REPORT: LSU was prepared to throw crazy money at Texas A&M's Jimbo Fisher

The LSU Tigers and athletic director Scott Woodward had one of the most high-profile coaching searches over the past few months. Names such as James Franklin, Lincoln Riley, and Billy Napier were mentioned before pulling Notre Dame head coach Brian Kelly out of South Bend.

Texas A&M head coach Jimbo Fisher was another name strongly linked with LSU. He and Woodward have a history together, making him the Aggies head coach in 2018. A few years later and the athletic director was reportedly trying to hire Fisher again.

Brett McMurphy of Stadium is reporting LSU was prepared to offer Fisher an 8-year, $125 million deal contract in late November. The $13 million per year would have been one of the highest salaries for a head coach in college football.

Fisher himself has a history with LSU, independent of Woodward, working in Baton Rouge from 2000-2006 as the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach. He won a national championship with Nick Saban during the 2003 season.

Fisher responded to LSU rumors

When LSU was reportedly ready to offer Jimbo Fisher a contract, the Texas A&M head coach was asked about taking the job. His denial turned about to be true, staying with the Aggies while the Tigers hired Kelly.

“I’ve told everybody I am staying here and I’ve told everybody I plan on being the coach at A&M,” Fisher said. “Everybody thinks all coaches lie, I know. I know y’all don’t believe us. That’s why we don’t trust y’all, so we’re even. Whatever we say is not off the record. I’m joking.”

Going back to his previous comments about the job, Fisher repeated everything he has already said about Texas A&M. Essentially, he and his family are more than happy living in College Station.

“I said the other thing. I plan on being here, I love the AD, I love the president, I love the chancellor, I love living here, I love being at my ranch, the family loves it here, I love the people, I love Kyle Field, I love all of that stuff,” Fisher continued.

“I plan on being at A&M, I want to be at A&M, I don’t want to be anywhere else, I love being right here.”

Fisher even said he would have to be the “dumbest human being” if he were to leave College Station due to how well Texas A&M is recruiting. Since these comments, the 2022 class has only gotten better, rising up to the No. 1 spot on the On3 Consensus rankings.