When Fisher leads the Seminoles onto the field on Sept. 4 against Samford University it will mark the first time since Nov. 22, 1975 someone other than Bobby Bowden has been at the helm of the Florida State football program.

Fisher, however, is no stranger to the visiting Bulldogs out of Birmingham, Ala. In 1987, he was Samford's record-setting, starting quarterback and won NCAA Division III National Player of the Year honors during a season when he threw a record 34 touchdown passes. One of the most popular photos in the Fisher family album that season was him sitting on the Samford bench wearing a Florida State baseball cap. A year later, Fisher began his coaching career as a student assistant at Samford, mentoring quarterbacks.

In a twist of irony, Fisher's first game as a head coach at any level will come against Samford, which turned out another quarterback who earned Little All-American honors as a player for then-Howard College and enjoyed a bit of success at the college level. His name? Bobby Bowden.