Jimbo Fisher's candidacy at Texas A&M has been the worst-kept secret in college sports of late, to the point where the Aggies are not interviewing other candidates and Florida State has reportedly begun preparations for its own coaching search.
Adding to the chorus: FootballScoop heard from sources with knowledge on Wednesday, and there is a quiet optimism the deal will indeed get done.
Fisher has flirted with leaving Florida State before, only to leave his suitors at the altar. He discussed taking the LSU job in 2015 before Tigers officials, amid a public outcry, brought Les Miles back for one more season. He also discussed the LSU job in 2016 before the Tigers promoted Ed Orgeron to the full-time job. Fisher signed an extension through 2024 last December.
Fisher -- through his agent Jimmy Sexton -- spun both flirtations into better contracts at Florida State, but the ask from the Fisher camp this time around has been for additional investment into the program.
Florida State has pushed back on its coach's narrative that Florida State has slacked in its commitment to investing in the football program.
“As for capital projects, we have been responsive to coach Fisher’s facility requests including the indoor practice facility, locker rooms, coaches offices, player lounge and student housing for football and are actively fund-raising for his most recent request for a football facility that is currently under architectural study by the athletic department,” Seminole Boosters CEO Andy Miller said in an interview with the Tallahassee Democratthis week.
Add in that Fisher has criticized Florida State's commitment amid a 5-6 season in which the Seminoles started at No. 3 in both polls, and the dynamics feel different this time around than in the past two seasons.
Florida State has moved onto doing due diligence on Oregon head coach, and Florida native, Willie Taggart, according to USA Today's Dan Wolken.
FootballScoop's understanding is Oregon has such concern that a deal between Taggart and the Seminoles could happen that it has begun doing due diligence on its own candidates in preparation for a second search in as many years. Sources tell FootballScoop Oregon does not consider Scott Frost "available" should their position open. Make your own assumptions from there.
However, sources add Oregon is doing diligence on other sitting Power 5 head coaches.
Stay tuned friends, this is truly beginning to sound like real life Nuclear Winter.
Nothing official is expected to happen until this weekend, after Florida State wraps up its regular season against Louisiana-Monroe.
As always, stay tuned to The Scoop for the latest.