Rick Trickett receives extension

Sep 3, 2011; Tallahassee, FL, USA; Florida State Seminoles Offensive Line Coach Rick Trickett talks with offensive lineman David Spurlock (79) and offensive guard Jacob Fahrenkrug (60) and offensive guard Bryan Stork (52) during the second quarter against the Louisiana-Monroe Warhawks at Doak Campbell Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Phil Sears-USA TODAY Sports

Today, FSU released documents revealing that Rick Trickett received a two year extension and an additional $55,000.

"Trickett, entering his seventh year with the program, now has a contract through 2016 that pays him $455,000 annually. That amount keeps Trickett as the second-highest paid assistant behind defensive coordinator Jeremy Pruitt ($500,000). In 2012, the Seminoles finished with the 40th-ranked passing offense, a top-25 rushing offense and a top-10 scoring offense.Additionally, the school released the contract info for its two new coaches, running backs coach Jay Graham and tight ends coach/recruiting coordinator Tim Brewster. Graham will be paid $275,000 annually and Brewster will make $290,000 annually. Both contracts are for two years. Though Brewster made $225,000 a year with his former employer, Mississippi State, he said earlier this month that money played no role in his decision to switch jobs.Brewster and Graham are two of six new coaches to join Jimbo Fisher‘s coaching staff this offseason. The new coaching staff will make over $5.6 million this upcoming season."

Did you hear that collective groan in Tallahassee?  This is a move that will not sit well with the average Florida State fan.  Fans will cite to Trickett’s recent recruiting snafus and wonder why he’s getting rewarded.  It’s clear, however, by the process of elimination that Trickett is getting rewarded for loyalty and his ability to coach up players once they arrive on campus.  Take 2011 for example–he prepared four true freshman to start in a bowl game against Notre Dame.

Last week, we questioned whether Rick Trickett is fixing his own problems–he’s having to coach almost twice as hard because his recruiting has not been effective in recent years.  Remember, we don’t have a single lineman that we recruited two years ago (the class of Watson and Glausner).  And you have to wonder what impact this will have on future recruiting.  Other schools have negatively recruited against Trickett–arguing that his age and style don’t have FSU an attractive destination for top offensive lineman.  This may be a sign from FSU that they are committing to Trickett (and his style) for a few more years regardless of the rumors about his coaching style or recruiting failures.

In the big picture, I don’t think this is a bad move.  We really don’t know what the future of FSU’s offense holds, but for the foreseeable future, we know that it will be Jimbo Fisher running the offense.  Do we have an offensive coordinator on staff?  Possibly, in Randy Sanders.  But maybe Jimbo isn’t sold on Randy quite yet, or maybe Jimbo has another succession plan altogether.  That 5-year plan that Jimbo mention coincides with Rick Trickett’s extension.  This will be Jimbo’s 4th year and Trickett just got another 2 years (to finish out the entirety of the 5-year plan).  My guess is Jimbo has an idea of who he wants and that person might just be someone who coaches offensive line.

Also, this means that you should expect Trickett to be here regardless of what happens to his son.