Florida State coach Jimbo Fisher is most definitely tiring of fielding questions about troubled quarterback Jameis Winston, but when one such question tied Fisher's own credibility to that of his oft-criticized star on Monday, it was too much. Fisher cut off a media interview and refused to answer more questions prior to meeting with the Birmingham (Ala.) Monday Morning Quarterback Club.
According to cbssports.com, Fisher was asked if it was fair that his reputation was taking a hit.
"Why is my reputation taking a hit? For backing a kid who has done nothing wrong?" Fisher said. "I don't want to get into this. The questions weren't supposed to be asked today. I'm done. I'm done."
Winston faces a school disciplinary hearing related to a sexual assault allegation that he was not legally charged for, and is also the subject of an ongoing FSU investigation into whether he profited from autographed memorabilia in violation of NCAA rules. Among other disciplinary issues, his only suspension from playing football in his year and a half as the Seminoles' starter came against Clemson earlier this year, for shouting a vulgar phrase at the FSU student union.
Winston is running short on supporters these days, but golfing legend Jack Nicklaus is one.
Fisher has staunchly defended the third-year sophomore, and said Winston told him he had not taken any money for signed memorabilia. Fisher said the quarterback club told him there would be no questions about Winston's off-field troubles, but according to the report, media on hand were told of no such restrictions. Given that Winston's hometown of Hueytown, Ala., isn't far from Birmingham, it's not likely reporters would have made the concession, anyway.
The reality for Fisher is that as long as he stands by a player who finds trouble and controversy as consistently as Winston does, reporters' questions about it aren't going to go away. Fisher might have gotten away from one such question on Monday, but he's merely walking into another the next time he approaches a microphone.
*Follow Chase Goodbread on Twitter **@ChaseGoodbread.*
