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Yesterday’s Poll Results

Today’s Poll

🏹 Welcome to The Chief Brief! 🏹

TGIF Seminole!

We’re loaded today so we’ll jump right in:

⚽ Academic Excellence Meets Championship Pedigree ⚽
Heather Gilchrist caps a title season with rare Academic All-America honors, continuing FSU soccer’s standard of elite performance on and off the field.

🏐 Another Banner Year for Iane Henke 🏐
The Seminoles’ star hitter adds AVCA All-America Honorable Mention to a historic career that rewrote program record books.

🏊‍♂️ FSU Men Keep Climbing Nationally 🏊‍♂️
Swimming & diving jumps to No. 12 in the country after a statement month against top-tier competition.

🏀 A Tough Night — and a Needed Reset 🏀
Women’s basketball falls at home to Virginia Tech, while the men return to Tallahassee looking to snap a skid behind Martin Somerville’s red-hot shooting.

🥎 A New Stage on the Gulf Coast 🥎
FSU softball locks in a spot at the inaugural Sarasota Softball Classic, setting up an elite opening weekend in 2027.

⚾ An ACC Arm Heads to Tallahassee ⚾
Baseball adds Duke grad transfer Gabe Nard, a battle-tested reliever with postseason experience and academic pedigree.

🏈 Stability, Structure, and Staff Turnover 🏈
FSU promotes Austin Tucker to quarterbacks coach, prepares to add Blue Adams at corner, pushes toward a general manager hire, and sees another portal exit on the defensive line.

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🏀 FSU Women’s Basketball Drops Home Matchup vs. Virginia Tech 🏀

Florida State couldn’t recover from a slow start Thursday night, falling 79–54 to Virginia Tech at the Tucker Center.

🔥 Leading the Way

• Jasmine Shavers: Team-high 19 points on 3-of-5 from three, plus 8 rebounds

• Allie Kubek, Tatum Greene, Pania Davis: 7 points each

• All eight Seminoles who played scored

💨 Game Flow

• Virginia Tech opened on a 7–0 run and led 26–12 after the first quarter

• FSU battled in the second, but still trailed 45–28 at halftime

• The Hokies maintained control out of the break and closed strong in the fourth

📅 What’s Next
Florida State stays home Saturday for Holiday Hoops, hosting South Carolina State at 2:00 p.m. ET.

• Ugly sweater contest for fans

• Santa Cimarron photo op on the concourse

• 📺 ACC Network Extra | 📻 Seminole Sport Network

👉 Read more for full stats, rotation notes, and what FSU needs to clean up moving forward

🏀 Martin Somerville’s Shooting Streak Headlines FSU–MVSU Matchup 🏀

Florida State returns home Friday night looking to snap a skid, and all eyes are on one of the ACC’s most consistent perimeter shooters.

🔥 The Streak: Somerville From Deep

• 11 straight games this season with at least one made three

• 39 consecutive games dating back to Nov. 20, 2024

• Made a three in 42 of 43 career games

• Shooting .406 from three this season, tied for the team lead with 26 makes

• 78 of his 97 points (80%) have come from beyond the arc

🧠 More Than Just a Shooter

• Career 40%+ three-point shooter across two schools (FSU, UMass Lowell)

• Led UMass Lowell with 75 made threes as a freshman

• ACC top-10 in made threes this season

• Has scored in double figures four times, including each of the last two games

💨 Fit in Loucks’ Offense

• Luke Loucks’ NBA-style spacing has unlocked Somerville’s strengths

• Emphasis on ball movement and shot quality

• Somerville credits spacing, angles, and trust in his shot for the consistency

📅 Game Context: FSU vs. Mississippi Valley State

• When: Friday, Dec. 19 | 7:00 p.m. ET

• Where: Donald L. Tucker Civic Center

• TV: ACC Network Extra

• FSU: 5–6 overall, 5–1 at home, riding a five-game losing streak

• MVSU: 1–10 overall, 0–7 on the road, No. 365 in NET

📊 Why This Game Matters

• FSU is 5–0 vs. teams ranked outside the top 200, 0–6 inside it

• Mississippi Valley State allows 90.2 PPG (358th nationally)

• A chance to reset momentum before closing non-conference play

🔒 Why It Matters
This is about more than breaking a losing streak.

Somerville’s reliability from deep is one of the few constants in an up-and-down first season under Luke Loucks, and Friday presents an opportunity for Florida State to pair offensive rhythm with the defensive effort Loucks has been demanding.

If the Seminoles are going to stabilize, it starts with shooters like Somerville doing what they’ve done every night; knock one down and stretch the floor.

👉 Read more for lineup notes, matchup breakdowns, and what FSU needs to clean up defensively

🏊‍♂️ FSU Men’s Swimming & Diving Climbs to No. 12 Nationally 🏊‍♂️

Florida State’s men continue their steady rise, jumping four spots in the latest national rankings.

🔥 Poll Movement

• No. 12 in the CSCAA Division I December Poll

• Up from No. 16 in November

• Opened the season at No. 18 in October

• One of eight ACC teams ranked in the top 25 (with another receiving votes)

📊 Why They’re Rising

• 3rd-place finish at the Georgia Invite (Nov. 18–21)

• Faced five top-20 teams at the meet

• Logged seven individual top-five finishes

• Recorded three top-10 times in program history

• Defeated then-No. 13 LSU and then-No. 14 Alabama

📅 What’s Next

• Home opener to start 2026

• Jan. 6 vs. Villanova at the Morcom Aquatics Center

🔒 Why It Matters
Florida State has climbed the rankings in every monthly poll this season, and beating higher-ranked SEC programs signals the Seminoles are tracking as a legitimate national factor heading into the heart of the season.

👉 Read more on the Georgia Invite results and what’s driving FSU’s national surge

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🥎 FSU Softball Headed to Inaugural Sarasota Softball Classic (2027) 🥎

Florida State will help launch a brand-new early-season showcase on Florida’s Gulf Coast.

🔥 Tournament Snapshot

• Event: Sarasota Softball Classic (first-ever edition)

• Dates: Feb. 11–14, 2027 (opening weekend of the season)

• Location: 17th Street Regional Sports Complex, Sarasota

  • New facility scheduled to open in September 2026

🏆 Field of Teams

• Florida State

• Alabama

• Baylor

• James Madison

• Ohio State

• Texas State

🧠 What Makes It Notable

• Hosted by Peak Events, LLC, a group known for elite college baseball tournaments

• Marks Peak Events’ first-ever college softball event

• 15 total games over four days

  • Thu–Sat: 4 games each day

  • Sun: 3 games

👉 Read more as schedule details and matchups are released

⚾ FSU Baseball Adds Duke Grad Transfer RHP Gabe Nard ⚾

Florida State bolstered its 2026 pitching staff with a proven ACC arm and postseason-tested reliever.

🔥 Who He Is

• Name: Gabe Nard

• Position: Right-handed pitcher

• From: Duke (graduate transfer)

• Class in 2026: Senior

• Hometown: Shaker Heights, Ohio

🧠 Why He Matters

• Experience: 80 career appearances (77 out of the bullpen)

• Workload: 120.2 career innings pitched

• Track record: 9–5 record | 4.10 career ERA

• Opponents’ AVG: .260

• Postseason-tested: Pitched in NCAA Regionals and Super Regionals across three seasons

🔥 Recent Production

• 2025 (Junior):

  • 29 appearances (2 starts)

  • 6–2 record

  • 50.2 IP | 4.62 ERA

  • Held hitters to a .247 average

  • Threw 2.1 shutout innings in Duke’s Regional-clinching win

• 2024 (Sophomore):

  • 30 appearances (1 start)

  • 2.60 ERA over 45.0 innings

🧱 Role Projection

• Veteran bullpen arm with starter experience

• Reliable, multi-inning option who’s logged meaningful ACC and postseason reps

• Adds stability to a staff that values depth and flexibility

🎓 Off the Field

• Graduated from Duke with a degree in sociology

• Three-time All-ACC Academic Team and ACC Academic Honor Roll selection

• Elite prep résumé:

  • 23–0 career record, 0.87 ERA in high school

  • Started a state title game as a freshman at St. Ignatius (Cleveland)

👉 Read more on how Nard fits into FSU’s evolving pitching plans for 2026

🏈 FSU Promotes Austin Tucker to Quarterbacks Coach; Brendan Bognar Elevated 🏈

Florida State opted for continuity on offense, promoting from within to fill a key vacancy at quarterback.

🔥 The Move

• Austin Tucker promoted to Quarterbacks Coach, replacing Tony Tokarz (Buffalo)

• Brendan Bognar elevated from analyst to Assistant Quarterbacks Coach

• Announcement made official by head coach Mike Norvell on Thursday

🧠 Why Tucker Was the Choice

• Entering his 11th season as a Division I coach and 7th at FSU

• Nearly a decade working under Norvell and Gus Malzahn

• Has coached every offensive skill position: RBs, WRs, and QBs

• Deep institutional knowledge of FSU’s offensive system

🧱 Skill-Position Development Track Record

• WR Room (2025):

  • Duce Robinson: 56–1,081–6, First Team All-ACC, Biletnikoff semifinalist

  • Micahi Danzy: ACC leader in yards per catch (21.2)

  • Lawayne McCoy: 27 catches, 396 yards

  • Trio combined for nine 100-yard receiving games

• QB Assistance (2023):

  • Jordan Travis led a 13–0 regular season

  • ACC Player & Offensive Player of the Year

  • Back-to-back ACC pass efficiency leader

🗣️ Endorsement from the QB Room

🔥 Brendan Bognar’s Role

• Moves from offensive analyst to Assistant QBs Coach

• Helped develop Tommy Castellanos in 2025:

  • Led the nation in yards per completion

  • Set FSU single-season record for QB rushing TDs

• Prior QB coach at Samford, where his starter:

  • Threw for 2,689 yards

  • Completed 70.3% of passes

  • Led the SoCon in total offense

🔒 Why It Matters
With quarterback turnover looming and the offense entering another transition year, Florida State chose continuity, system mastery, and player development over an outside hire. Tucker’s promotion keeps Norvell–Malzahn offensive DNA intact, while Bognar adds hands-on QB coaching experience behind the scenes.

For a program that can’t afford offensive reset after reset, this move signals stability — and trust — at one of the most critical positions on the roster.

👉 Read more for what this means for FSU’s QB competition and offensive identity in 2026

🏈 FSU Expected to Hire Blue Adams as Cornerbacks Coach 🏈

Florida State is set to add veteran experience and NFL pedigree to its defensive staff, with Blue Adams expected to take over the cornerbacks room.

🔥 The Hire

• Blue Adams expected to be named FSU’s next Cornerbacks Coach

• Fills the vacancy left by Patrick Surtain Sr.’s dismissal

• Reported by multiple sources to Warchant

🧠 Coaching Background

• 14 years of experience coaching defensive backs/secondary

• Most recently spent two seasons at Michigan State

• Previous stops include:

  • Oregon State

  • South Florida

  • West Virginia

  • Northern Iowa

  • Miami Dolphins (NFL)

• Began coaching career as a graduate assistant at Purdue

🏈 Playing Pedigree

• Former NFL cornerback

• College career at Cincinnati

• Drafted in the 7th round by the Detroit Lions

• NFL stints with:

  • Jacksonville Jaguars

  • Tampa Bay Buccaneers

  • Cincinnati Bengals

• Best NFL season: 2006 with Tampa Bay

  • Played all 16 games

  • 19 tackles, forced fumble

🌴 South Florida Roots

• Miami Senior High alum

• Deep ties to one of FSU’s most important recruiting territories

🔒 Why It Matters
This hire checks multiple boxes for Florida State at a critical moment. The Seminoles are navigating heavy turnover in the secondary, and Adams brings NFL experience, long-term coaching credibility, and South Florida recruiting familiarity to a position group that must be rebuilt quickly. With portal additions and development both urgent, FSU is prioritizing experience over experiment at corner.

👉 Read more for what Adams’ arrival could mean for FSU’s secondary rebuild and portal strategy

🏈 FSU Targeting General Manager Hire by Next Week 🏈

Florida State is nearing a pivotal front-office decision as it works to modernize the football program’s operational structure ahead of a critical offseason.

🔥 The Timeline

• FSU is aiming to hire its next football general manager by mid-next week

• The search is being led jointly by:

  • FSU President Richard D. McCullough

  • Board of Trustees Chairman Peter Collins

  • Athletic Director Michael Alford

• The goal: have leadership in place before the Jan. 2 transfer portal window

🧠 Candidates in the Mix

• Brian Xanders

  • Former FSU player

  • Currently Senior Advisor to the GM with the Jacksonville Jaguars

  • A name that continues to surface internally and remains in contention

• Will Redmond (former Auburn GM)

  • Has had conversations with FSU

• Patrick Suddes (UNC Associate AD / GM for Football Ops)

  • Also spoken with, but is believed to have passed on the role

📊 What the Job Will (and Won’t) Be

• FSU consulted with The Athlete Group for multi-day feedback

  • The school will not continue using the firm for staffing decisions

  • However, feedback around “modernizing the operation” is being taken seriously

• Leadership structure still being finalized:

  • FSU briefly explored two parallel front-office roles

  • That idea is viewed as organizationally messy

  • Current lean: one GM, reporting directly to Michael Alford

⚠️ Concerns Around the Role

• Multiple front-office sources nationally have flagged:

  • Program stability concerns after recent on-field struggles

  • Timing risk, with the portal opening in under two weeks

• Expectation:

  • Strong candidates will seek a multi-year contract to offset risk and uncertainty

🔒 Why It Matters
Florida State is attempting to professionalize and stabilize its football operation at a moment when NIL, the transfer portal, and roster management are existential issues. Hiring a GM days before the portal opens adds urgency and pressure to get this right.

Whoever steps into this role will immediately shape portal strategy, NIL alignment, and long-term roster planning. It’s a structural bet on whether FSU can operate like a modern program in a rapidly accelerating arms race.

👉 Read more for insight into how this GM role could reshape FSU’s portal strategy, NIL decision-making, and front-office power structure

🏈 DL Jayson Jenkins Set to Exit After One Season at FSU 🏈

Florida State will see another defensive lineman head to the transfer portal as roster turnover continues ahead of January’s window.

🔥 What Happened

• Jayson Jenkins, a former Tennessee transfer, is leaving FSU after one season (per ESPN’s Pete Thamel)

• Brought in as a high-cost portal addition to fit Tony White’s hybrid defensive front

• An offseason injury limited his early impact and stalled momentum

📊 On-Field Snapshot

• Played nearly 300 snaps

• Started five games

• Shifted to a bench role in the final two games as FSU leaned younger up front

• Never became a consistent playmaker despite opportunities

🧠 Context That Matters

• Jenkins was viewed as a plug-and-play veteran addition

• The staff’s late-season pivot toward youth signaled a changing evaluation

• His departure reinforces that 2025 portal bets up front didn’t fully hit

📅 What’s Next

• Jenkins (6’6”, 276 lbs) has one year of eligibility remaining

• Official portal window: Jan. 2–16

👉 Read more for how Jenkins’ departure impacts FSU’s DL rotation and portal priorities moving forward

And that’s a wrap!

Florida State isn’t short on activity; it’s short on margin.
Staffing decisions, portal outcomes, and structural bets made over the next few weeks will ripple well beyond 2026.

Some programs are climbing. Others are searching. And in Tallahassee, the difference is going to come down to execution, not excuses.

We’ll be here tracking every move.

— The Chief Brief 🏹