The Seminoles are Back

There is a struggling football powerhouse that is quietly building a very strong foundation. This football program just gave their Hall of Fame coach a win in his last every game at the university. The Florida State Seminoles haven’t won 10 games since 2003, but this is going to change very soon. Now that he has officially replaced Bobby Bowden, Jimbo Fisher has put together a very strong staff and recruiting class for next season. In hardly any time, Fisher has received commitments from highly-touted linebacker Jeff Luc, safety Matt Elam and wide receiver Kenny Shaw. These players join top-ranked cornerback Lamarcus Joyner to form a top-ten recruiting class that looks like it could end the year in the top-five. The way that Fisher has put together these commitments is very similar to what Lane Kiffin did last season at Tennessee.

There was plenty of uncertainty surrounding Fisher and some people wondered if Fisher would have immediate success following a legend like Bowden. Fans in Tallahassee should jump aboard Fisher’s bandwagon now as things are only getting better. Like Kiffin did last season, Fisher raided other successful staffs to add to his new staff. The ironic part is Fisher adding Tennessee running backs coach Eddie Gran to his staff as Gran is a very good recruiter that has plenty of connections in Florida. It is no coincidence that Luc’s commitment was announced shortly after Gran left Tennessee. Also like Kiffin, Fisher is adding these recruits at a very quick pace. Kiffin added Bryce Brown, Janzen Jackson and Nu’Keese Richardson all late in the recruiting process and Fisher is doing the same in Tallahassee.

It is obviously easier for a coach to replace a coach like Mike Shula instead of a coach like Bowden or Phillip Fulmer, but Fisher and Kififn are doing a very good job in their early careers at their schools. Even though the Vols lose quarterback Jonathan Crompton and most of their offensive line, Kiffin’s team is already being thrown around as a team that could win the wide-open SEC East next season.Fisher returns a lot of young talent, including cornerback Greg Reid that is a ballhawk like Tennessee safety Eric Berry. Here is a bold prediction for Seminoles fans: Fisher will lead the Seminoles to a BCS game within two years.