the 2016 season, reports again have linked Fisher to the job. On Tuesday, the New Orleans Times-Picayune quoted unnamed sources as saying that Alleva "has maintained the lines of communication with Fisher's representatives."
Fisher's current contract, which he signed in January 2015, runs through the 2022 season. If LSU were to try to hire him, the Tigers would have to pay a $5 million buyout. The Times-Picayune report quotes sources as saying that would not be an issue for the Tigers.
Fisher, who is in his seventh season as head coach, posted a 68-14 record in his first six years and led the Seminoles to the 2013 national championship. FSU is 7-3 this season and 4-3 in ACC play.
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