LSU needed only eight days to find a new offensive coordinator. LSU hired University of Oregon offensive coordinator Gary Crowton to replace Jimbo Fisher. Fisher announced he was leaving LSU on Jan. 8 and assumed the same position at Florida State University. LSU Sports Information Director Michael Bonnette said a press conference will be held at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday to announce Crowton’s hiring. Bonnette said he expects that coach Les Miles to be present at the press conference. Before coaching at Oregon for two seasons, Crowton held head coaching positions from 2001-2004 at Brigham Young University and from 1996-1998 at Louisiana Tech. His combined record was 47-36. He was also the Chicago Bears’ offensive coordinator from 1999-2000, where his offense ranked third in NFL passing yardage. The offensive coordinator position became available when Fisher agreed to a three-year contract at Florida State worth $215,000 per year, replacing Jeff Bowden, who was at Florida State for 13 seasons. “I am very excited about the opportunity to come to Florida State University,” Fisher said in a news release. “I’ve always had great respect for Florida State and utmost respect for Coach [Bobby] Bowden.” Since his first season with LSU in 2000, Fisher has sent five quarterbacks to the NFL – Josh Booty, Rohan Davey, Craig Nall, Matt Mauck and Marcus Randall, who joined the Tennessee Titans as a defensive back. LSU junior quarterback JaMarcus Russell will be added to the list in April. During Fisher’s tenure, LSU won two Southeastern Conference championships, three Sugar Bowl games and one national title. In their 2003 championship season, the Tigers set 15 school records including points, 475, total yards, 5,857, and passing touchdowns, 30. LSU had 30 passing touchdowns in 2006 and averaged an SEC-best 34 points per game and 417 yards per game. The Tigers ranked fifth in the nation in pass efficiency and third in fourth-down conversion percentage. “LSU has been a large part of my life,” Fisher said. “These past seven years have been very special for me and my family.” Florida State (7-6, 3-5 Atlantic Coast Conference) finished No. 5 in the Atlantic Division of the ACC. Florida State defeated UCLA, 44-27, in the Emerald Bowl on Dec. 27, barely missing its first losing season since 1976. The Seminoles’ offense ranked 70th in the nation in total offense this season with a No. 103 rating in rushing offense. Fisher may be leaving one quarterback controversy for another. Last season starter Drew Weatherford and Xavier Lee competed for the job. Although Weatherford received much more playing time, both players had similar pass efficiency and completion percentages, and both will be juniors next season. According to Rivals.com, the Seminoles are looking at six potential recruits from Louisiana. One is five-star safety/wide receiver and Baton Rouge native Chad Jones, who is considering LSU and Florida State among other schools. Before Fisher left LSU, he was assigned to recruit Jones to the Tigers. Although Bobby Bowden was disappointed in his son’s resignation, he said he is very optimistic about hiring Fisher. “I’ve followed Jimbo’s career for a long time, and his ability to put in an offense and adjust as the season goes along is second to none,” Bobby Bowden said. Calls to the Oregon athletic administration and to Crowton’s home in Eugene, Ore., were not returned.
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