Jimbo Fisher says he never intended to leave Florida State Seminoles

Curt Weiler | Tallahassee Democrat

Show Caption Hide Caption Goodbye Jimbo Fans say their farewells to FSU Coach Jimbo Fisher

For the first time since leaving Florida State for Texas A&M last December, Jimbo Fisher took the stage at SEC Media Days in Atlanta Monday as the TAMU head coach.

While much of his press conference revolved around his return to the SEC and his team, it would have been nearly impossible for FSU not to come up.

There was no mention of FSU or the ACC in SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey's introduction of Fisher, but the third question posed to Fisher was about FSU and if it was always an expectation of his that he would leave at some point to return to an SEC program.

After referring to FSU as "the other place" in an interview setting this spring, Fisher didn't hesitate from calling FSU by name at SEC Media Days.

"I had no intentions leaving Florida State. I was very happy and very content there. As you know, life takes changes and decisions are made," Fisher said.

"Everyone there was wonderful to me and I have nothing but respect and admiration for what they do and wish them nothing but the best in the future. It's a tremendous place. It really is."

Fisher resigned the day before FSU's 2017 regular-season finale against Louisiana Monroe to take a 10-year, $75 million deal with the Aggies.

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A later question asked if Fisher had any regrets about how his time at FSU ended.

"Is there ever a good way to leave? You try to do it the best you can and wish you could finish out the season," Fisher said of the end of his time at FSU.

"I have unbelievable memories of Florida State. I have a great respect for them. I think they'll have a tremendous year this year. The program is in a great situation. I think they'll do very well."

Fisher also fielded a question about what drew him to College Station.

In his answer, he mentioned his relationship with TAMU Athletic Director Scott Woodward -- who was the LSU Assistant AD when Fisher was the offensive coordinator there from 2000 through 2006.

"When you're in such a good situation, if you're going to make a change, it has to be something that you know is credible and someone you've maybe worked with in the past or you know has the same vision in which you have. I think that had a big part of it," Fisher said of Woodward.

"You can coach and you can have players, but if your administration doesn't see...we had great administration in Florida State, I'm not saying that, but his relationship was also one that I knew I could trust when you're making a change."

Fisher was also prompted about a comment he made in his opening statement about the SEC being the best conference in college football.

One astute reporter pointed out that he said the same thing about the ACC last season when still at FSU.

"I think the ACC's progression to where it has become in football is because of the SEC," Fisher said.

"I think the SEC's pressured to stay on top. Once somebody gets on top, like the SEC had the great run of the National Championship, we were able to break it at Florida State, that was our goal. We had to compete with the SEC, so that raised the level of play in the ACC."