Getty Image / Harry How
Nearly 12 years later, it’s hard to put into words how big of a deal it was in College Football when the #1 QB recruit in the nation, Jameis Winston, committed to Jimbo Fisher and Florida State over Nick Saban’s Alabama when he grew up 30 minutes outside of Tuscaloosa.
In the wake of Bobby Bowden retiring three years prior, Jimbo Fisher bringing in Jameis Winston and the #1 overall recruit in the nation that year, Mario Edwards (and 6 top 50 overall recruits), announced to the College Football word that Florida State was back.
Why did Jameis Winston pick Jimbo Fisher’s FSU over Alabama?
Jameis Winston was receiving heavy interest from Alabama, LSU, Ohio State, South Carolina, and of course, FSU where he was recruited by Dameyune Craig, coincidentally the coach who would later steal FSU’s signals in the 2013 National Championship against Auburn, a move that held FSU’s offense back for most of the game until the players realized what was happening and pulled out towels to block the play calls.
So, why FSU? Why Jimbo Fisher? As a guest on Parton My Take, Jameis Winston discussed how he and Jimbo were cut from the same cloth and it’s something he just knew. They were both in search of a championship and Jimbo was eager to get out of Bobby Bowden’s shadow and be known for more than just a former Nick Saban acolyte.
Jameis Winston on Jimbo Fisher: “I think when you are around people with similar energy, with similar mindsets, those energies work towards each other. They go together.”
“Jimbo had a lot to prove, right? Jimbo was… he was coming coming from LSU… He was filling in the steps of Bobby Bowden. The legendary coach. And this is Florida State. I get it, Florida State isn’t in SEC, but historically this has been a dominant college.”
“For you to fill the shoes of Bobby Bowden and for people to always connect you with Nick Saban for your entire career, you have a chip on your shoulder to say ‘hey, I’m going to have my Moses moment. I’m not going to be Aaron. There’s nothing wrong with being Aaron but I’m going to be Moses.”
“And when I got with Jimbo, Jimbo expressed that to me. Because unlike a lot of people, and it’s not judging, but some people are not wired to others. You hear the term ‘we ain’t cut from the same cloth.’ I instantly knew Jimbo and I were cut from the same cloth because Jimbo wanted a championship. He was going to do whatever he could to get that.”
Jameis Winston on Harassment after committing to FSU over Alabama: “I’m a kid from Alabama. I’m 35 minutes from Alabama. Listen, when I committed to Florida State the things that happened to me and my family was unbelievable.”
“Living in the state of Alabama, 35 minutes from Tuscaloosa. I mean, my mailbox was getting beat down. Thank the Lord you know, Home Depot had these mailboxes you can stick in the in the ground.”
“And this is something that’s serious, I felt like one time, well not one time, I still don’t have grass that grows in my front yard at my hometown house. I still don’t. because I feel like somebody poisoned in my grass.”
“You know what I’m saying? And I don’t want to I don’t want to blame Harvey or anybody, but I believe something happened. Like how does my grass just stop stop growing? And I smelled gasoline when I got home. Me and my dad, we talk about this.”
“My grandmother, she worked at UAB Medical, and got rest her soul. And she was an avid Alabama fan. And fans would send my grandmother, my GRANDMOTHER, hate mail. You going at my Grandma just because her grandson ain’t going to Alabama? You know, that is the stuff that you that you go through and it builds (you up).”
I don’t think anyone in the history of College Football Recruiting has ever made the mistake of accusing College Football fans of being rational when it comes to losing out on a ‘croot. There’s no doubt his grass was poisoned and his grandma received hate mail.
I’d say Jameis Winston’s story is a good reminder to log off and touch grass provided that grass has been poisoned by gasoline from disgruntled Bama fans.