Corey Clark

Democrat senior writer

I remember where I was when 30-0 happened.

I’m sure you remember where you were. But I wanted to know where the current Florida State head coach was 10 years ago when Wake Forest came into Doak Campbell Stadium and showed everyone exactly what rock bottom looked like.

Without 30-0 there’s a compelling argument to be made that Jimbo Fisher never comes to FSU. Because without 30-0 maybe Jeff Bowden doesn’t decide to resign and maybe Fisher’s career goes down a completely different path.

So with Wake Forest returning to the scene of the crime a decade later, I asked Fisher what he remembered about the game he coached that day. The one where LSU beat Alabama (the year before Saban arrived) 28-14 in Baton Rouge.

"Jamarcus (Russell) threw three touchdowns,” Fisher said. “We hit a power and Dwayne Bowe made an unbelievable block. We were in a little bunch formation. He went out and hit the corner, the safety is unblocked, he saw him, ricocheted off the corner and hit the safety and Keiland (Williams) hit it for a 60-yard touchdown.

“Early Doucet had a great day. Dwayne Bowe caught a touchdown. Jamarcus was really sharp in that game and (Jacob) Hester caught a touchdown on a screen.”

Keep in mind, folks, I asked this question out of the blue after practice this week. Fisher had no time to prepare, to look anything up, to even pause and search his memory banks. The whole game just flooded out of his mouth. Ten years later.

And look where he is 10 years later. He’s got three ACC titles, a national championship, a school-record winning streak and has been ranked in every poll for five years straight. He’s also added an extra comma to his paycheck, which is always nice.

What a difference a decade makes, huh?

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I asked Fisher what his goals were back then, as a 41-year-old coordinator at one of the nation’s best programs?

“I was hoping I was going to be a head coach,” he said. “I had turned down a couple of opportunities, but I was waiting for the right situation to occur and the right opportunity. At that time there were a couple of jobs coming open, if you remember, some smaller head jobs. There was a pro coordinator’s job.

“I was just trying to make the right choice.”

I think this is what gets lost in the aftermath of 30-0.

In hindsight, of course it made sense for Fisher to come to Florida State. He had ties to the Bowden family. If he helped resurrect the program naturally he would be considered a successor when Bowden retired — that was obviously much more likely than being handed the LSU job anytime soon.

But it wasn’t a slam-dunk decision by any means.

“I always tell coaches, make a move for a job that’s going to affect you 10 years down the road,” Fisher said. “Never do it for instant money, instant gratification, instant anything. And in coaching, the guys that end up bouncing, bouncing, bouncing — to me never get to where they want to go.

“That whole time was an extremely difficult decision for me. Not just because of here. But there were about five different opportunities. And you’re trying to plot which is the best one for you. Not just now but 10 years down the road. And I had no idea there was a head coach in waiting or anything else. I was never told any of that.”

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His first year in Tallahassee the Seminoles went 7-6. The team he left won the national championship. There was nothing instant about the gratification Fisher had at Florida State. It didn’t come until much later.

He admits that he had some sleepless nights while at LSU when it came to other jobs he didn’t take.

“You turn down some head jobs that are $1.5 or $2 million a year jobs,” Fisher said, “and I’m laying in bed a month later saying, ‘Did you really just do that?’”

But he said he never really had that anxiety about coming to Florida State. Even though he knew he was leaving a loaded LSU team behind.

“That’s what you can’t become enamored with,” Fisher said. “If you did it over there why can’t you do it over here? That’s the reason they’re coming to get you. I always say this, make sure the place you’re going to has more going for it than your hard work. Make sure it can provide the ingredients to bake the cake.”

Florida State can. And has.

When 30-0 happened, though, there didn’t seem to be much hope for FSU fans. The program was in a rut — to be kind — and had just suffered the most humiliating loss in the Bobby Bowden Era.

Less than two months later, Fisher was wearing garnet. And while the program wasn’t turned around overnight — the Seminoles actually lost to Wake Forest in 2007 as well — it eventually rose back to the dominant level it enjoyed during Bowden’s great run in the 1990s.

How much longer Fisher remains at Florida State is anyone’s guess (you guys might recall that LSU job is currently open), but there’s no doubt 30-0 was THE catalyst that got him to Tallahassee. Which in turn got Jameis and Jalen and Lamarcus and Dalvin to Tallahassee, too.

And to think it all started 10 years ago. On a rainy night in November. Against Wake Forest.

“I can’t believe it’s been that long,” Fisher said walking off the practice field this week. “Holy moly. It’s amazing. It really is.”