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Jimbo Fisher addresses LSU speculation: 'I plan on being at Texas A&M'

Let the questions begin.

With LSU making it official that Ed Orgeron will not return as head coach next season, one of the best jobs in the sport is open. And many believe Jimbo Fisher is a top target for LSU athletic director Scott Woodward.

Fisher, in his fourth season at Texas A&M, was asked about the speculation on Monday. He told reporters he intends to fulfill his contract with the Aggies, which spans through the 2031 season.

“I love being here. This is the job I want,” Fisher said. “I love being here. I have a great contract. I have an unbelievable chancellor, an unbelievable president, an unbelievable AD. I believe we’re in the process of building something great. I plan on being here and fulfilling this contract. I love everything about this place.”

Fisher has connections to both LSU and Woodward. Fisher had an eight-year run at Florida State, where he won a national championship. When Woodward was the AD at Texas A&M, he lured Fisher away from Tallahassee and gave him a 10-year, $75 million contract.

Now Woodward is at LSU and has a chance to bring Fisher back to Baton Rouge. Fisher was the offensive coordinator at LSU from 2000 to 2006 under Nick Saban and later Les Miles. In 2003, Fisher helped the Tigers win the national championship. Woodward, a Baton Rouge native, worked at LSU from 2000 to 2004 before leaving for Washington, where he later became athletic director.

Texas A&M head coach Jimbo Fisher walks the sideline during the fourth quarter of an NCAA college football game against Missouri Saturday, Oct. 16, 2021, in Columbia, Mo. Texas A&M won 35-14. (AP Photo/L.G. Patterson)
Texas A&M head coach Jimbo Fisher walks the sideline during the fourth quarter of an NCAA college football game against Missouri Saturday, Oct. 16, 2021, in Columbia, Mo. Texas A&M won 35-14. (AP Photo/L.G. Patterson)

When Saban left LSU for the NFL, Fisher interviewed for the LSU job before the school hired Miles. Fisher was also linked to the LSU job in 2015 and 2016 when Miles’ status with the school was tenuous.

Despite those connections, Fisher maintained Monday that there is “nothing going on there.”

“I coached there. It was a great place. We won a national championship. It’s a wonderful place,” Fisher said. “I love being at A&M and I plan on being at A&M here and fulfilling my whole contract.”

Fisher, of course, expressed sentiments late in his tenure at Florida State when there were constant rumblings about his interest in other jobs. This will be an ongoing saga as the 2021 season progresses until LSU finally names its next head coach.

And if it’s not Fisher, who are the other candidates for the LSU job? Yahoo Sports’ Pete Thamel has a list that includes James Franklin and Lane Kiffin, among others.