He battled against Bridgeport High School in three sports and made his own mark on the prep landscape back in the early 1980s before making a mark as a college football player. And now, more than three decades later James “Jimbo” Fisher is making a name for himself nationally in college football long past his playing days.

 

Fisher’s accomplishments as head coach of one of the most storied football programs in the country, Florida State, where he’s already captured a national championship for the Seminoles, were recognized by his hometown this afternoon. In a ceremony at Clarksburg’s Jackson Square, a sign recognizing Fisher as coming from Clarksburg was unveiled.

 

Fisher was on hand for the ceremony. Eventually, the sign will be placed on the Hewes Avenue Parking Garage that faces U.S. Route 50 and can be witnessed by thousands of travelers daily.

 

“This was very unnecessary, but greatly appreciated,” said Fisher, who was visibly moved by the gesture. “I can’t tell you what this town, what this area, what these people mean to me. My dad had a saying about people from West Virginia. He said ‘they’re original.’ What he meant by that is what you see is what you got.”

 

Clarksburg City Council member James “Jimmy” Malfregeot, who is the Vice Mayor and emceed today’s ceremony, said the recognition was the easy thing and the right thing to do.

 

“He’s a native son from the Glenn Falls section of Clarksburg that has accomplished much,” said Malfregeot. “Like so many, I followed his career in high school, college and now I watch him on Saturdays coaching Florida State.

 

“We have a national collegiate champion from right here so why not honor him? This was really an easy thing, in my mind, to do,” Malfregeot continued. “I’m very proud, and I think all of Clarksburg, Harrison County and West Virginia is as well, of the accomplishments of Jimbo.”

 

The accomplishments of Fisher are known nationally. After rising through the ranks of college coaching in his early days with Terry Bowden, he became the nation’s hottest commodity as an assistant coach – winning a national championship with Nick Saban in LSU. Eventually he reunited with the Bowden family – this time Bobby – as the coach in waiting at Florida State University. Six years ago, he took over the position and has had the Seminoles as one of the top programs in the country ever since, including winning a national championship in 2013.

 

Despite the accomplishments hundreds of miles to the south, Fisher still calls West Virginia home. He said he makes it a point to be back home to visit his family, in particular his mother Gloria, a few weeks each summer at their Glen Falls farm.

 

It was on that farm where his family, his mother and his late father John James, instilled the love of community and family. And most importantly, the love of hard work that has made him equally successfully and thankful for what he still has back home in the Mountain State.

 

“This means a lot because these people mean the most to me. For the people of Clarksburg and Harrison County to do this for me is a humbling experience; I promise you that,” said Fisher. “ … I love coming home and why I try to spend so much time here when I do get away. It’s where you can be yourself and  it’s really who I am and where I grew up and where I got all the values I have in my life. It’s relaxing here. It’s just fun.”

 

Fisher was a multi-sport all-state athlete at Liberty High School; graduating in 1983. He left LHS on a Division-I baseball scholarship to Clemson. He spent a semester at Clemson before coming back to Harrison County and to Salem College where he spent three successful seasons at quarterback playing for Terry Bowden.

 

While at Salem, Fisher established a school and West Virginia Conference record for career passing yardage. A two-time conference player of the year and an All-American in his final season at Salem, Fisher transferred to Samford College in Birmingham, Alabama, for his final season of eligibility when Bowden went to coach there. Fisher was named the NCAA Division III National Player of the Year in his one season. Eventually, he spent one season with the Chicago Bruisers of the Arena Football League.

 

“I wanted to play as long as I could and then (coaching) was just natural to me because I always enjoyed the whys of the game. Even when I played I wanted to know how it worked and why did it work,” said Fisher. “I was intrigued by how things happened so (coaching) was a natural fit.

 

“I love being around ball. I love the competition and I love the kids,” said Fisher. “I love giving someone an opportunity that I had from a lot of great coaches that I was fortunate enough to be around.”

 

As his accomplishments indicate, including at one time having a 29-game winning streak, Fisher entered the coaching ranks and climbed it steadily. Eventually replacing Bowden as promised.

 

Fisher now enters his sixth year as FSU’s coach. He once again has landed one of the nation’s top recruiting classes and is in many preseason top 10 polls.

 

“I wish my father could have been here to see this, but I’m thankful my mother and son are,” said Fisher.

 

Editor's Note: Top photo shows Jimbo Fisher looking as the sign is unveiled, while he is shown talking with another local icon, Sheriff Tiano, in the second photo. Fisher talks with the media following the presentation and then poses with his mother and son following the unveiling of the sign. Photos by Ben Queen by www.benqueenphotography.com.