Florida State edged Auburn in a dramatic BCS Championship Game last January, and nobody in Tallahassee will trade that in for anything. Head coach Jimbo Fisher will forever cherish the championship over Auburn, but deep down inside he wanted a piece of Alabama.
While talking to the Florida State softball team before a regional game, Fisher talked about the desire to be the best and take down the best competition possible. In doing so, Fisher mentioned he was hoping Florida State would get a chance to play Alabama, the two-time defending national champions at the time.
“I didn’t want to be in the SEC and win a championship,” Fisher said. “I wanted to be in the ACC and win (a national title). I wanted to break that mold. I wanted to play. We were begging to play an SEC team and we were hoping it was Alabama.”
Fisher was not taking a swipe at his BCS opponent, Auburn, but backing up his idea that was once made popular by Ric Flair in the pro wrestling world. To be the man, you have to beat the man (WOOO). Until the final moments of the Iron Bowl last fall, Alabama was The Man in college football. Of course, Fisher is a former assistant of Alabama head coach Nick Saban as well, so there may have been something a little more personal about the opportunity to go up against his former boss.
Perhaps Fisher and Florida State can get Alabama on the schedule at some point in the future. It is a match-up that has not happened nearly enough. The two programs have played just four times, with Alabama holding a slight 2-1-1 lead dating back to 1965. Alabama and Florida State have played just once since 1974, with a 2007 match-up going to the Seminoles.
Florida State will have its non-conference scheduling requirement under the new ACC scheduling policy fulfilled with an annual game with Florida, but with so many early-season neutral site games out there, and Alabama and Florida State clearly willing to participate in them, maybe this will be the best way to get the two powerhouses on the field at the same time.
Of course, there is always the playoffs...
Helmet sticker to Dr. Saturday.