Getty Picture / Harry How
Almost 12 years later, it’s arduous to place into phrases how massive of a deal it was in Faculty Soccer when the #1 QB recruit within the nation, Jameis Winston, dedicated to Jimbo Fisher and Florida State over Nick Saban’s Alabama when he grew up half-hour exterior of Tuscaloosa.
Within the wake of Bobby Bowden retiring three years prior, Jimbo Fisher bringing in Jameis Winston and the #1 general recruit within the nation that 12 months, Mario Edwards (and 6 prime 50 general recruits), introduced to the Faculty Soccer phrase that Florida State was again.
Why did Jameis Winston decide Jimbo Fisher’s FSU over Alabama?
Jameis Winston was receiving heavy curiosity from Alabama, LSU, Ohio State, South Carolina, and naturally, FSU the place he was recruited by Dameyune Craig, coincidentally the coach who would later steal FSU’s alerts within the 2013 Nationwide Championship in opposition to Auburn, a transfer that held FSU’s offense again for a lot of the recreation till the gamers realized what was taking place and pulled out towels to dam the play calls.
So, why FSU? Why Jimbo Fisher? As a visitor on Parton My Take, Jameis Winston mentioned how he and Jimbo have been reduce from the identical material and it’s one thing he simply knew. They have been each searching for a championship and Jimbo was desperate to get out of Bobby Bowden’s shadow and be identified for greater than only a former Nick Saban acolyte.
Jameis Winston on Jimbo Fisher: “I believe when you’re round individuals with comparable vitality, with comparable mindsets, these energies work in direction of one another. They go collectively.”
“Jimbo had rather a lot to show, proper? Jimbo was… he was coming coming from LSU… He was filling within the steps of Bobby Bowden. The legendary coach. And that is Florida State. I get it, Florida State isn’t in SEC, however traditionally this has been a dominant school.”
“So that you can fill the footwear of Bobby Bowden and for individuals to at all times join you with Nick Saban to your total profession, you’ve gotten a chip in your shoulder to say ‘hey, I’m going to have my Moses second. I’m not going to be Aaron. There’s nothing flawed with being Aaron however I’m going to be Moses.”
“And after I acquired with Jimbo, Jimbo expressed that to me. As a result of not like lots of people, and it’s not judging, however some persons are not wired to others. You hear the time period ‘we ain’t reduce from the identical material.’ I immediately knew Jimbo and I have been reduce from the identical material as a result of Jimbo wished a championship. He was going to do no matter he might to get that.”
Jameis Winston on Harassment after committing to FSU over Alabama: “I’m a child from Alabama. I’m 35 minutes from Alabama. Pay attention, after I dedicated to Florida State the issues that occurred to me and my household was unbelievable.”
“Residing within the state of Alabama, 35 minutes from Tuscaloosa. I imply, my mailbox was getting beat down. Thank the Lord , Residence Depot had these mailboxes you possibly can stick within the within the floor.”
“And that is one thing that’s critical, I felt like one time, nicely not one time, I nonetheless don’t have grass that grows in my entrance yard at my hometown home. I nonetheless don’t. as a result of I really feel like any person poisoned in my grass.”
“ what I’m saying? And I don’t wish to I don’t wish to blame Harvey or anyone, however I consider one thing occurred. Like how does my grass simply cease cease rising? And I smelled gasoline after I acquired residence. Me and my dad, we speak about this.”
“My grandmother, she labored at UAB Medical, and acquired relaxation her soul. And she or he was an avid Alabama fan. And followers would ship my grandmother, my GRANDMOTHER, hate mail. You going at my Grandma simply because her grandson ain’t going to Alabama? , that’s the stuff that you simply that you simply undergo and it builds (you up).”
I don’t suppose anybody within the historical past of Faculty Soccer Recruiting has ever made the error of accusing Faculty Soccer followers of being rational relating to shedding out on a ‘croot. There’s little question his grass was poisoned and his grandma obtained hate mail.
I’d say Jameis Winston’s story is an effective reminder to sign off and contact grass offered that grass has been poisoned by gasoline from disgruntled Bama followers.
