Hello fans. I've been quiet for a long time. Why? Don't know. Nevertheless, I am now moved to write.
Last year and for the last few years, I have heard the term "meaningless" bowl game used frequently by many fans and media. I've always felt that is wrong. Reality is that all of these games are truly meaningless in terms of life. Every single one. The national championship game too. Unless you're somehow financially connected to the game, it's all just entertainment.
But as a fan, I've never ever felt that any game was meaningless. Especially bowl games. Last year, people said the Orange Bowl was meaningless against Georgia. We played like it too. It looks like we have a nice hangover still from New Year's.
I now invite everyone who subscribes to what I call the "meaningless fallacy" to reconsider their opinion. Otherwise, given that "meaningless" means no possibility of a championship, the rest of the season for the Seminoles is therefore meaningless.
I bet you don't feel that way and I don't either. I now hope to get to a bowl game and I hope the players feel the same way. I hope when they get to a bowl, the players and the fans don't view it as meaningless.

Real talk, you have to play for the future and even if the other QB sucks, might as well try to develop him. It can't get worse in the w l column.

Defense: DE's are not containing QB/RB's and NO pressure on the QB's, LB's are slow and can't cover the RB's coming out of the backfield. Offense: WR's are NOT getting separation. QB is, well slow. Lucas is a blaze....FSU has always had breakaway speed but this team is average.

Wilcox on whether having played against DJU last year when he was Oregon State's QB gives Cal an advantage in preparation:

DJ is a really talented guy. I remember him in high school, even in early years of high school. He's a big, physical guy. He can throw the ball all over the place. He's played a lot of football, and we played him last year. He played an excellent game against us last year and so we've got a ton of respect for him. He can throw it. He's really hard to tackle because he's so big. So we've got a lot of respect for DJ. ... Anytime you've seen somebody once, you kind of have a little bit more of a feel for him, but it's a different system.

Below is the link to the stats and play by play of Oregon State's 50-40 victory over Cal last year in which DJU was 19 for 25 and threw 5 TD passes with no turnovers.

OSU defeats Cal in 2023

Who makes this stuff up lol! Prime time favored to be the next FSU head coach. Please NEVER, don’t need or want the drama! Still hasn’t proven that he can actually coach.

2025 RB target Ousmane Kromah will be back on campus this weekend to take in the Cal game. He has set a commitment date for September 28th.

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Four-star safety Ladarian Clardy makes his commitment decision on Saturday at 2:30 EST. He will be choosing between 7 finalists, including Ole Miss, Florida State, Vanderbilt, UCF, LSU, Washington, and Mississippi State.

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DE

• Tomiwia Durojaiye (JR) 6’4-280
• Byron Turner (SR) 6’4-250
• Lamont Greene JR (RFR) 6’3-230
• Aron Hester (JR) 6’2-245
• DD Holmes (RFR) 6’6-255
• Jaden Jones (SR) 6’5-240
• Marvin Jones (SR) 6’5-255
• Patrick Payton (SR) 6’5-250

Portal Options
Nyjalik Kelly (Dillard HS-UCF) (8 Tackles – 1TFL-1 Sack) (UCF)
TJ Bush (Bishop Ireton-Virginia) 6'3-250 (3.5 Sacks-9 Tackles) (Liberty)
Kobe Stewart (Thompson HS-Alabama) 6'3-240 (2.5 Sacks)
Jayden Jones (Arkansas State) 6'5 260 (2 Sacks -2 TFL)

Comments: Kelly was once committed to FSU. He went to Miami and had some injury issues. He is now very productive at UCF. FSU should go after Kelly again. FSU did not want to pay for a player who had a history of injuries. Feel he is worth taking a flyer on. TJ Bush out of Liberty has 3.5 sacks this year. He gives you that strong side DE FSU needs. He is very productive.

DT

• Joshua Farmer (SR) 6’3-320
• Darrell Jackson (SR) 6’5 330
• Grady Kelly (SR) 6’2-295
• Daniel Lyons (JR) 6’4-300
• KJ Sampson (SO) 6’3-305
• D’Nas White (RFR) 6’4-335
• Jamorie Flagg (RFR) 6’3-315
• Kevin Wynn (TFR) 6’2-320

Comments: Losing Myron Charles is huge. I would go after Floyd Boucard. He was committed to Oklahoma. He has since opened up his recruitment. He was better than Charles at the UA Camp earlier this year. He never showed up at FSU this spring but now it is time to make him a priority. Also feel FSU needs to go all in on Jeremiah McCloud who is committed to UF. Jarquez Carter committed to Ohio State. I could see them pushing him out for better prospects at DT. FSU has options. FSU has decisions to make if they can't sign quality HS DT. Farmer and Jackson both have extra years. You got to bring them back. I feel if you can bring back Farmer, Jackson and have Sampson and Lyons one year older FSU rotation at DT would be very good next year. Wynn needs to stick in FSU class. We have to wait and see what the portal brings.

LB

• Justin Cryer (JR) 6’1-230
• Omar Graham (JR) 6’1-240
• Timir Hickman Collins (RFR) 6’0-220
• Shawn Murphy (JR) 6’2-230
• Blake Nichelson (JR) 6’3-225
• Jayden Parrish (RFR) 6’1-225
• Demarco Ward (SO) 6’1220
• Ethan Pritchard (TFR) 6’2-210
• Max Redmon (TFR) 6’1-190

Portal Options
Xavian Sorey (Graceville) 6'3-225 (10 Solo/13 Assisted-23 Total-Leads ARK) 3.0 TFL
Gabe Jacas-(Fort Pierce Central) 6'3-275 (1 Sack, 3 TFL, 12 Tackles) (Illinois)
TJ Capers - (Columbus HS) 6'2-220 (1 Int)
Stanquan Clark (Miami Killian) 11 Tackles (Louisville)

Comments

Could the linebacker position be better, SURE. That being said I like Cryer and feel he can be an all-conference type player next year. Nichelson is a prospect that is new to the position. You will see be in the right spot. He did fill the hole last week and get pushed back but that can be fixed with weight training and learning proper technique. His instincts show that the kid is in the right position. I still expect FSU to bring in some high school backers. Redmon will most likely move to linebacker once on campus. Ward/Nichelson, Parrish/.Cryer is a good start. One way to fix the position is go and get a legit backer out of the PORTAL. Start with Xavian Sorey. He is from Florida. 23 Tackles, 3 Tackle for loss. He is at Arkansas and their coach is going to get fired. RAID THE HOGS.

S

• Ashylind Parker (JR) 6’3-215
• Shyheim Brown (SR) 6’2-210
• Conrad Hussey (JR) 6’0-200
• Edwin Joseph (SO) 6’0-190
• KJ Kirkland (RSO) 6’1-210
• Earl Little (RJR) 6’1-190
• Quindarrius Jones (JR) 6’2-190
• Gregory Thomas (TFR) 6’2-190

Portal Options
Ladarius Tennison (Rockledge-UCF) (8 Tackles)
Jaheim Singletary (Riverside HS) (1 Interception - 6 Tackles)
TJ Metcalf (Pinson Alabama HS) 6'1-200 (Arkansas) (21 Tackles)
CJ Heard (Woodward Academy HS) 6'0-200 (FAU) 20 Tackles -2nd in Tackles at FAU
Phillip Dunnam (North Miami Beach HS) 6'1-190 (FAU) (2 Interceptions-9th in Tackles)

Comments: Phillip Dunnam should have been recruited out of NMB in HS. He played very well at Indiana. He has since transferred to FAU. He has 2 interceptions and in 9th in tackles on the team. He would fit in nicely at FSU. He is similar to Jammie Robinson. He would give FSU a calming presence in the secondary. Singletary was a big time recruit out of high school. He signed with Georgia and is now at Arkansas. He is one of Arkansas better defensive backs. Bring him home...Kid can play. CJ Ward was committed to FSU. He is someone that was pushed out of their class. Good kid who liked FSU. Well all he has done at FAU is be their second leading tackler (20). I am sure he would be an easy pull.

CB

• Cai Bates (RFR) 6’2-190
• Jamari Howard (RFR) 6’1-190
• Ricky Knight (RFR) 6’0-170
• Charles Lester (RFR) 6’1-190
• Jabril Rawls (RFR) 6’1-180
• AZ Thomas (SR) 6’2-190***

Portal Options:
Xavier Scott (Dwyer HS-University of Illinois) (JR) 3 Interceptions
Braeden Marshall (Lake Mary-UCF) (JR) 7 Tackles
Antoine Jackson (Dillard-UCF) (SO) (4 Tackles, 1 INT-2 PBU)

Comments: Xai as he is known was a prospect I was very high on coming out of Dwyer. He is another kid who got out of the state of Florida. If Xai does not leave to the NFL, FSU needs to hope the kid hits the portal and they can land him. He is a prospect has can move around in the secondary and give you some versatility.

K/P
Jake Weinberg (RFR) 5’10-190 (FR)

Comments: FSU is going to need a punter. I am sure they will bring in a punter this off-season.

FSU sports information:

The Florida State women’s tennis team has four student-athletes traveling to Cary, N.C., for the ITA All-American Championships beginning this Saturday.
Juniors Millie Bissett, Kristyna Lavickova, Tina Li, and senior Maria Juliana Parra Romero have been selected to compete this weekend. All four will compete in singles, while the 34th-ranked duo of Bissett and Parra Romero will also be competing in doubles.
Lavickova enters this weekend as the 98th-ranked singles player in the nation. Parra Romero and Bissett are also ranked in singles with Parra Romero ranked No. 113 and Bissett No. 120 in the ITA rankings.
Bissett accumulated 30 wins last spring and was named All-ACC in doubles with Vic Allen. Lavickova secured 14 wins in the spring of 2024, which included a nine-match win streak.
Parra Romero and Li are in their first season with the Seminoles. Parra Romero spent her first three years at Liberty where she collected 73 wins and earned first-team All-Conference USA recognition in 2024. Li totaled 33 wins in her two seasons with BYU and earned All-WCC Honors in doubles in 2023.
The ITA All-American Championships begin Sept. 21 and run through Sept. 29.

The latest in today's Recruiting Rumor Mill:

Should be our head coach

Doak Campbell Stadium Progress Report

Founders Suites: Sold out

Founders Loge Boxes: Sold out

Dunlap Champions Club



West Sideline Chairback Seats: All Legacy and Platinum Chiefs invited now.
FSU will continue to invite donors in priority order over the coming months.

Which ever one of you guys ask the real questions will be getting my subscription… I’m over everyone giving Norvell a free pass after this bullshit we are seeing.

Pretty confident he makes the move at quarterback..and trust me, he was stubborn as they come as a coach

As an offensive line standout on a couple great 80s FSU teams, few have enjoyed FSU’s OL resurgence of the last few years more than Mark Salva.

That has made FSU’s serious struggles and lack of cohesiveness up front this season tough for Salva to watch with no clear answers or fixes in sight.

Osceola intern Justin Hood catches up with FSU left-hander Parker Messick, who has delivered an impressive few months at Double-A Akron in Cleveland's minor league system:

1. Communications: that's on the Coaches; players don't play with intensity or miss assignments-replace them
2. LB's: Can't cover and late to covering WIDE OPEN RB'S AND TE'S.
3. GET 3 AND OUT! Time of Possession is one sided. Defense needs to quit getting beat on 3rd down!

REBUILD

FSU sits at 75 scholarships if none of the underclassmen leave and there is no attrition. I really have not seen one player who is an underclassmen play who should declare for the 2025 NFL Draft. Payton, Jackson, Farmer and AZ Thomas are the guys with the best shot at leaving early. Anyone else that wants to leave early like MJJ can. Personally someone like MJJ can take a pay cut and try and win a starting job in 2025. I would not run anyone off. I know that is the thing for most but the biggest issue is no longer getting to 85 which FSU is ten under the limit. It is 105. FSU is going to have to keep everyone in the fold. I have added in all of FSU 2025 commitments. This means they lose no other players to decommitments. FSU will need to add 30 more players between the portal and HS recruiting this off season. That number could grow to another 10-15 players depending on who leaves, who gets Med DQ’d. I do think there are pieces there to work with. We will break down the roster and give you are opinion.

QB

• Brock Glenn (RS SO) 6’2 215
• Luke Kromenhokek (RS FR) 6’4-210
• Tramell Johnes (FR) 6’0-200
• Walk On-Trever Jackson (RFR) 6’3-190

Comments: FSU needs to find out what they have in Brock Glenn. He either is THE GUY in 2025 or FSU is down to two scholarship quarterbacks next year and that is not ideal. I would still bring in another arm out of the portal even if it is back up. FSU is going to have seriously consider some options out of the portal.

Prediction – Glenn transfers, FSU takes another QB from HS and one from the portal.

Portal Options:

Top Targets:

Avery Johnson Kansas State (43-67 64.2% -6 TD-1 INT)
DJ Lagway University of Florida (27-44 61.4% 4 TD-3INT)

Anthony Colandrea: (UVA) (Lakewood HS-St Pete) 6’0-190 (71-103 -69%-5 TD/4 Int.)
Rocco Becht: (Iowa State) (Wesley Chapel) 6’1-210 (43-61-70.5% 4 TD/1int)

Comments: Why AVERY??? Avery came to FSU Seminole Showcase heading into his senior season. He was a true option for FSU and they went after other quarterbacks instead. Avery will be this classes Cam Ward. He has to enter the portal but if/when that happens FSU has to be ready to offer the million dollar price tag it will cost. He will be a junior…Bring him in, let Luke sit one more season and let’s roll.

RB

• Jaylin Lucas (SR) 5’9-180
• Kam Davis (SO) 5’10-220
• Samuel Singleton (FR) 5’11-195
• Micahi Danzy (FR) 6’1-190
• Byron Louis (TFR) 6’0-200

Comments: FSU backfield heading into 2025 will be much stronger then 2024. Davis and Danzy will be a year older and more experienced. You have Lucas who will come back with experience. Byron Louis is the future. He is really good. FSU can still go out and get a seasoned back out of the portal. He must be a Benson or Damian Martinez type back.


Portal Options
CJ Donaldson (West Virginia) (Hialeah HS) 6’2-240 (45 Rushes-246 Yards-5.47 AVG-3 TD)
Fluff Bothwell (South Alabama) (Oneonta HS) 5’10 220 (23-243-10.57 AVG-4 TD)
Montrell Johnson (UF) (NEW ORLEANS) 5’11-215 (SOPH SEASON-152-817-5TD)

Comments: CJ is from Hialeah HS in Miami. He was a bit of an h-back/running back/tight end in high school. He is big and powerful. He would complement what FSU is trying to run on offense. He is a junior and may declare for the draft. He may decide to play somewhere his senior season. He would be ideal for FSU.

WR

• Hykeem Williams (JR) 6’2-220
• Destyn Hill (SO) 6’1-195
• Camdon Frier (RFR) 6’0-190
• BJ Gibson (RFR) 6’0-190
• Lawayne McCoy (RFR) 6’1-180
• Elijah Moore (RFR) 6’4-200
• CJ Wiley (TFR) 6’4-190
• Malik Clark (TFR) 6’3-220
• Daylon McCutcheon (TFR) 5’11-175

Portal Options:
Eugene Wilson (JR) 5’10-170 (UF-Gaither HS) (13-191-14.69 AVG-1TD)

Comments: The only way FSU should go after a portal receivers is if they are legit. Wilson has proven to be one of the better weapons on UF team. He had close to 800 yards last season. FSU needs some experience. Add Wilson and Gadsden and the new QB in 2025 puts FSU right back on the map.

TE

• Brian Courtney (SR) 6’3-240
• Jackson West (SR) 6’4-240
• Jerrale Powers (SO) 6’4-240
• Landen Thomas (RFR) 6’4-235
• Amare Williams (RFR) 6’4-220
• Chase Loftin (RFR) 6’6-320

Portal Options:
Oronde Gadsden II (Syracuse) (American Heritage) 6’5-240 (13-201-3 TD-15.5)
Arlis Boradingham (UF-Van Nuys-CA) 6’3-240 (Freshman Stats – 26-289 4 TD)
Randy Pittman (UCF-Mosley HS) 6’2-250) (6-95-Yards)

Comments: Gadsden father coached with Surtain. His son played for him at Heritage. Gadsden is a Tight End Version of Johnny Wilson. He would be someone I would really try and go after. You want to talk about changing your offense this kid would do it. He is a hybrid WR/TE. He would make an immediate impact on Day 1. Gadsden and Landen Thomas and the room went from dismal to potentially great.

OT

• Jaylen Early (JR) 6’4-300
• Lucas Simmons (SO) 6’8-310
• Jonathan Daniels (RFR) 6’4-290
• Manasse Itete (RFR) 6’5-300
• Jayden Todd (RFR) 6’6-325
• Solomon Thomas (TFR) 6’4-315

OG/C

• Julian Armella (JR) 6’6-325
• Bryson Estes (SR) 6’3-290
• TJ Ferguson (SR) 6’4-330
• Tye Hylton (RFR) 6’5-290
• Andre Otto (RFR) 6’5-320
• Peyton Joseph (RFR) 6’3-310

Portal Options
Rod Kearney (UF-Mandarin HS) (RFR) 6’4-310
Knijeah Harris (UF-IMG Academy HS) (SO) 6’3-320

Comments: FSU needed Perry. They need to circle back to him and offer more money. FSU will need to go to the portal. Harris starts for UF. He would give FSU a bigger, more athletic interior lineman. FSU is going to recruit the portal for Guards and Centers he would be a good one. I know Kearney spurned FSU the first time around….He would be a welcomed addition. FSU does need tackles…Gonna have to try and find one in the portal.

Please join us live on the Osceola YouTube Channel for Seminole Sidelines at 3pm today. Our guest will be Matt Moreno from GoldenBearReport.com who will give us some insight on what type of team Cal is rolling into Tallahassee with. Then JP Peterson will join me to talk all things FSU football related, including his reaction to my Takeaway Tuesday column. Here is the link:

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After an afternoon of hyperbole and images of FSU fans with bags over their heads, Saturday came to a merciful end. As I lay in bed my wife noted my body was home but my head was still at Doak and then asked a humanizing question that became the subject of this column: What is going through Mike Norvell's mind tonight.
I called several former coaches in the morning to ask how they dealt with losses and while they each had similar processes, I found Mark Richt's comments particularily relevant. In this column, he takes us through his thoughts, emotions the other coaches shared with me as well. If you are ready to put the Memphis game to bed, you might enjoy what Richt has to share about how to motivate your team to keep fighting for improvement.

Solutions to move the 2024 team forward

FSU Athletics Director Michael Alford is talking to ADs around the country to find out how they will budget for the Federal Court mandated revenue sharing with student-athletes that will add $22.5 million to his athletics budget.
University of Tennessee's AD Danny While announced a not-unexpected method, he's going to add a 10 percent tax to the price of his season ticket holders, plus a 4.5 percent increase, 14.5 per cent in all.

Tennessee sells 103,000 season tickets, with a 15,000-seat waiting list, so White estimates the tax will cover nearly $10 million of the $22.5 million in revenue-sharing for the 2025 football season.

How do you think a transparent "Talent Tax" would go over here at Florida State?

For reference, in Florida State's best years, the Seminoles have sold in the neighborhood of 42,000 season tickets, with another 18,000 allocated for students, and 7,500 for visiting fans or single game buyers.

Tennessee Talent Tax

Florida State returned to the practice field Tuesday morning for its first open practice of the week, four days out from Saturday night's home game against Cal (3-0).

Head coach Mike Norvell said after the practice that it was a "high-emotion" day of work, adding that was what he wanted to see. "I saw some guys that in the earlier part of practice that maybe lost control of a reaction or a response. To see them finish the way they did, it was definitely a positive step."

Here are our observations from Tuesday's practice:

FSU's first team period Tuesday morning was a pair of red-zone series, an area where the offense has struggled this season. The first series ended on third down with DJ Uiagalelei throwing an endzone interception to Fentrell Cypress. The second series, helmed by Brock Glenn, ended with a touchdown run by Samuel Singleton after a few runs gave the offense first and goal inside the five.

I know you all are probably tired of hearing this by now given the fact that it hasn't yet translated into games, but I thought it was a good day for Uiagalelei after his interception to start things. He connected with Hykeem Williams and Malik Benson a few times each during team periods, using the middle of the field well to find open targets. He also had a goal-line touchdown pass later in the day to Ja'Khi Douglas under some pressure from the defensive line. Glenn had a few nice throws as well and also used his legs effectively on a few occasions to pick up yards when he couldn't find an open receiver or found himself under pressure. Luke Kromenhoek threw an interception to Conrad Hussey during 7-on-7 pass skelly work, but he also had probably the single-best throw of the day in 11-on-11 when he connected with Micahi Danzy deep down the sideline on a play-action pass. It was a perfect throw and a nice catch by the running back through pretty good coverage.

It's something that FSU's wide receivers work on from time to time, but that they spent a few early periods of Tuesday's practice working on perimeter blocking felt intentional after Norvell called FSU's perimeter blocking against Memphis "bad" and "awful" during his press conference Monday. We saw much better perimeter blocking on a screen to Benson late in Tuesday's practice that allowed him to pick up about 10 yards thanks to an improved execution from his fellow wideouts.

Blake Nichelson also had an interception in 1-on-1s to round out the Mission Takeaway counter at three during Tuesday's practice. DJ Lundy and KJ Sampson had a few nice plays against the run where they moved laterally well to stop a run for a short gain. Marvin Jones Jr. also had a pair of "tackles for loss" on consecutive plays during the final 11-on-11 period.

Kyle Morlock had probably the best catch of the day, getting separation in a hole in the defense and going well above his head for an impressive full-extension catch down the sideline on a slightly high pass. Fellow tight end Brian Courtney also had a nice catch on a really nice throw from Glenn during the same 11-on-11 period.

We'll be back out there Wednesday morning for the final practice availability before Saturday's game.

The Osceola spent an hour with FSU AD Michael Alford discussing the changing landscape of collegiate athletics, much of which is being dictated by recent Supreme Court anti-trust rulings that have mandated NIL, and now revenue sharing with the players. This is the second story in a multi-part series discussing a myriad of issues impacting the athletics budget.

As an FSU Vice President, Alford is responsible not only to balancing the athletics budget but also to alerting and advisint the FSU Board of Trustees on matters affecting athletics. The impact these court rulings will have on athletics -- tens of millions per year -- played a large role in the Florida State Univesity's decision to challenge the ACC's Grant of Rights which allegedly binds FSU to a conference media rights package that will pay FSU $40 million less than the media rights agreements of the Southeastern and Big 10 conferences.

While limited in the scope of what he can say about the lawsuit, Alford was candid about the complexity of the lawsuit and of the mediation process either of which could take years, not months.

FSU v ACC Lawsuit will take more time than public thinks