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Should Florida State hire Jimbo Fisher? Weighing pros, cons with ex-Seminoles coach emerging as candidate

Florida State’s coaching search has taken an unexpected turn with Jim Fisher emerging as a potential candidate to return to Tallahassee after nearly a decade. Fisher, who led the Seminoles to an 83-23 record and a 2013 national championship during his initial tenure, left abruptly in 2016 amid controversy—including a widely publicized incident involving a discarded Christmas tree—before accepting a lucrative role at Texas A&M.

His departure set off a downward spiral for Florida State, marked by two consecutive coaching failures: Willie Taggart’s brief, underwhelming stint (9-12 record) and the recent firing of Mike Norvell, which triggered a $50.3 million buyout, the third-largest in college football history. Fisher’s name resurfaced as a candidate partly due to his massive $77.6 million buyout from Texas A&M, which would make his return financially feasible for the Seminoles.

Yet questions linger about his ability to replicate past success, especially given Florida State’s recruiting challenges against rising powers like Miami and Georgia, and lingering doubts over his past decision to leave the program abruptly.

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