JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Last postseason the ACC posted an 8-3 record while the SEC’s 12 bowl teams managed just a .500 postseason record. That’s a big reason why Florida State head coach Jimbo Fisher had no issue anointing the ACC as the best college football conference in the country.
“I think we’ve established ourselves as I think the premier conference in college football,” said Fisher on Thursday at the ACC media days. “I think what we’ve accomplished in the last few years and the things we’ve been able to do as a conference and the commitment that our conference has made and the schools in this conference have made with the coaches, the players, and everything that goes with it.”
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That declaration will be put to the fire when Fisher and the Seminoles open the regular season against perennial power Alabama on Sept. 2 at the new Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta.
"I scheduled it, so I better be ready for it," said Fisher with a laugh.
While he wouldn't want to do it every year, Fisher said it's a great way to kick off the college season and believes the game will be a measuring stick for his team. The Seminoles, like Alabama, enter the season with realistic national championship aspirations.
"That is what college football is all about," Fisher said at ACC media days in Charlotte. "You get to walk into that atmosphere, that environment. You are talking about the two winningest teams in college football over the last seven years. That is great for our league and for college football."
Last season Florida State opened their season with a back and forth battle against Ole Miss. In that game quarterback Deondre Francois made his first career start. Now a year later Fisher is expecting the red-shirt sophomore to make sure the inexperienced players don’t get mentally overwhelmed with Alabama.
“I think that’s going to be the responsibility of Derwin (James) and Deondre (Francois) of reinforcing to young guys how his is not a one game-deal,” said Fisher. “I think when they take ownership – listen, coaches, we can do it all we want. At the end of the day, the players have to take ownership for what they do, what they accept and what they want. That’s what great teams do.”