🏹 April 18th - The Chief Brief 🏹

Heart, Hustle, and Healing

Author

The Chief
April 18, 2025

Yesterday’s Poll Results

Today’s Poll

🎾 Will FSU Men’s Tennis defend their ACC crown?

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🏹 Welcome to The Chief Brief! 🏹

🚨 A Heavy Heart at Florida State

First and foremost — before anything else today — our thoughts are with the Florida State community after the active shooter incident reported on campus Thursday. In response, FSU Athletics canceled all home sporting events scheduled for this weekend, prioritizing the safety of student-athletes, staff, and fans.

We’ll keep you updated on any changes, reschedules, or further impacts. Please continue to stay safe and support each other, Nole family. ❤️💛

🏆 Beyond the headlines, there’s still plenty happening around FSU:

• Men’s Tennis battled to stay alive in the ACC Tournament 🎾
• Women’s Golf advances to match play at the ACC Championship ⛳
• Football recruiting heats up with a huge visitor list 🏈
• Plus: Transfer portal moves, record-setting performances, and a farewell to a college football icon. 🏟️

Let's dive into it all — but with the spirit of community and resilience front and center.

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🚨 FSU Cancels All Home Sporting Events This Weekend Following Campus Incident

Florida State Athletics has announced the cancellation of all home sporting events scheduled for this weekend after an active shooter was reported on campus Thursday. 🙏

🛑 Events Affected:

• Baseball: No. 7 FSU vs. No. 14 Virginia (April 18–20 at Dick Howser Stadium)

• Softball: FSU vs. Georgia Tech (Senior Weekend at Seminole Softball Complex)

📍 What's Next: • Baseball: Seminoles’ next game is now Tuesday, April 23 vs. Stetson (6 PM at Dick Howser) • Softball: Noles will travel to Louisville next weekend (first game Friday at 6 PM)

🎙️ University and Athletics officials prioritized the safety of student-athletes, staff, and fans in making the decision.

🙏 Our thoughts are with everyone affected. Stay safe, Nole family.

🎾 Noles Survive Thriller to Advance to ACC Quarterfinals

Clutch. Gritty. Seminole Tennis. 🔥

No. 17 Florida State Men's Tennis kept their ACC title defense alive with a heart-pounding 4–3 win over Louisville in the second round, punching their ticket to the quarterfinals.

📊 Match Highlights:

• Bulte/Rihane (Court 1): 🔥 6-1 doubles win after five straight games

• Dous-Karpenschif/Schiessl (Court 2): Clutch comeback from 1-3 down to clinch the doubles point

• Joshua Dous-Karpenschif: 7-5, 6-5 singles win — extends unbeaten streak to 5

• Jamie Connel: Tiebreak domination (7-1) and seventh ranked win of the season

• Erik Schiessl: 🎯 Battles through an injury to seal the deciding singles match

🎯 Streak Watch:

• FSU has now reached the ACC quarterfinals 13 straight years • 5 consecutive wins at Cary Tennis Park

🆚 What’s Next: The Seminoles face No. 8 Stanford in a prime-time quarterfinal clash Friday at 6 PM ET.

🏃‍♂️🏃‍♀️ Noles Set for Tom Jones Invite After Record-Breaking Weekend

Florida State Track & Field is back in action. 🔥

The No. 13/NR Seminoles head to Gainesville for the Tom Jones Invite (April 18–19) at James G. Pressly Stadium — with momentum building after a weekend full of record book rewrites.

📍 Event Info: • Friday, Apr. 18 — starts at 12 PM ET with Men’s Hammer Throw • Watch live on SECN+ • Live results available online

🔥 Athletes to Watch:

• Joella Lloyd: Two-time Olympian making her FSU debut in the 100m (Antigua national record holder: 11.06)

• Brooke Mullins: 6th-fastest 3,000m steeplechase in FSU history (10:00.91)

• Zach Leachman: 2nd-fastest 10K time in school history (28:25.91)

• Andre Korbmacher: 5th-fastest 110m hurdles in FSU history (13.52)

• Neo Mosebi: 10.03 in the 100m — 9th-fastest time in the world this year

📈 Program Notes: • Men’s team holds steady at No. 13 nationally • Eight top-10 performances last weekend between Stanford Invite and Florida Relays

🏐 FSU Volleyball Adds Sun Belt Libero of the Year Mio Yamamoto

A major defensive boost is on the way for Seminole Volleyball. 🔒

Florida State has officially signed standout libero Mio Yamamoto, a two-time All-Sun Belt First Team selection and 2023 Sun Belt Libero of the Year.

📈 Yamamoto’s Résumé:

• 🧹 959 career digs in two seasons at Louisiana

• 🏆 2023 Sun Belt Libero of the Year

• 🏆 All-Louisiana Libero of the Year (2024)

• 🥇 20+ digs in 13 matches during her senior season • 📚 NJCAA All-American (2x) at New Mexico Military Institute

🌍 From Japan to Tally: Originally from Chigasaki, Japan, Yamamoto first made her name playing at Seisa Kokusai High School before becoming one of the top defensive players in junior college and Division I volleyball.

🎯 What She Brings: Elite defense, steady serve-receive, veteran leadership — and a relentless motor on the back line.

⛳ Noles Advance to ACC Match Play as No. 2 Seed

On to the next stage — with a title in sight. 🏆

No. 3 Florida State Women’s Golf finished tied for second in stroke play at the ACC Championship, winning the tiebreaker over Virginia to secure the No. 2 seed heading into match play.

📊 Final Stroke Play Highlights:

• Lottie Woad: T-3rd | 208 (-8) | 69-66-73

• Mirabel Ting: T-3rd | 208 (-8) | 66-70-72

• Sophia Fullbrook: 71 (-1) in final round (4 birdies)

• Alexandra Gazzoli: 72 (Even) — best round of the tournament

🎯 What’s Next:

• FSU earns a first-round bye and will face the winner of Virginia vs. Cal on Friday afternoon (~1:30 PM).

• Stanford, the top seed, awaits the Wake Forest/North Carolina winner on the other side of the bracket.

🎙️ Coach Amy Bond:
"Our girls fought hard. Now it’s time for match play — and anything can happen."

🏈 End of an Era: Lee Corso Set for Final College GameDay Headgear Pick

A college football legend is about to take one last bow. 🎭🐾

ESPN announced Thursday that Lee Corso — a cornerstone of College GameDay since its 1987 debut — will make his final headgear pick during Week 1 of the 2025 season.

📚 Corso’s Legacy:
• 430 total headgear picks (Ohio State picked a record 45 times!)
• 29 seasons working alongside Kirk Herbstreit
• Creator of one of sports TV’s most beloved traditions (first headgear: Brutus Buckeye, 1996)

🎙️ Corso’s Farewell:
"My family and I will be forever indebted for the opportunity... I have a treasure of many friends, fond memories, and some unusual experiences to take with me into retirement."

📺 What’s Next:

• GameDay will honor Corso during the 2025 season opener (Aug. 30, 9 AM-Noon ET)
• Location for Week 1 GameDay still to be announced
• ESPN will share future segment plans closer to kickoff

💬 Herbstreit on Corso: "Coach Corso has had an iconic run in broadcasting... It has been my absolute honor to have the best seat in the house to watch coach put on that mascot head each week."

🏈 Recruiting Blitz: FSU Hosting Over Two-Dozen Prospects for Thursday Practice

The future of Seminole football is on full display. 🌟

Florida State is expected to host more than two-dozen prospects for Thursday’s 14th spring practice — with major names in the 2026, 2027, 2028, and even 2029 classes set to visit.

🔥 Headliners to Know:

• 4⭐️ ATH Derrek Cooper (2026): Nation’s No. 34 player, No. 2 ATH
• Two-way star (RB/S) from Chaminade-Madonna
• Official visit to FSU set for June 15
• Auburn, Miami, Bama, Georgia, OSU also battling for him

• 4⭐️ WR Jasen Lopez (2026):
• FSU football and basketball offer
• OV set for June 13

• 4⭐️ EDGE DJ Jacobs (2027):
• No. 2 overall player in the 2027 class
• Returning with younger brother Dawson Jacobs (2028 DL)

🏃‍♂️ Young Offensive Talent:

• RB Tyson Robinson (2027): 1,295 yards + 24 TDs last season
• WR Tramond Collins (2027): 6'2", 183 lbs — FSU offer candidate
• TE Brady Owens (2025): Deep FSU family ties, OV set for June 6

🧠 QBs to Watch:

• Lonnie Andrews III (2027)
• Knox Annis (2028)
• Walker Snee (2029)

🛡️ Defensive Visitors:

• Xavier Hasan (2027 CB) — already offered
• Ta'Shawn Poole (2027 S) — offer candidate

⚡ Other Notables:

• LB Xavier Brown (2027)
• ATH Jonathan Granby (2027)
• OL Gage Luther (2027)
• DL Charles Nance (2027)

👀 Still Awaiting Confirmation:

• WR Brysen Wright (2028) — one of Florida’s most electric young wideouts.

🚪 5⭐ WR Hykeem Williams Enters Transfer Portal

One of the highest-rated recruits of the Mike Norvell era is on the move. 📦

Redshirt freshman wide receiver Hykeem Williams has entered the NCAA Transfer Portal after two injury-hampered seasons at Florida State.

📊 Quick Career Snapshot:

• 21 catches | 267 yards | 2 TDs over two seasons
• Flashed big-play ability as a true freshman (notably vs. Syracuse and Duke)
• Struggled to stay healthy — ankle sprain, hamstring injury, and broken thumb

🌟 Recruiting Background: 

• 5⭐️ WR | No. 24 player nationally (2023)
• Chose FSU over Miami, Pitt, and Georgia
• Highest-rated composite signee of Norvell’s tenure

🎯 What’s Next:

• 2 years of eligibility remaining
• Expected to draw significant Power 4 interest due to size, speed, and flashes of upside

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And that’s a wrap!

This week reminded us that while wins, recruits, and rankings are important — nothing matters more than community, safety, and family. ❤️💛

Take care of yourselves, take care of each other, and we’ll keep doing what Seminoles do best: fighting for greatness, together.

Stay safe, stay proud, and Go Noles.

How'd we do?

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