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Jimbo Fisher cuts short interview

College Football, Florida State Seminoles

Florida State coach Jimbo Fisher cut short a media interview Monday after he was asked whether his reputation was taking a hit because of star quarterback Jameis Winston's off-field issues.

Fisher has faced heavy criticism for both standing up for Winston throughout the university's handling of the investigation about whether the quarterback sexually assaulted an FSU student in December 2012, and not coming out with a stronger suspension of Winston for a recent profane and sexually charged outburst.

Fisher was asked in an interview with AL.com and several other media outlets whether he thought his reputation as a no-nonsense coach had received any damaging blows in light of Winston's several off-field incidents and subsequent questionable behavior.

"Why is my reputation taking a hit? For backing a kid who has done nothing wrong?" Fisher said. "I don't want to get into this. The questions weren't supposed to be asked today. I'm done. I'm done."

The interview abruptly ended.

Later Monday, AL.com said Fisher contacted the website and agreed to answer several questions about his Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback he had earlier declined to answer.

The questions included whether any date had been set for an upcoming student judiciary hearing in which Winston might have violated the university's student conduct code for his behavior during the alleged 2012 sexual assault.

"They'll have to set the date for that and it'll be through our administration and their lawyers," Fisher said.

He also conceded he'd be open to disciplining Winston "if the facts change."

"I base my decisions on the facts," Fisher told AL.com. "If the facts change, we change whatever goes on. But we believe in everything so far and we have no reason not to."

The unbeaten Seminoles are on a bye this week and return to action with a road game against unranked Louisville on Oct. 30.

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