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By Safid Deen Orlando
Before running into each other at the NFL draft on Thursday, Jimbo Fisher said he might have last spoken to Nick Saban about a month or two ago.
With Florida State and Alabama set to open the 2017 season against each other, who knows when the longtime friends will interact again before their first college football matchup as head coaches.
Saban and Fisher are former co-workers and West Virginia natives with a lasting bond developed throughout their illustrious coaching careers.
But both coaches recently insisted their familiarity could be overstated when their teams meet in Atlanta on Sept. 2. The matchup will come down to the players' execution and the new tidbits they have incorporated in their coaching styles since last working together at LSU from 2000-2004, they said.
"We've evolved through the years in terms of some of the things they do, some of the things that we do," Saban said after Alabama's spring game on April 22. " ... Philosophically, are there some similarities? Probably. But that's true with a lot of coaches that have programs that we compete against.
"It's not going to be about the coaches. It's going to be a game about the players."
Fisher also suggested they had evolved during their time apart.
"We know each other, but we haven't been around each other in a long time," Fisher said during an ACC conference call Wednesday. "They've added wrinkles and we've added wrinkles. I just know this: They'll be very well-prepared and very well coached. Hopefully, we will do the same on our end."
The apple did not fall too far from the tree.
Fisher was an assistant at LSU from 2000-2006, where he served as offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach before Saban left to coach the Miami Dolphins in 2004. Together, they won the first of Saban's five national championships in 2003.
Instead of reuniting with Saban at Alabama in 2007, Fisher decided to become Bobby Bowden's offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach before becoming head coach in 2010. After winning his first national title in 2013, Fisher did an ESPN postgame interview sitting next to Saban on the panel.
The familiarity between Saban and Fisher also extends to their assistant coaches.
FSU linebacker coach Bill Miller and defensive ends coach Brad Lawing both worked under Saban at Michigan State in 1999 before he left for LSU.
FSU offensive line coach Rick Trickett coached at LSU in 2000 and wide receiver coach Lawrence Dawsey was a graduate assistant at LSU in 2003. Alabama defensive line coach Karl Dunbar was also at LSU in 2000 and 2005.
Most notably, current Alabama defensive coordinator Jeremy Pruitt worked under Fisher for the 2013 season.
Fisher may have taken away some bragging rights as a Bowden assistant when FSU beat Alabama 21-14 in Jacksonville in 2007, but he will attempt to become the first Saban assistant to beat his former boss next season.
Jim McElwain, Will Muschamp, Kirby Smart, Mark Dantonio and Derek Dooley have all tried and failed. Saban is 10-0 against his proteges.
"I think Jimbo is an outstanding coach," Saban said. "He's done a fabulous job. He did a great job for us (at LSU). He is one of the best offensive coordinators that I've ever had ā college or pro. Very creative. Very good teacher. He does a great job with the quarterbacks. They have talented players, and they've played at a high level at a pretty consistent basis."
Fisher echoed the same type of praise for Saban, adding his time with him was "tremendous" and "he taught me so many things."
If Saban and Fisher really get the urge to chat, they know they're just a phone call away.
"Sometimes he's real busy and I'm real busy, but we have a great relationship and I have tremendous respect for him," Fisher said of Saban.
"He's not only one of the great coaches now. He's one of the greatest coaches of all time."
Decatur DailyāContinue reading...
With Florida State and Alabama set to open the 2017 season against each other, who knows when the longtime friends will interact again before their first college football matchup as head coaches.
Saban and Fisher are former co-workers and West Virginia natives with a lasting bond developed throughout their illustrious coaching careers.
But both coaches recently insisted their familiarity could be overstated when their teams meet in Atlanta on Sept. 2. The matchup will come down to the players' execution and the new tidbits they have incorporated in their coaching styles since last working together at LSU from 2000-2004, they said.
"We've evolved through the years in terms of some of the things they do, some of the things that we do," Saban said after Alabama's spring game on April 22. " ... Philosophically, are there some similarities? Probably. But that's true with a lot of coaches that have programs that we compete against.
"It's not going to be about the coaches. It's going to be a game about the players."
Fisher also suggested they had evolved during their time apart.
"We know each other, but we haven't been around each other in a long time," Fisher said during an ACC conference call Wednesday. "They've added wrinkles and we've added wrinkles. I just know this: They'll be very well-prepared and very well coached. Hopefully, we will do the same on our end."
The apple did not fall too far from the tree.
Fisher was an assistant at LSU from 2000-2006, where he served as offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach before Saban left to coach the Miami Dolphins in 2004. Together, they won the first of Saban's five national championships in 2003.
Instead of reuniting with Saban at Alabama in 2007, Fisher decided to become Bobby Bowden's offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach before becoming head coach in 2010. After winning his first national title in 2013, Fisher did an ESPN postgame interview sitting next to Saban on the panel.
The familiarity between Saban and Fisher also extends to their assistant coaches.
FSU linebacker coach Bill Miller and defensive ends coach Brad Lawing both worked under Saban at Michigan State in 1999 before he left for LSU.
FSU offensive line coach Rick Trickett coached at LSU in 2000 and wide receiver coach Lawrence Dawsey was a graduate assistant at LSU in 2003. Alabama defensive line coach Karl Dunbar was also at LSU in 2000 and 2005.
Most notably, current Alabama defensive coordinator Jeremy Pruitt worked under Fisher for the 2013 season.
Fisher may have taken away some bragging rights as a Bowden assistant when FSU beat Alabama 21-14 in Jacksonville in 2007, but he will attempt to become the first Saban assistant to beat his former boss next season.
Jim McElwain, Will Muschamp, Kirby Smart, Mark Dantonio and Derek Dooley have all tried and failed. Saban is 10-0 against his proteges.
"I think Jimbo is an outstanding coach," Saban said. "He's done a fabulous job. He did a great job for us (at LSU). He is one of the best offensive coordinators that I've ever had ā college or pro. Very creative. Very good teacher. He does a great job with the quarterbacks. They have talented players, and they've played at a high level at a pretty consistent basis."
Fisher echoed the same type of praise for Saban, adding his time with him was "tremendous" and "he taught me so many things."
If Saban and Fisher really get the urge to chat, they know they're just a phone call away.
"Sometimes he's real busy and I'm real busy, but we have a great relationship and I have tremendous respect for him," Fisher said of Saban.
"He's not only one of the great coaches now. He's one of the greatest coaches of all time."
Decatur DailyāContinue reading...
