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FSU's Jimbo Fisher says no contact about LSU opening

 
FILE - In this Nov. 28, 2015, file photo, Florida State coach Jimbo Fisher makes a plea to an official during the team’s NCAA college football game against Florida in Gainesville, Fla. Florida State faces Louisville this week.  (AP Photo/John Raoux, File) NY151
FILE - In this Nov. 28, 2015, file photo, Florida State coach Jimbo Fisher makes a plea to an official during the team’s NCAA college football game against Florida in Gainesville, Fla. Florida State faces Louisville this week. (AP Photo/John Raoux, File) NY151
Published Sept. 27, 2016

It took less than 24 hours for Florida State coach Jimbo Fisher to emerge as a potential candidate to replace Les Miles after Miles was fired Sunday by LSU.

During FSU's weekly Monday news conference to preview the game against North Carolina, Fisher denied that he or his representatives have had any contact with the Tigers.

"I'm not talking about LSU …" Fisher said. "We're talking about North Carolina."

But Fisher's name has been floated by Louisiana and national media for a few reasons, starting with his resume. Fisher spent seven years as an assistant at LSU, where he helped the Tigers win the 2003 national championship and molded quarterback JaMarcus Russell into the No. 1 overall pick in the NFL draft. With Miles gone, Fisher joins Alabama's Nick Saban, Ohio State's Urban Meyer and Oklahoma's Bob Stoops as the active head coaches who won a national title in that role.

Fisher would fill LSU's need on offense, too. Despite having star running back Leonard Fournette, LSU has the nation's No. 110 scoring offense and rank No. 112 in passing yards per attempt. Fisher has tutored three first-round quarterbacks at FSU, and his 2013 national champions scored an NCAA-record 723 points.

Fisher's name came up last year when Miles was on the hot seat, but he followed his self-imposed policy by declining to comment about other openings.

Fisher has plenty of reasons to stay at FSU. His two sons live in Tallahassee, and moving to another state wouldn't be easy on the divorced father. His salary of $5.1 million is the fifth-largest in the country, according to USA Today. No. 12 FSU has upgraded its facilities during his tenure, opening an indoor practice facility in 2013 and unveiling renovations to Doak Campbell Stadium — including a giant scoreboard nicknamed the Jimbotron — this fall.

But speculation in Tallahassee has always been that LSU is one of the few jobs he would consider.

The Tigers are the clear top program in Louisiana, a state loaded with blue-chip talent; he wouldn't have to compete with programs like Florida and Miami for local talent. Fisher's road to the College Football Playoff is tougher than it was two years ago, thanks to the rise of Clemson and Louisville as top-five programs and the rebuilding processes ongoing with the Gators and Hurricanes.

No decision at LSU is expected soon, which will only amplify the silence surrounding Fisher's future.

Miles, 62, said Monday he is not ready to retire.

INJURY UPDATES: Florida quarterback Luke Del Rio is "highly doubtful" to return this week against Vanderbilt, but coach Jim McElwain would not rule out his return from a left knee injury. Del Rio dressed out with a brace on his injured left knee against Tennessee but didn't play. Purdue grad transfer Austin Appleby is expected to make a second straight start.

Defensive lineman Joey Ivie (Pasco High) will likely be out with a thumb injury, and defensive back Quincy Wilson (leg) might miss practice again today. McElwain expects defensive lineman Jordan Sherit (Hillsborough High) to play through a leg injury.

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UF has not yet heard from the SEC office regarding a possible suspension of receiver Brandon Powell, who was ejected from the Tennessee game when officials said he threw a punch.

KICKING OFF: The Gators' Oct. 8 home game against LSU will have a noon kickoff on ESPN. A start time was not announced for that date's game between Florida State and Miami; it will be decided by noon Sunday.

LSU: Starting defensive end Davon Godchaux was suspended indefinitely after being arrested following an incident with his girlfriend at his apartment.

MICHIGAN: Cornerback Jeremy Clark (torn anterior cruciate ligament) is likely done for the year.

TEXAS: Guard Kent Perkins was suspended f after he was charged with driving while intoxicated.

Information from Times wires was used in this report.