Jimbo Fisher Says CFP Turning Football into Figure Skating

Asked today about the subjectivity of the college football playoff, Florida State head coach Jimbo Fisher didn’t mince words.

Jimbo Fisher isn’t mincing words about the college football playoff these days. But then, what else is new? Fisher has never been shy about voicing his displeasure with the state of things in college football. Whether it’s complaining about BCS computers, dreaming up goal-post lasers or just waxing philosophic about social media’s impact on college sports– Fisher’s willingness to share some of his more pointed opinions is one of his most endearing qualities in the eyes of Florida State fans.

On Monday, he was at his best when asked about the college football playoff.

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“I don’t feel disrespected, I just think we make a point sometimes — and I say this even from a media standpoint or a consensus standpoint or whatever — we all become brainwashed too, just like I think y’all become brainwashed when people tell you things sometimes, you know what I’m saying? Now I say that out of respect, I don’t mean that with any disrespect or anything else,” said Fisher. “I don’t think there’s a hill of beans, you guys say one conference is better but I don’t think it’s that drastic that all of them are similar if you want to tell the truth about it. I think everybody can beat anybody in college football right now. On any given Saturday. Or Sunday. Or Monday or Tuesday– we play on every day, don’t we?”

There are century-old Oak trees that can’t even throw that much shade. Working backwards, Fisher takes a nice little shot about the fact college football is played on pretty much every day of the week these days, but the real gem is the fifth-year head coach calling a room full of media — myself included — completely brainwashed. But he added that he means it respectfully. So take no offense. Let’s call that ‘pulling a Ricky Bobby.’

It didn’t get any less shady after that, when Fisher continued by making the first known comparison in the history of mankind between football and figure skating.

“I think it goes back to perception, because I think it sometimes we devalue winning, [but those] guys ain’t ever stood at this podium,” said Fisher when pressed about FSU not being ranking number one. “But that doesn’t bother us. But I said the other day, we’re turning into figure skating– we’re judging. That’s the thing I loved about basketball, football, it’s won on the field. Know what I’m saying? But it is what it is.”

Fisher’s Seminoles — the lone unbeaten P5 team in the country — have been third the last couple of weeks in the CFP Committee’s rankings behind two one-loss teams.

Later in Fisher’s press conference he was asked about the committee potentially penalizing Ohio State following an injury to TJ Barrett.

“That should have no bearing on it. Their body of work and what they do should be measured,” said Fisher. “Again, this is not figure skating. If Ohio State wins the game, wins the [B1G Conference], does what it’s supposed to do if that’s what they feel is right they should put them in there. How do you know– their other quarterback got hurt and they put [TJ Barrett] in and they’ve done pretty well. They had one loss then and they’ve done pretty well. And to me that is total craziness if you think that way.”

The precedent the committee sets on Tuesday when it decides what to do with Ohio State could have an impact on FSU. QB Jameis Winston is slated to have his student conduct hearing tomorrow. If the hearing runs into next week — or if a decision on the matter hangs in the air until after the committee makes its final decision on the playoff — the committee’s decision this week on how to handle the Buckeyes could potentially (keyword: potentially) have ramifications for Fisher’s team.

Major ones.

And clearly, Jimbo Fisher doesn’t think it should.

“No,” said Fisher. “Because we beat a great Clemson team without Jameis– played great football.”

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