Clark: Fisher didn’t deny interest in LSU because he didn’t want to lie

As soon as LSU fired the grass-eater on Sunday afternoon the speculation began about Jimbo Fisher.

Of course it did.

We all know Fisher’s history. We all know his affinity for Baton Rouge and that program. As I wrote last year, and still believe today, there is exactly one college job Fisher would leave FSU for. It just so happens that particular college job is now open.

And Fisher certainly wasn’t willing to say on Monday that he wasn’t interested. Which shouldn’t surprise any of us, obviously.

According to a published report last year in the Baton Rouge Advocate, Fisher’s agent, Jimmy Sexton, was already in talks last November to have Fisher replace Les Miles. Then Miles, somehow, saved his job.

Fisher stresses 'big picture,' not talking LSU

Well “saved” is a relative term in this case. He kept it for about the length of a pregnancy and now he’s gone. But the Fisher-to-Baton Rouge talk was put on hold for at least a little while.

Now it’s back. And it will be following this head coach and his program until Fisher either flatly denies his interest (which he won’t do) or LSU hires someone else (which won’t happen for months).

So here we are. Again. Wondering if the current Florida State coach is going to be the former Florida State coach once December rolls around.

I’ve heard people refer to LSU as being a “lateral move” for Fisher. That’s not true. It’s a downward move. Only by a few degrees, sure, but FSU has been better than LSU for roughly 23 of the last 30 years. And has been much better over the last half decade.

So “lateral” isn’t quite accurate.

But it also might not matter when it comes to Fisher.

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Last year when the rumors were catching fire he said he wasn’t going to talk about LSU because there was no job opening.

Well, there is now. But he’s still not going to discuss it.

“I’m not talking about LSU,” Fisher said during his Monday afternoon press conference.

Louisville’s Bobby Petrino was also asked about any potential interest in LSU and he said: “This is the job I want. This is where I’m going to be.”

Stanford’s David Shaw said: “Are you serious? The answer is no.”

Fisher didn’t quite strike that same tone did he?

To be fair, there’s no reasonable proof LSU would ever pursue Petrino or Shaw. So them saying they’re not interested in the job is like me saying I’m not interested in dating Jennifer Lawrence (in other words — it’s probably not up to us).

Fisher is different. There is a history there. He loves that place.

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And I can only imagine LSU would love to have someone who could actually develop a QB. Because that program has become a barren wasteland for quarterbacks since Fisher left after the 2006 season.

I don’t know how much LSU fans liked him when he was there. But after enduring a decade in which competent QBs were about as common as Big Foot sightings in Baton Rouge, I’m sure they appreciate him a whole lot more now. And would love to have him back.

The questions now are: Does Fisher want to go back? And is he LSU’s first choice?

If you believe the Advocate report from last year, the answer to the first question is “yes.” If you believe the rumors already getting ramped up in the last 24 hours the answer to the second question is “maybe.”

Houston’s Tom Herman is also speculated to be one of LSU’s top choices. But Fisher is always mentioned as either 1A or 1B on this list.

And the speculation about his future isn’t going anywhere.

It could. Of course. Fisher could come out and declare emphatically he’s not going to LSU. Period. That he loves FSU and this is where he plans to stay. But he’s not going to do that. For a few reasons.

First and foremost, he doesn’t want to lie. He doesn’t want to look like Nick Saban did after taking the Alabama job nine seconds after saying he wasn’t going to be next Alabama head coach.

And, in my opinion, Fisher saying he has no interest in LSU would be a lie. Maybe it’s a little interest, maybe it’s a lot, but I think it would be foolish to think there’s not at least some attraction there.

These coaches are put in impossible situations when asked about job openings. Unless you’re offering a complete denial like Shaw there is no right answer.

Imagine Fisher saying on Monday: “Thanks for asking. Actually, I am VERY interested in the job and I can’t wait to get out of this place! I even sent a basket of muffins over to LSU this morning just to let them know I was thinking about them.”

Or he could bring LSU and FSU caps to his next press conference and tell us where he’s going five-star-recruit style.

But that’s probably not happening either. So we’ll just sit and wait. And see how this plays out.

LSU will make calls. Sexton will take calls. And we’ll all get to speculate for the rest of the Fall.