The family and I are headed to the game in Dublin and are looking for four tickets. We have tried the recommended direct website for hospitality packages and nothing looks to be available. Was hoping someone has four tickets up for sale? Thx!

Do you work out? I am 58 and have worked out fairly regularly most my life. Weights mostly and some streaks where I jog. My employer has a program it is offering and I have been selected through an application process to participate in. I have yo-yo’d my entire life. This 12 week program combines a dietician, strength and conditioning coach and meditation app all based on individual goals. I am one week in and have dropped five pounds. I am re-invigorated and loving life. I can picture this as a real game changer for me. Does anyone’s employer offer such a thing? Do you work out on your own? If so, doing what?

We have a few new filings. Both are important.

First, the ACC filed a Petition for Writ of Certiorari in Florida (at the First District Court of Appeal). This is a discretionary appeal, like FSU has filed in NC along with its direct appeal. I was surprised to see this at first, then remembered that Judge Cooper had heard issues other than jurisdiction at the first hearing and reduced his decision to DENY the overall stay/transfer to NC to writing a month ago. Then he had another hearing where he found FSU had not properly pled jurisdiction and had FSU amend its Complaint. It did that a week or so ago. We now expect a motions to dismiss and more attacks on jurisdiction, but are in a weird spot. Judge Cooper even stayed the case pending his jurisdiction rulings, so this is happening at an odd time. I am not even sure the initial order means anything given the decision about jurisdiction. However, if it is a valid order, the ACC only had 30 days to file a cert petition or they would not be able to appeal this practically. I suspect they felt they had to file this in an abundance of caution. If the initial order sticks, this was timed right and they don't give up the appeal. If it does not stick, they can file the same doc later on the right order and nothing is lost.

The merits of the appeal are the same argued below, with some attacks on how Judge Cooper analyzed the issue. This is the first filed issue, votes, venue factors, and all that. Much attention will be paid to the timing of filing issue by the public, but that is not the whole issue. Two things to keep in mind. One is that no Florida court has ever held the anticipatory suit exception applies in Florida, and the other is that even if FSU gets credit for first filing, that is but one of many factors to consider. This gets ignored in almost every story about this because those factors are boring and the filing timing is juicy. I still believe personally that the cases should all be in NC and in one case, unless there really is no jurisdiction over FSU (which I think there is, but there is a more recent USSC decision that makes this less clear; and jurisdiction is not part of this appeal), but think the appeal issue is around 50/50.

Overall, it should be clear why they are doing this. The main issue now for all parties is to get the best venue they can get. It does not answer the whole case, but everyone wants whatever little help being at home gives them. Judge Cooper had denied the overall motion to stay (remember, we will see many different motions to stay), so if the ACC did not appeal that they would be conceding Florida as a venue and at best be in a rush to judgment with NC.

If the First DCA reverses Judge Cooper and says the Florida case should be stayed pending the NC case, it would be considered a HUGE loss by FSU and the public. I don't think it's nearly that bad, but it's not at all what you want if you are FSU.

Second, the ACC filed a Motion to Stay the case pending this appeal, and asking for an expedited ruling. They want this decided before 6/18 so the hearing that day does not happen. It makes sense in that if the appellate court finds the case should be on hold/deferred to NC, then it makes no sense to be doing work on the case now. Granting or denying these are usually discretionary, but if Judge Cooper denies that, I think they can immediately ask the First DCA to stay the case.

FSU's center has started 41 college games and has been active in various community service projects in Tallahassee:

Here are the video interviews from the final batch of FSU newcomers today in Cam Riley, Amaree Williams, D'Nas White, DD Holmes and Jake Weinberg.

With preseason camp about a week away, we're putting an end to the interviews with Florida State football's summer newcomers this morning/afternoon.

Starting around 11:30 a.m., we're going to interview Auburn linebacker transfer Cam Riley and incoming freshmen defensive end DD Holmes, kicker Jake Weinberg, defensive tackle D'Nas White and defensive end Amaree Williams.

We'll have updates here as things get underway.

Say what you want about the linebacker position but the No. 1, No. 2 and No. 3 tacklers on last year's team played the position.
The two most experienced linebackers have exhausted their collegiate eligibility and are now testing their skills in the NFL. The third leading tackler, DJ Lundy, who flirted with transferring, will fill an important leadership role in the linebacker segment room.

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Very nice. The Pensacola Noles should be thrilled with this:

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Hey Stewart: With the Big Ten and SEC both stating they have no interest in adding any more teams, where does that leave Florida State and Clemson, considering the current “scorched earth” approach they have taken towards the ACC? Would they even be interested in joining the Big 12? — Conor O., Houston

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I thought it might be fun to do a pre-fall camp CFP prediction thread since FSU is a week away from reporting for camp. Then we can come back the week prior to first game and reevaluate after camp ends for all teams and we can factor injuries or other issues that might have impacted a team's roster prior to the start of the season.

CFB Playoff Format:

• Guaranteed bids for the top five conference champions in the CFP rankings; no conference will have an automatic bid, a conference must have a minimum of eight members for its champion to be eligible for a guaranteed bid.
• At-large bids for the seven highest-ranked remaining teams, which could include additional conference champions.
• The four highest-ranked conference champions will receive first-round byes.
• The remaining teams will play each other in the first round at the home fields of the better seeds or an alternate venue of their choosing; match-ups will be 5–12, 6–11, 7–10, and 8–9.
• The quarterfinals and semifinals will be hosted by the New Year's Six (the Cotton, Fiesta, Orange, Peach, Rose, and Sugar bowls) on a rotating basis.
• The championship game will continue to be held at a separately determined neutral site.
• The playoff bracket will not be reseeded at any time.
• First round games will occur in December, quarterfinal games on or around New Year's Day, semifinal games at least one week later, and the championship game one week after the semifinals.

Heading into the start of fall camp, who are your 12 playoff teams-Please indicate who your conference champions are by ranking them 1-4. Then the other seven 5-12 to determine what schools you think might finish high enough to host a playoff game.

FSU finished this year's MLB Draft with eight players drafted (most in the ACC and tied for third-most nationally) and eight recruits drafted (most in the country).

Here's a look at the busy final day of the draft and where things stand coming out of it.

Despite being behind in terms of preparation, new freshman WR Elijah Moore has confidence that he will be able to contribute in a deep WR room in year one.

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FSU is holding another round of newcomer interviews this morning:

OL Jonathan Daniels (Pensacola, Fla./Pine Forest HS)
DL Jamorie Flagg (Miami, Fla./Booker T. Washington HS)
DL DD Holmes (Washington, D.C./Gonzaga College HS)
OL Manasse Itete (Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo/Central Catholic (Calif.) HS)

1. WR CJ Wiley - Alpharetta (Ga.) - 6-3, 180: You turn on the film of Wiley and you can see why this kid became a priority for FSU. He looks like Keon Coleman with more speed. He has the size you want in a receiver. He has very good ball skills. He does have a tendency to allow the ball to come down to him. With his size, Wiley should be able to high point the football. (Player Comp: Keon Coleman)

2. OT Solomon Thomas - Jacksonville Raines (Fla.) - 6-4, 315: Thomas is one of the top offensive lineman in Florida. He will start out at tackle but can also play guard or center down the road. That versatility is why Thomas was coveted. He plays with a bit of a mean streak. He comes off the ball and will drive a defender backwards. He has the athletic ability to handle speed rushers off the edge. He is someone that should be able to make an impact by year 2.

3. DE Javion Hilson - Cocoa (Fla.) 6-4, 235: When you look at this coaching staff’s success developing defensive ends the past few seasons you can see why Hilson chose FSU. He has a quick step off the ball. He can play with great leverage. You will see him get underneath a tackle. He can set the edge on run plays. You put him on the edge and let him rush the passer. He is going to put pressure on the quarterback. (Player Comp: Dallas Turner)

4. DT Myron Charles - Port Charlotte (Fla.) 6-3, 280: Charles is a prospect we first saw as a freshman at Port Charlotte. This is no shock that he developed into a P5 lineman. He has the size. You will see him use his hands. He is violent with his hands. He is quick off the ball. He plays defensive end but we expect him to slide inside. He is someone that can develop into an All-ACC type of talent down the road.

5. DT Kevin Wynn - Greene County (Ga.) 6-2, 320: Wynn is a big-bodied defensive lineman. He is someone that can eat up blocks and allow his linebackers to make plays. His strength is playing the run. He has the ability to come off the ball and shoot the gaps. He is a big, strong, physical player. (Player Comp: Jeff Womble)

6. TE Chase Loftin - Millard South HS - (Neb.) 6-5, 215: Chase's film is quite impressive. He lines up wide as a receiver. You can put him near a tackle and have him run the seam. He has good hands and runs routes well. He can block but that is not a strength of his game right now. (Player Comp: George Kittle)

7. DB Max Redmon - Fort Lauderdale Cardinal Newman HS (Fla.) 6-3, 180: I feel Redmon is one of the most underrated players in FSU class. This is the type of prospect that slips out of the state of Florida, goes to a school like USF or UCF and ends up a top 2-3 round draft pick down the road. Redmon has size (6-3). He is fluid for a safety. He can come up and play the run. He also can drop back into coverage. He can cover tight ends, receivers or backs out of the backfield. He is a versatile defensive back that can be utilized in a number of ways.

8. DB Gregory Thomas - American Heritage (Fla.) 6-2, 200: Thomas is exactly what FSU is looking for in defensive backs. He has size and length. He is listed as a corner but it would not surprise us to see him play safety at the next level. He has good coverage skills. You put him on a receiver and Thomas can lock them down. Smaller/quicker receivers could give him some issues in space and on crossing routes. (Player Comp: Mike Rumph)

9. QB Tramell Jones - Jacksonville Mandarin HS (Fla.) 6-0, 200: FSU now has a quarterback in the class of 2024, 2025 and 2026. Jones will get the chance to go against Luke Kromenhoek for the starting job in 2025. He led Mandarin to the state championship game a year ago. He has performed well at camps this off-season.

10. OL Peyton Joseph - Houston County (Ga.) 6-3, 320: Joseph is another lineman that is listed as a tackle but we project as a guard. He looks like a guard. Joseph comes off the ball well. He can drive a defender off the ball. He has good technique. He plays with physicality. He is someone that already looks like a college lineman. He has strong hands. You will see him engage a defender on film and lock them up. He does lean over at times and that is technique. When you lean or bend over it causes a lineman to get off balance. (Player Comp: Tre Jackson)

11. WR Daylan McCutcheon - Lovejoy (Texas) - 6-0, 175: Daylan is a Swiss Army knife. He can return kicks. You can get him the ball as a receiver. You can line him up in the backfield. He runs solid routes. He gives you a player with a nice blend of speed and quickness. You would like for him to have that extra gear but his talent can’t be denied. He is going to end up in the slot at the next level.

12. LB Ethan Pritchard - Seminole HS (FL) - 6-2, 200: Pritchard has moved to linebacker. He was a safety for most of his high school career. His ability to play in coverage will help him as a linebacker. He has good coverage skills. He will be able to drop into coverage. He is also someone that can come up and play the run.

Rivals national recruiting analyst John Garcia Jr. is joined by Jason Higdon of 1standTenFlorida.com, Pat Burnham of TheOsceola.com and Marcus Benjamin of CanesCounty.com to tackle three topics and determine whether they believe each statement is FACT or FICTION.

We are now less than three weeks from the FSU football team reporting for fall camp. So I thought it might to fun to start looking ahead and start asking some questions about the upcoming season.

What game do you think will be FSU's toughest road game this season?

8-24 vs. Georgia Tech (Dublin)
9-28 @ SMU
10/18 @Duke
10/26 @Miami
11/9 @ Notre Dame

The Osceola has received an early access copy of the video game and can now confirm which athletes on the roster opted in and have their NIL in the video game.

https://floridastate.rivals.com/new...rida-state-s-roster-in-ea-college-football-25

Via the ACC:

The 2024 ACC Football Championship Game will kick off in primetime at 8 p.m. ET on ABC on Saturday, Dec. 7, at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, North Carolina. This fall will be the first featuring 17 ACC football teams and for the second consecutive season, the league’s football championship game will showcase the top two teams based on regular-season conference winning percentage.

“There will be great anticipation throughout the season as our teams compete to earn a spot in the 2024 ACC Football Championship Game. We are thrilled it will once again be played in primetime on ABC and at Bank of America Stadium directly across from our conference office headquarters,” said ACC Commissioner Jim Phillips. “We look forward to an incredible 2024 ACC Football season with our 17 programs collectively playing the toughest nonconference schedule in the country in addition to each team’s eight challenging league opponents.”

The 8 p.m. ET kickoff marks the 15th time in the last 16 years that the game will be held in primetime. Since its inception in 2005, a total of 13 different teams have competed in the championship game. Last season, No. 4 Florida State emerged victorious, defeating No. 14 Louisville 16-6 to secure its fifth ACC Football Championship Game title (2005, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2023) and its 16th ACC title.

Bank of America Stadium, home of the NFL’s Carolina Panthers, has hosted 13 of the last 14 ACC Football Championship Games. In 2018, an agreement was reached to keep the game in Charlotte through 2030. Excluding the 2020 game, which had limited attendance due to the pandemic, the ACC Football Championship Games at Bank of America Stadium have averaged nearly 70,000 fans in attendance. Since 2010, the ACC has had the second-highest average attendance of any Power 5 conference championship game.

The winner of the conference championship game has advanced to the National Championship Game or competed in the College Football Playoff in eight of the last 11 seasons, including two teams in 2020. The ACC has the second most football national titles over the last 11 years and is one of only two conferences with a .500 or better record in the first 10 years of the CFP.

Day 2 of the MLB Draft was a busy one Monday for Florida State players as Marco Dinges (Milwaukee) and Jaime Ferrer (Minnesota) were selected in the fourth round, while pitchers Carson Dorsey (seventh round, Orioles) and Gavin Adams (eighth round, Pirates) were also picked.

I apologize in advance if this post violates site policy, but the crisis at the border...hundreds of dogs who have been left behind by migrants entering the U.S....has recently been brought to my attention. BDRR is the nation's largest non-euthanasia operation. They are doing all that they can to provide quality shelter for abandoned dogs at their facility in Palm Beach County and a new one in Alabama.

BDRR's main priority is to adopt these rescues out, but since they rely completely on donations, any financial contributions people can make is much appreciated as well:

Please visit...

Dan Kantrovitz, the Cubs' vice president of scouting, on first-round pick Cam Smith:

“Cam was somebody that we prioritized from the beginning. He’s somebody that I think checked a lot of different boxes for us, somebody that we think can play third base and can stay there and potentially be really good at it. Hits for power. Hits for average. We didn’t really see any holes in his game.”

Michael Holmes, Senior Director of Amateur Scouting for the San Francisco Giants, did a zoom with some beat writers. The organization views Tibbs as a corner outfielder and not a first baseman. I've transcribed a few of Holmes' quotes:

"We really believe in his bat, his ability to hit and to hit with power. The left-handed aspect of him being able to drive the ball to all fields. And really kind of be a middle-of-the-order (hitter) that we think will be in our lineup in the near future. A guy we’re really excited that we had an opportunity to draft. And a guy that we’ve been scouting for some time.

"We know he has the ability and skills to be a really good major league hitter. Whatever pace that comes in, I like to tell a lot of these players that they kind of set their own pace based on how they go out and perform. … We’ll allow his play to dictate the pace it goes.

"James has that ability to control the zone. I think one of the unique traits that he has is he can see the ball extremely early, which allows him to make really good swing decisions. The way he tracks the ball, the way he sees it early, his understanding of the strike zone is what I think makes him a complete hitter."