After originally choosing NC State over FSU, Auburn linebacker transfer Cam Riley changed his mind, committing to FSU Wednesday after decommitting recently from NC State which he originally chose.

Big boost of experience and depth to the middle of the FSU defense.

After coaching against his son last weekend, Link Jarrett will now coach against a former teammate, Mike Bell, when FSU plays at Pitt this weekend.

Also included in this story: An update on Conner Whittaker's status entering this weekend and Link Jarrett's memories of being there in person for Marshall McDougall's historic six-home run game at Maryland 25 years ago today.

FSU sports information:

The awards keep on coming for Florida State softball's star freshman phenom Jaysoni Beachum as she was named a Top 10 Finalist for the 2024 TUCCI/NFCA National Freshman of the Year award on Wednesday afternoon. Beachum is looking to become the first Seminole to win the award.

The newly announced ACC Freshman of the Year and First Team All-ACC honoree is putting together one of the best freshman seasons in school history. Beachum has already broken the freshman RBI record and tied for fifth all-time in school history with 63 RBI this season. Beachum has also hit 15 home runs which is the second most by a true freshman in school history. Beachum is on pace to break the program freshman record for batting average, hits, slugging percentage and on base percentage. Beachum is also on pace to break the program record for batting average over the course of a single season.

Beachum has also locked down the hot corner for the Seminoles this season as she has started at third in 53 out of the Seminoles' 54 games this season. In 143 chances, Beachum has made just five errors this season.

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We have had to replace 2 legendary coaches in recent years. The first was more or less a force out the door with a "coach in waiting". We hired the son of the second one, and that didn't go well. By all accounts the replacements for the replacements are both home runs. I wouldn't necessarily consider coach Ham a legend, but he has been a fixture here for a couple decades. Things clearly aren't going well, and appear to be getting worse. That said, when I listen to coach, he seems optimistic about next season. How do you see this playing out?

Mike Norvell prior to a booster event in Palm Beach announced that Hill will miss the upcoming season.
https://floridastate.rivals.com/new...destyn-hill-will-miss-2024-season-with-injury

I think we can all see and feel what has been happening with our program, and it is sure fun to watch. Even the most pessimistic and "realistic" FSU fan can't deny the linear, upward progress of our program. We have a very good chance at making the playoffs this year, which means we will have a chance at winning it all. Like most teams, with exception of UGA, it's pretty hard to just be super confident as we all tend to focus on the weaknesses that remain. If you look around the college football landscape. . .everybody has those issues, though.

When you look at the way we have navigated the transfer portal, the way we are now recruiting from the HS ranks, the way we have retained our staff, the way our players are being developed mentally and physically it's refreshing to feel so optimistic about our direction.

There will always be an area of weakness that can be exploited, and, as fans, we will discuss how to improve those weaknesses. . .but as a whole this team will be very competitive this season, next season, the following season. . . and it looks like they should have the recipe to continue that path into the distant future.

Put a smile on your face Nole Nation. . .enjoy the ride. It should be a long and successful trip.

FSU sports information:

LAS VEGAS, Nev. – Florida State All-American Lottie Woad finished in third place in the individual standings, and the Florida State Women’s Golf Team finished in fifth place in the team standings at the NCAA Las Vegas Regional Championship at the Spanish Trail Country Club and advanced to the NCAA Championship Finals at the Omni La Costa Resort in Carlsbad, Calif. (May 17-22). The Seminoles have advanced out of the regional stage to the championship finals stage in each of the last eight years the tournament has been held.

Florida State will play in the NCAA Championship Finals for the school-record eighth consecutive year. The Seminoles have now qualified for each NCAA Championship Finals tournament since 2016 (there was no tournament played in 2020).

Senior All-American Charlotte Heath led the Seminoles in the final round with an even par score of 72. Heath finished in a tie for 21st place in the individual standings with a three-round total of 221. Woad (third place, 212), senior Alice Hodge (tied for 15th, 219), Heath, and sophomore Mirabel Ting (tied for 36th, 226) were the Seminoles’ top four finishers in the individual standings.

The Seminoles advanced to the championship finals along with Arkansas (first place), Purdue (second), Baylor (third), and UCLA (fourth place). The Seminoles finished two strokes ahead of Arizona for the fifth and final spot to advance out of the regional and into the championship finals. Zoe Campos of UCLA and Kajal Mistry finished in a tie for first in the individual standings with 6 under par scores of 210.

Woad earned her second career top-10 regional finish as she finished in third place. She finished in a tie for sixth place in the NCAA Raleigh Regional as a freshman. She came within six stroke of tying Florida State’s all-time record low score in an NCAA regional championship tournament. The Seminoles’ record for the best regional score is 206 (-10) by both Seminole All-Americans Morgane Metraux and Amanda Doherty in 2018 at the NCAA Tallahassee Regional Championship.

Woad (third place, senior Alice Hodge (tied for 16th place), and Heath (tied for 20th place) gave Florida State multiple top-20 individual finishers in the same regional for the eighth time in school history: 2004 (Carrie Sordel, T9; Katie Quinney, T12), 2011 (Jessica Negron, T3; Maria Salinas, T6), 2016 (Matilda Castren, T1; Kim Metraux, T7; Lydia Gumm, T15), 2017 (Amanda Doherty, Gumm, Morgane Metraux, all T13), 2018 (Morgane Metraux, T4; Doherty, T4; Kathleen Sumner, T16), 2019 (Doherty, T6; Frida Kinhult, T13; Beatrice Wallin, T13; Puk Lyng Thomsen, T17), 2021 (Amelia Williamson, T2; Wallin, T7), and now 2024 (Lottie Woad, 3; Alice Hodge, T15, Heath, T20).

In finishing in fifth place at the Las Vegas regional, the Seminoles finished in fifth place or better in a regional championship for the 11th time in school history and for the fourth time in the last seven seasons. The Seminoles won regional championships at Louisville (2021) and in Tallahassee (2022). The Seminoles have finished in the top five in a school record eight consecutive NCAA regional championships.

Florida State’s fifth place finish marks the 11thtime in program history the Seminoles have earned a top-five NCAA Regional Championship finish. It marks the eighth consecutive top five finish under Head Coach Amy Bond. Bond has been a member of each of the Seminoles’ program for 11 top-five regional finishes – eight as the programs head coach, two as an assistant coach (2004 and 2006) and one as a player (1999). Bond was Florida State’s highest finisher in 1999 (tied for 11th place) as the Seminoles advanced to the NCAA Championship Finals from the NCAA East Regional Championship.

Woad’s third place finish makes her the sixth player in school history to finish in third place or better in a regional championship. She joins Beatrice Wallin (First, 2022, Tallahassee), Maria Salinas (Tied for first, 2012, Columbus, Ohio), Matilda Castren (tied for first, 2016 Shoal Creek, Ala.), Amelia Williamson (Tied for second, 2021, Simpsonville, Ky.) and Jessica Negron (Tied for third, 2011, Daytona Beach, Fla.) as the six Seminoles to finish in third place or better in a regional championship. Woad earned just the 10th top-five individual finish by a Seminole in a regional championship.

Florida State enters the 2024 NCAA Championship finals having earned the top three finishes in school history in the last three years (ninth place in the 2021, tied for fifth place in the 2022, and tied for fifth place in 2023). The Seminoles have advanced to match play in each of the last two seasons and are one of only three schools in the nation (Florida State, Stanford, and Texas A&M) that have advanced to match play in both of the last two years.

Suggs had a good visit to FSU based on his comments, but he has been very complimentary about every program he has visited. There really isn't much to update on Suggs other than he still continues to visit schools across the country and still remains uncommitted. He was originally supposed to spend two days in Tallahassee, but his visit was cut down to one day as he continues to pick up offers. Suggs arrived on Friday mid-day with his official visit ending pre-dawn on Saturday morning.

He flew to California on Saturday for an official visit with USC after being offered by the Trojans on Thursday of last week. He is headed to Ann Arbor today for an official visit with Michigan. He took visits to Kentucky, Arkansas and Wisconsin prior to his trip to Tallahassee. Missouri is also trying to get in the mix.

I have a message out to Suggs now and hope to have another update soon.

FSU sports information:

The Florida State outdoor track and field teams will compete at the 2024 ACC Outdoor Track and Field Championships from May 9-11 in Atlanta, hosted by Georgia Tech at the George C. Griffin Track.
The women’s team holds 14 times and marks that are seeded within the top eight, led by sophomore Dajaz DeFrand, who is seeded first in the 100-meter (10.88) and 200 (22.58) and will look to defend her titles in both races from 2023. She was also the meet MVP in 2023 and ACC Freshman of the Year.

The Noles have added to the record books, boasting 12 FSU all-time performances throughout the season.

“I’m really pleased with how both teams have been excited to chase those titles since the indoor season,” said FSU track and field head coach Bob Braman. “The women are a top 15 nationally ranked team, but the men are deep as well. Their challenge is to maximize the points those stars can earn.”

The FSU men’s team enters the meet with 12 top eight seeds and eight all-time performances this season. The 4x100 relay team behind Neo Moesbi, Ismael Kone, Tyler Azcano and Keshaun Black hold the top seed. Jordan turner is the favorite to take home gold in the long jump.

“The men’s squad is getting healthy at the right time,” added Braman. “If we can compete up to our talent level then we’ll have a chance to win. I can tell you we remember vividly losing by one point at the last ACC Championships.”

The Seminoles finished second in 2023 (91 points) behind Clemson (92 points) after taking home the titles in 2022 and 2021.

The meet will start Thursday at 1 p.m. with the men’s hammer throw. Expanded coverage will air through the ACC Network Extra and can be accessed at Seminoles.com. Flash Results will be available.

FSU's first transfer addition of the post-spring window is a familiar face. Former FSU DB Omarion Cooper announced today he's rejoining the Seminoles after spending the 2023 season at Colorado.

…is he in the FSU fold? Thought I saw a report somewhere.

Stock Up


1- Josh Petty - OT - (Fellowship Christian School): FSU went from not in Petty's top choices to possibly being THE CHOICE. FSU has made a major move this spring. Petty is going to take a visit this summer and the Seminoles have put themselves in a good spot to land the talented tackle. If Petty joins FSU's class it would be the highest-rated offensive tackle prospect they would have probably signed in 20-30 years.

2- Joshua Moore - WR - (West Broward HS): Moore should be ranked a high four-star receiver. There are not many receivers that are more physically impressive as Moore. The more you see of Moore, he starts to grow on you as a prospect. He has great size. He is smooth running after the catch. He has improved in every facet of his game the past two seasons. We expect a big season out of Moore in 2024.

3 - Ziyare Addison - OT - (Sumner HS): FSU has consistently stayed hot with Addison. He continues to like FSU. He will be on campus again this summer. We expect the gifted lineman to possibly pull the trigger before the summer is out. He has all the tools to be an elite tackle prospect in college. Land Addison and Petty and there will no longer be any problems at the tackle position at FSU.

4 - Zaydrius Rainey Sale - LB - (Bethel HS-Washington): FSU was the leader this time last year. He committed to Alabama after visiting there. Sale has a tie to FSU's coaching staff. The Seminoles may finally get that elite linebacker they have needed. Sale is someone that can come in and contribute right away.

5 - Hollis Davidson - TE - (McIntosh-Georgia): FSU did not really have a top target at tight end. They were trending away with all the top tight ends on the board. Davidson de-commits and now the Seminoles have found their guy. Davidson is another player who really fits a need. There may not be a greater need outside of OL and DL on the roster. FSU may now be the team to beat.

Stock Down

1 - Zion Grady - DE - (Enterprise HS-Alabama): Have no idea what happened to this kid’s recruitment. FSU was in it. Finally they were out of it. They were back in it. Now they are out of it again. His recruitment has made no sense. I usually don't care about prospects from Alabama and Mississippi but rival Miami is in the lead for his services. If there was a prospect you were ever going to get out of Alabama this would be the one.

2 - Koby Howard - WR - (Western HS): FSU has a ton of slot receivers on the team. They sit in a good spot over the next few seasons. Howard is a good player but when you have a bunch of good players there right now it becomes a position of strength. FSU is looking for big-bodied receivers. That is why Moore is so high up on the board.

3 - Ousmane Kromah - RB (Lee County-Georgia): Another prospect's recruitment that makes no sense. It is up and it is down. It is up and then it goes down. Until this kid starts taking visits every weekend, we are taking him off the board. FSU needs a running back but this is one who may not be able to make a decision. If it becomes this difficult to recruit a kid, wonder what it is like once on the roster. Portal, anyone?

4 - Peyton Joseph - OT - (Houston County-Warner Robins-GA): Joseph was up on the board. FSU all of a sudden starts getting some good news from players like Petty, Addison and Buchanan. Joseph is no longer committed. When he did not commit right away to FSU that should tell you something. I think FSU is recruiting him but his recruitment has slowed down. It would not surprise me to see him still end up in FSU's class but this comes down to FSU wanting another guard in the class.

5 - Alhassan Iddrissu - DE - (Modesto Christian, Calif.): FSU defensive end recruiting has become sort of a mystery. This was a kid they seemed interested in landing. I believe they have visited this spring. Now he seems to be off the board. FSU will add some other ends to their board and Iddissu is not one of them.


Stock stayed the same.....

1 - Myron Charles - DT - (Port Charlotte): Charles is leaning towards FSU. It is only a matter of time before Charles ends up pulling the trigger. His stock is neither up nor down. It has stayed the same throughout the process.

2 - Tavion Wallace - LB - (Wayne County): Wallace is probably one of the most important players in FSU's class. He is a linebacker and when you turn on his film the kid can play. He has been all FSU for a while now. He is going to end up on FSU's campus again very soon. Look for FSU staff to put the clamps on Wallace when he comes to Tallahassee again.

3 - Gregory Xavier Thomas - S - (AH Plantation): Thomas is a prospect that has been on FSU's campus many times. The tie to FSU's staff is there. He loves the Seminoles and they were one of his favorite teams growing up. My guess is a commitment is coming this summer.

4 - Byron Louis - RB - (AH Plantation): Louis is the top prospect on FSU's board. He is an elite back who is a difference maker at the position. The proof is in the pudding — FSU develops running backs. More like Mike Norvell develops running backs. Look for FSU to pull this one off.

5 - Jay'viar Suggs - DT - (Grand Valley State transfer prospect): Pat would be able to tell you more about his recruitment. This is one FSU could win by default. He may just be looking for the best offer. If FSU wants Suggs, I could see them landing him. They seem to be able to land transfer portal prospects they go all in for. If FSU goes all in, I like their chances.

An unlikely hero ended a wild, final home midweek game of the 2024 season for Florida State.

Lance Trippel hit a walk-off RBI single down the third-base line in the 11th inning as the Florida State baseball team defeated Jacksonville 7-6 on Tuesday night. It was Trippel's seventh at-bat of the year, second hit and his first RBI.

Cam Smith led off the inning with a walk. After James Tibbs III struck out, Marco Dinges drew a walk. Trippel then sent the 2-2 pitch down the third-base line and past a diving Tyler Hinrikus, touching off a wild celebration as FSU won a game that surpassed the four-hour mark.

FSU (36-10) had to rally from two runs down in the ninth to tie the game. The Seminoles scored two runs, with DeAmez Ross scoring the game-tying run on a sac fly in the ninth.

Jacksonville (22-23) travels to face Florida State (35-10) on Tuesday at 6 p.m. (ACC Network Extra).

The Seminoles won 7-4 in February in Jacksonville. It's weird going through old box scores, but Conner Whittaker started and Carson Dorsey pitched 3.2 innings with 10 strikeouts. Cam Smith went 3 for 5. JU used four pitchers. FSU also defeated JU 5-3 on April 2 at Howser. The Seminoles used six pitchers, with Brady Louck earning a start (3.2 innings). Andrew Armstrong pitched 2.1 shutout innings and got the win.

FGCU swept JU in a three-game series at Fort Myers over the weekend.

The Seminoles are 24-3 at home this season. (And if you want another note: FSU won 23 total games in 2023.) It's the last midweek home game, with $2 tickets and certain concessions are $2. Join us as we chat in the thread. We'll have starting lineups once their available.

Curt has some good perspective on FSU's hitting approach as a preview to the midweek game.

FSU sports information:

Florida State All-American Lottie Woad shot a second consecutive score of 67 and is in first place in the individual standings, and the Seminole Women’s Golf team is in fourth place in the team standings after two rounds of the NCAA Las Vegas Regional Championship. The Seminoles begin the final day of play on Wednesday as one of top five teams in the regional – with the top five teams advancing to play in the NCAA Championship Finals.

Florida State sits in fourth place after the first two rounds of the championship. The top five teams in the regional championship after Wednesday’s third round advance to play in the NCAA Championship Finals at the Omni La Costa Resort in Carlsbad, Calif. (May 17-22). The Seminoles have advanced out of the regional stage to the championship finals stage in each of the last seven years the tournament has been held.

Arkansas, which took over the team lead from the Seminoles in the first round, held its lead after two rounds of play. The Razorbacks hold a four-stroke lead over Purdue and have a hold a 14-stroke lead over UCLA. The top five teams with one round remaining to be played are Arkansas (-16), Purdue (-12), UCLA (-2), Florida State (-1) and Baylor (+2). Oklahoma is in sixth place (the first team currently out) at +3. Woad is the individual leader with a one stroke lead over Kajal Mistry of Arkansas. Mistry led the individual race after the first round with a career-low score of 66.

“We didn’t play our best golf today, but we are still in the hunt,” said Head Coach Amy Bond. “The elements are going to play a role in tomorrow’s round so we have to take care of us and play like we know we can. We have to focus on the things we can control. We are going play Florida State golf until the last putt drops.”

Woad carded her second consecutive round of 5 under par golf and is in first place in the individual standings with a 10 under par total of 134. She carded five birdies and the third eagle of her Florida State career during the round. She went under par with a birdie on her second hole of the day and stayed below par for the remainder of the round. Woad carded two birdies on her first six holes and made the turn at 2 strokes under par. She was on fire to begin her back nine with an eagle and two birdies on her first four holes to move to six under. She closed the round with one birdie on her final five holes to finish at 67.

Woad’s consecutive scores of 67 and her two-round total of 134 tied her own personal record as well as the school-record for a 36-hole score. She also began the 2023 Schooner Fall Classic with score of 68-66 for a total of 134.

Woad enters the third and final round of the regional championship looking to become the fourth player in school history to win a regional championship. She would join Beatrice Wallin (first place at the 2022 Tallahassee Regional), Maria Salinas (tied for first place at the 2012 Columbus Regional) and Matilda Castren (tied for first place at the 2016 Shoal Creek Regional) as Florida State’s individual regional champions.

Woad begins play on Wednesday morning with a career stroke average of 70.54 – the best career stroke average in school history. She moved ahead of Seminole All-American Frida Kinhult who finished her career with a 70.60 career stroke average with her 67 in the second round of the Las Vegas Regional championship.

Senior Alice Hodge carded a 2 over par score of 74 and is in a tie for 17th place in the individual standings with a two-round total of 144. Hodge carded one birdie and 12 holes scored at par in the second round. Hodge is looking to earn her second career top-20 NCAA regional finish. She finished in a tie for third place in leading the Seminoles to the team championship at the 2022 Tallahassee Regional championship.

Sophomore Mirabel Ting (3 over par 75) and senior Charlotte Heath (4 over par 76) are in the top 40 of the individual standings with 18 holes left to be played. Ting is in a tie for 35th place and Heath is in a tie for 38th place.

Florida State will play with Baylor and Arizona starting at 11:00 a.m. EDT from hole no. 10 in Wednesday’s final round of play.

The Seminoles begin play in the final round looking to advance to the NCAA Championship finals for a school-record eighth consecutive tournament.

2024 NCAA Las Vegas Regional Championship/May 6-8, 2024

Spanish Trail Country Club/Las Vegas, Nevada/Par 72

4/12.-Florida State, 575

1.-Lottie Woad, 134

T17.-Alice Hodge, 144

T35.-Mirabel Ting, 148

T38.-Charlotte Heath, 149

65.-Kaylah Williams, 77

65.-Katherine Cook, 83

2024 NCAA Las Vegas Regional Championship/May 6-8, 2024

Spanish Trail Country Club/Las Vegas, Nevada/Par 72

1.-Arkansas, 560

2.-Purdue, 564

3.-UCLA, 574

4.-Florida State, 575

5.-Baylor, 578

6.-Oklahoma, 579

7.-Arizona, 581

8-.California, 589

T9.-Colorado State, 594

T9.-Kent State, 594

11.-Dartmouth, 611

12.-Xavier, 612

FSU sports information:

Florida State All-American Lottie Woad is in second place in the individual standings, and the No. 4 seeded Seminoles are in second place in the team standings after the first round of the NCAA Division I Women’s Golf Las Vegas Regional Championship at the Spanish Trail Country Club. The Seminoles have two golfers (Woad and senior Alice Hodge) in the top five of the individual standings as they play to advance to the NCAA Championship Finals for the eighth consecutive year under coach Amy Bond.

The top five teams, and the top individual not on an advancing team, after three rounds of play at each of the six NCAA regional championships will advance to the NCAA Championship Finals at the Omni La Costa Resort in Carlsbad, Calif. (May 17-22). The Seminoles have advanced out of the regional stage to the championship finals stage in each of the last seven years the tournament has been held.

No. 2 seeded and No. 9 ranked Arkansas was a combined total of 14 under par with 13 birdies and one eagle on last five holes and took over the team lead from the Seminoles late in the round. The Razorbacks finished with an eight under par team total of 280. Arkansas leads Florida State by three strokes and Purdue by four strokes as play is set to begin in the second round on Tuesday. Kajal Mistry of Arkansas shot a career-low 6-under par score of 66 and leads Florida State’s Woad by one stroke in the individual standings.

“Each of the girls played really good golf today,” said Bond. “They made tremendous adjustments today as the wind blew in a completely different direction than it did in our practice round yesterday. We have to continue to play one round at a time and continue to play Florida State golf for the next two days.”

Woad, who was named ACC Golfer of the Year last week, continued her All-American season as she carded a 67 – her fifth consecutive below par collegiate round. She came within two strokes of tying her career low score of 65 – a total that also ranks as the lowest round in school history. Woad as now carded three consecutive rounds in the 60’s while playing in a collegiate event this spring and is 54 strokes under par for her entire 18-tournament career at Florida State.

Woad carded six of Florida State’s 17 birdies during the round as she began her second consecutive regional with a score of 67. She began the 2023 Raleigh Regional Championship with a 67 on her way to a tied for sixth place individual finish. In Monday’s first round, she birdied her first two holes, made the turn at 3-under, and birdied two of her final nine holes including her final hole to move to 5 under par.

Including Woad’s team-leading six birdies, the Seminoles totaled 17 birdies in the first round - second to only Arkansas’ total of 19 birdies. The six birdies by Woad ranks as the most in the first round by any of the 66 golfers in the regional field.

Hodge, meanwhile, is in a tie for fourth place in the individual standings with a 2-under par score of 70. She totaled four birdies and was never above par during the round. She was one under par with one birdie and eight holes played at par on her first nine and totaled three birdies after making the turn. Following a top-20 individual finish in the ACC Championship, Hodge has carded three of her last four rounds at par or better and is total of five strokes under par in her last three events.

With four birdies, Hodge tied for the fourth-highest total of birdies in the first round of play. She was also tied for the lowest cumulative score on the 10 par 4 holes on the course.

Senior Charlotte Heath and sophomore Mirabel Ting, two Seminoles who have earned All-American honors during their careers in Tallahassee, shot identical scores of 73 and are both tied for 19th place in the individual standings.

Florida State will play with Arkansas and Purdue as the top three teams in the standings in the second round. Sophomore Kathleen Cook is the first Seminole to tee off at 11 a.m. ET.

2024 NCAA Las Vegas Regional Championship/May 6-8, 2024

Spanish Trail Country Club/Las Vegas, Nevada/Par 72

2/12., Florida State, 283

2.-Lottie Woad, 67

T4.-Alice Hodge, 70

T18.-Charlotte Heath, 73

T18.-Mirabel Ting, 73

65.-Katherine Cook.-83


2024 NCAA Las Vegas Regional Championship/May 6-8, 2024

Spanish Trail Country Club/Las Vegas, Nevada/Par 72

1.-Arkansas, 280

2.-Florida State, 283

3.-Purdue, 284

4.-UCLA, 291

5.-Baylor, 292

T6.-Arizona, 294

T6.-Oklahoma, 294

8.-Colorado State, 298

T9-.California, 301

9.-Kent State, 301

T9-.California, 301

11.-Dartmouth, 302

12.-Xavier, 310

and indications are that it could be another bad one. With more and more homes being built in the interface of forest/open land/wilderness, the protection of those homes becomes tougher. We took a ride on the Blue Ridge Parkway yesterday and the amount of grass now visible in forested areas is worrisome.
Invasive grasses were the critical non native element in the destructive fires in Hawaii.

https://www.cnn.com/2024/03/21/climate/wildfire-grass-risk-west-us/index.html
CNN —
A ubiquitous, resilient and seemingly harmless plant is fueling an increase in large, fast-moving and destructive wildfires in the United States.

Grass is as plentiful as sunshine, and under the right weather conditions is like gasoline for wildfires: All it takes is a spark for it to explode.

Planet-warming emissions are wreaking havoc on temperature and precipitation, resulting in larger and more frequent fires. Those fires are fueling the vicious cycle of ecological destruction that are helping to make grass king.

Patrick Payton and many others: