Yesterday’s Poll Results

Today’s Poll

🏹 Welcome to The Chief Brief! 🏹

Happy Sunday, Seminole! Here’s the docket for you today:

🏀 FSU's Overtime Thriller Comes Up Short 🏀
In a dramatic ACC opener, Florida State fell to NC State 84-74 in overtime, ending their NCAA record 14-game overtime winning streak. Despite strong performances from Jamir Watkins and Malique Ewin, the Seminoles couldn’t close it out in the extra period.

🏀 FSU Women's Basketball Prepares for SMU 🏀
FSU Women’s Basketball gears up for its ACC opener against SMU, boasting the nation's second-ranked offense and a star-studded lineup. Ta'Niya Latson, fresh off a career-high 38 points, will lead the charge.

🏃‍♀️ Bieke Schipperen Shines on European Stage 🏃‍♀️
Sophomore Bieke Schipperen is set to represent the Netherlands at the European Cross Country Championships in Antalya, Turkey.

🏈 FSU Strengthens Defense with Evan Cooper 🏈
Florida State bolsters its defensive staff with the hire of safeties coach Evan Cooper, bringing in a wealth of experience from Nebraska and the NFL's Carolina Panthers.

🏈 Azareye'h Thomas Declares for NFL Draft 🏈
FSU cornerback Azareye'h Thomas has declared for the 2025 NFL Draft after a standout career in the Seminoles' secondary.

🏈 ACC Commissioner Jim Phillips Faces Backlash 🏈
ACC Commissioner Jim Phillips faces criticism for his controversial comments on College Gameday, further frustrating FSU fans after last year’s playoff snub.

🏈 FSU’s Strong Finish to Early Signing Period 🏈
Despite a tough season, Mike Norvell and his staff secured a Top 20 recruiting class, highlighted by key additions and flips, setting the stage for future success.

🏀 FSU Falls to NC State in Overtime Thriller 🏀

In a nail-biting ACC opener, Florida State was narrowly defeated by NC State 84-74 in overtime at the Lenovo Center, marking the end of their NCAA-record 14-game overtime win streak.

🌟 Jamir Watkins Shines Despite Loss 🌟
Senior Jamir Watkins led the charge for FSU, putting up 24 points and adding three assists in a standout performance. Junior Malique Ewin contributed a career-high 23 points and nine rebounds, while freshman Daquan Davis chipped in with 11 points. Despite their strong individual performances, the Seminoles were unable to seal the win in the extra period.

💥 Late-Game Drama 💥
The game saw multiple lead changes, with FSU taking its first lead at 49-47 after a three-pointer by Justin Thomas at the 12:39 mark. As the clock wound down, FSU held a 68-64 advantage with just over two minutes remaining in regulation, but NC State fought back to tie the game at 70-70, forcing overtime.

⚡ Overtime Struggles ⚡
In the extra period, NC State outscored FSU 14-4, despite FSU's effective full-court press, which resulted in 10 turnovers and nine points off those turnovers. Watkins kept FSU in the game, going 14-of-15 from the free-throw line, including two clutch free throws to tie the game. However, the Seminoles were unable to regain the lead, as NC State's Marcus Hill (23 points) helped seal the victory.

📅 Next Up: Tulane in Orange Bowl Classic 📅
FSU (7-3) looks to bounce back on December 14, 2024, when they face Tulane in the Orange Bowl Classic. Historically, FSU has been strong in this event, holding a 9-4 record, and they lead the all-time series against Tulane 26-12.

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🏀 FSU Women’s Basketball Set to Open ACC Play Against SMU 🏀

The Florida State women’s basketball team will begin a three-game homestand on Sunday when they host SMU at 2 p.m. for their ACC opener. This will be the first-ever meeting between the Seminoles (8-2) and the Mustangs (5-4).

🌟 Strong Start to ACC Play 🌟
FSU, which boasts the second-ranked scoring offense in the nation (94.3 points per game), enters the game with a strong performance from star guard Ta'Niya Latson, who leads the team with 27.4 points per game. This will be SMU’s first taste of ACC competition, as FSU becomes just the third ACC opponent to face the Mustangs.

💥 Latson & Gordon Lead the Charge 💥
Latson will look to continue her dominant play after a career-high 38-point performance in the Noles' recent 79-77 loss to Tennessee in the SEC/ACC Challenge. In that game, FSU mounted an incredible second-half comeback, erasing a 20-point deficit behind a 23-4 run. O'Mariah Gordon also impressed, adding 16 points and becoming the 42nd Seminole in history to score 1,000 career points, which will be celebrated prior to Sunday’s game.

⚡ FSU’s Dynamic Duo ⚡
Florida State is the only program in the country with two different single-game 38-point scores, with both Latson and Makayla Timpson holding the record for the most field goals made in a single game in the nation (15). Timpson also continues to impress with her rebounding, recording her fifth double-double of the season (11 points, 13 rebounds) in the loss to Tennessee.

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🏃‍♀️ FSU’s Bieke Schipperen to Compete in European Cross Country Championships 🏃‍♀️

Sophomore Bieke Schipperen will represent the Netherlands at the 30th annual SPAR European Cross Country Championships on December 8 in Antalya, Turkey. Schipperen will race in the U23 6k, alongside former Nole Emmy Van Den Berg, competing against athletes from 21 countries.

🌟 Stellar 2024 Season 🌟
Schipperen had an outstanding 2024 season, earning All-ACC honors after finishing 16th in the 6k at the ACC Championships. She also garnered all-region recognition with a fifth-place finish at the NCAA South Region Championships and wrapped up her season with a 57th-place finish at the NCAA National Championships.

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🏈 FSU Hires Evan Cooper as Safeties Coach 🏈

Florida State has added former Nebraska assistant Evan Cooper to the defensive staff as the new safeties coach. Cooper joins defensive coordinator Tony White and defensive line coach Terrance Knighton in Tallahassee as part of a revamped defensive staff.

🌟 A Dade County Native Returns Home 🌟
Cooper, a Dade County native, brings extensive coaching experience to the Seminoles. He spent the 2023 season at Nebraska as the Passing Game Coordinator/Secondary Coach, following a successful tenure as the Carolina Panthers' cornerbacks coach from 2020 to 2022. Under Cooper’s guidance, the Panthers ranked among the NFL’s best in pass defense, including No. 4 in the league in passing yards allowed per game.

💥 Recruiting and Coaching Success 💥
Cooper has proven himself as a top recruiter, landing several blue-chip recruits during his time at Nebraska and Baylor. Notable signees include four-star edge rusher Cameron Lenhardt and cornerback Mario Buford. At Baylor, Cooper helped lead the team to a Sugar Bowl appearance and posted an 11-3 record in 2019, with the Bears ranking fifth in the nation in interceptions.

⚡ FSU’s Defensive Future ⚡
Cooper’s experience working with defensive backs and his track record of developing talent make him an exciting addition to FSU’s coaching staff. He’ll work alongside Patrick Surtain, who will continue to focus on cornerbacks, to strengthen the Seminoles' secondary under White’s 3-3-5 defensive scheme.

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🏈 Azareye'h Thomas Declares for NFL Draft 🏈

Florida State cornerback Azareye'h Thomas has declared for the 2025 NFL Draft after three impactful seasons with the Seminoles. A key contributor to FSU’s dominant pass defense in 2023, Thomas finishes his career with 95 tackles, 2 interceptions, and 15 pass breakups.

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🏈 ACC Commissioner Jim Phillips Under Fire for Remarks on College Gameday 🏈

Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) Commissioner Jim Phillips is once again drawing criticism, this time for his controversial comments on College Gameday Saturday morning. While discussing potential College Football Playoff (CFP) candidates, Phillips made a major gaffe, confusing former Florida State quarterback Jordan Travis with Miami's quarterback from the previous season, before bizarrely claiming Travis was the signal caller for SMU this season.

🌟 A Continuing Pattern of Missteps 🌟
Phillips, who made no public efforts to advocate for FSU’s inclusion in the 2023 playoffs, has now stirred more controversy in the 2024 season by pushing for SMU, Clemson, and Miami to be considered in the new 12-team playoff format. His recent blunder on College Gameday, where he also misstated stats about SMU’s performance, further undermines his credibility.

💥 The Fallout Continues 💥
FSU fans were already frustrated by Phillips' failure to support the undefeated Seminoles last season, and now, with his misguided comments, his position as ACC commissioner continues to raise eyebrows.

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🏈 FSU's Strong Finish to Early Signing Period: Key Takeaways 🏈

Florida State’s Early Signing Period (ESP) showed some positive signs for the future of Mike Norvell's program, with the Seminoles finishing stronger than they have in previous cycles.

Despite a tough season, FSU climbed into the Top 20 and showcased several key trends that might indicate a new direction for the program's recruiting strategy.

🌟 1. Financial Commitment in a Wild NIL Landscape 🌟
One of the most notable aspects of FSU’s strong finish was their aggressive use of NIL to secure key recruits. Flipping high-priority targets like Ousmane Kromah from Georgia demonstrates how committed the Seminoles are to recruiting at a high level, even after a tough season. However, it's unclear what the long-term impact of this aggressive approach will be as NIL restrictions loom on the horizon.

💥 2. Retaining Key Recruits Amid Vulnerability 💥
Even though FSU faced significant challenges, Norvell and his assistants did an excellent job retaining key commits. Defensive tackle Kevin Wynn, cornerback Gregory Xavier Thomas, and others stayed in the fold despite strong efforts from other programs. The Seminoles' ability to sell their vision for a quick rebuild was crucial in keeping these players on board.

⚡ 3. The Pot Roast Effect? ⚡
New defensive line coach Terrance Knighton played a key role in the recruitment of edge rusher Tylon Lee, flipping him from Ole Miss. Knighton’s impact in the short time he’s been with the program hints at his potential as a strong recruiter moving forward.

💥 4. Focusing on Immediate Impact Players 💥
Norvell emphasized the importance of recruiting players with high floors and the potential for early contributions. FSU prioritized players who could make an immediate impact, such as Kromah and Wynn, and looked for physicality in recruits, including taller or heavier wide receivers and JUCO signings, to help expedite their development.

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And that’s a wrap!

As FSU continues to push forward, both on the field and off it, there’s a lot to be excited about. With strong performances, strategic hires, and a promising recruiting finish, the future is bright for the Seminoles.

Stay tuned for more updates as the journey unfolds!