Yesterday’s Poll Results

Today’s Poll

🏹 Welcome to The Chief Brief! 🏹

Happy Valentine’s Day, Seminole!

It’s a jam-packed edition, Seminole Nation! From FSU Baseball’s Opening Weekend to Softball’s dominant win, plus a massive recruiting weekend on the horizon—there’s no shortage of action in Tallahassee.

🔥 In This Edition:
✅ FSU Softball dominates No. 16 Missouri in Clearwater opener
✅ Baseball sets rotation for Opening Weekend vs. James Madison
✅ FSU Football alums earn NFL Combine invites
✅ Seminoles post a $15M athletics surplus 💰
✅ FSU Volleyball & Soccer shine in the classroom 📚

It’s a big week for the Garnet & Gold—let’s dive in! ⬇️

🎓🏐 Six FSU Volleyball Players Earn All-ACC Academic Honors!

Florida State Volleyball continues to shine on and off the court, with six Seminoles earning spots on the All-ACC Academic Team!

🏆 Honorees & Majors:
✅ Emery Dupes (Marketing)
✅ Iane Henke (Psychology)
✅ Audrey Koenig (Public Health)
✅ Kelsey Perry (Sport Management)
✅ Kenna Phelan (Art Studio)
✅ Loren Robertson (Hospitality & Entrepreneurship)

🔍 Academic Requirements:
✔️ 3.0+ GPA (cumulative & Fall 2024 semester)
✔️ Played in at least 50% of matches

FSU continues to dominate in the classroom—congrats to these standout student-athletes! 🎉📚🏐

🔗 More on FSU Volleyball’s academic excellence here.

⚾ Jamie Arnold & Alex Lodise Named FSU Baseball Captains!

Florida State head coach Link Jarrett has officially named Jamie Arnold and Alex Lodise as team captains for the 2025 season!

🏆 Meet Your Captains:
🔺 Jamie Arnold (LHP, Jr.) – Preseason National Pitcher of the Year, 11-3 record, 2.98 ERA, 159 Ks in 2024.
🔺 Alex Lodise (INF, So.) – Started all 62 games last season, hit .281 with 9 HR & 44 RBI, led FSU with 134 assists.

💬 Coach Jarrett on the Captains:
"Clearly the players feel they both stand out in representing what they want our program to embody."

🚨 What’s Next?
⚾ Opening Weekend vs. James Madison
📅 Feb. 14-16 | Dick Howser Stadium
📺 ACC Network Extra | 🎟️ Get Tickets Here

🔗 More on FSU’s new captains here.

🔥 No. 9 FSU Softball Run-Rules No. 16 Missouri in Clearwater Opener!

The Seminoles (5-1) dominated No. 16 Missouri, 9-1, in six innings to open the Shriners Children's Clearwater Invitational—marking the first time in program history FSU has run-ruled ranked opponents in back-to-back games!

🚀 Offensive Explosion:
🔺 Michaela Edenfield – 3-run HR in the 1st, RBI single in the 3rd
🔺 Kennedy Harp – 2-run HR (her second of the season)
🔺 Katie Dack – Solo HR & RBI double
🔺 Isa Torres – 3 hits, solo HR in the 6th

🔥 Shutdown Pitching:
✅ Annabelle Widra (W, 2-0) – 4.0 IP, 1 ER, 2 H, 4 Ks
✅ Jazzy Francik – 2.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 2 Ks

⏭️ What’s Next?
🏆 FSU vs. Ohio State
📅 Friday, 2 PM | 📺 ACC Network

🔗 More on FSU’s Clearwater dominance here.

🏀 No. 23 FSU Falls to Louisville on Sue Semrau Night

Florida State (19-6, 9-4 ACC) dropped a tough one to Louisville, 83-69, on an emotional night honoring legendary coach Sue Semrau at the Tucker Center.

🔥 Ta’Niya Latson Shines Despite the Loss
✅ 29 points (11-12 FT)
✅ Moves to No. 2 in FSU history in scoring (1,992 career points)

💪 Other Key Performers:
🔺 O’Mariah Gordon – 15 PTS, 2 AST
🔺 Makayla Timpson – 10 PTS, 7 REB, 1 BLK

🏀 Game Recap:
🔹 Louisville took control early, leading 44-28 at halftime.
🔹 FSU fought back with a 24-point third quarter, cutting into the lead.
🔹 Despite a 41-point second half, the Seminoles couldn’t close the gap.

⏭️ What’s Next?
🏆 FSU at Miami
📅 Sunday, 2 PM | 📺 The CW

🔗 More on FSU’s battle vs. Louisville here.

⚾ FSU Baseball Opens 2025 Season with High Hopes & New Faces

The journey to Omaha starts now. No. 9 Florida State begins its 2025 season this Friday at 5 PM with a three-game home series against James Madison, and head coach Link Jarrett is eager to see how his squad stacks up.

🔥 Weekend Rotation Set
✅ Friday: Jamie Arnold – Ace & Preseason National Pitcher of the Year
✅ Saturday: Joey Volini – USF Transfer, one of FSU’s most consistent arms
✅ Sunday: Wes Mendes – Ole Miss Transfer, electric secondary pitches

💪 Offensive Questions, New Faces Stepping Up
FSU lost 90 home runs & 331 RBIs from last year’s lineup, but Jarrett believes his offense can surprise people.

🔹 Texas Tech transfer Gage Harrelson is a candidate for leadoff.
🔹 Max Williams (14 HR, 46 RBI in 2024) will move into the middle of the order.
🔹 Returning Starters: Alex Lodise (SS), Drew Faurot (2B), Jackson West (C).

📅 Opening Weekend Schedule (ACC Network Extra):
🆚 Friday: 5 PM
🆚 Saturday: 2 PM
🆚 Sunday: 12 PM

🚀 Will the Seminoles take the first step toward Omaha?

🔗 More on FSU’s season opener here.

🏈 Three Seminoles Earn NFL Combine Invitations

Despite a tough 2-10 season in 2024, Florida State will still have representation at the 2025 NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis (Feb. 24 - March 3).

FSU’s Combine Invitees:
🔹 DT Joshua Farmer (6'3, 318 lbs) – 80 tackles, 21 TFLs, 11 sacks in his career. Could be a second-round pick.
🔹 DB A’zareye’h Thomas – 95 tackles, 15 passes defended, 2 INTs in three seasons. Projected late first-round pick.
🔹 K Ryan Fitzgerald – Perfect 2024 season (14/14 FG), Lou Groza Award finalist.

📈 Will these ‘Noles rise up draft boards?

🔗 More on FSU’s NFL hopefuls here.

💰 FSU Athletics Posts $15M Surplus for FY2024

Thanks to flat expenses and a surge in donor contributions, Florida State Athletics reported a $15.2 million surplus in Fiscal Year 2024.

📊 FSU’s Key Financial Figures:
🔺 Total Revenue: $185M
🔺 Total Expenses: $169.8M
🔺 Surplus: $15.2M

🔥 Where the Money Came From:
✅ Donations: $62.3M (up from $54.2M in FY2023)
✅ ACC Media Rights: $32.7M
✅ Royalties, Licensing & Ads: $27.7M

🏈 Top-Performing Sports:
💰 Football: $90.9M revenue | $61.1M expenses ($28M in donations!)
💰 Men’s Basketball: $18M revenue | $10.9M expenses
⚾ Baseball: $5.3M revenue | $5.3M expenses (break-even)

🚨 What’s Next?
FSU’s financial standing will be clearer when USA Today’s college finances rankings drop later this spring. Based on last year’s numbers, FSU would rank 9th nationally in revenue and 10th in expenses among public universities.

🔗 More on FSU’s financial success here.

And that’s a wrap!

That’s a wrap for this edition of The Chief Brief! 💪 The Seminoles are rolling, and there’s plenty more action ahead.

👀 What to Watch For:
🏀 FSU Hoops at Miami on Sunday
⚾ Baseball’s Opening Weekend vs. JMU
🥎 Softball’s Clearwater Invitational continues
🏈 Recruiting momentum builds toward June 6