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Yesterday’s Poll Results
Today’s Poll
Have you ever been to an FSU Softball game?
🏹 Welcome to The Chief Brief! 🏹
A little bit of everything today; dominance on the diamond, continuity paying off across programs, and the early framework of what’s next for Florida State.
Here’s what’s inside this edition:
🥎 Francik Sets the Tone Early 🥎
A no-hitter on opening night, freshmen contributing immediately, and all the signs of another national-title-caliber softball season.
🏐 Volleyball Chooses Continuity Over Chaos 🏐
FSU elevates Lindsay Allman to head coach, keeping championship momentum and elite player development firmly in place.
🏀 Women’s Hoops Faces Reality on the Road 🏀
A tough loss at NC State, but individual growth and leadership moments still worth noting as Miami comes to town.
🥍 A New Program Takes Its First Steps 🥍
FSU women’s lacrosse officially begins its inaugural season, backed by experience, ambition, and ACC-level expectations from Day 1.
🎾 Tennis Weekend Packed With Tests 🎾
Men’s tennis welcomes a top-10 opponent to Tallahassee, while the women head west for a three-match gauntlet.
⚽ Championships to Contracts ⚽
Two more Seminoles cash in on FSU’s title run, reinforcing the program’s status as a true pro pipeline.
🏈 Staff Moves, Contracts, and Structure 🏈
Details behind assistant coach promotions — short-term flexibility, smart protections, and continuity during a reset year.
🏈 2027 Recruiting Comes Into Focus 🏈
January Junior Days reveal where FSU is confident, where depth is building, and where spring recruiting must deliver.
From immediate results to long-term positioning, this edition captures Florida State balancing the present while laying groundwork for what’s next.
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🥎🔥 Francik Fires No-Hitter as No. 7 FSU Opens 2026 With Shutout 🔥🥎
A dominant start powered by youth and precision.
Jazzy Francik tossed her second career no-hitter as Florida State opened the 2026 season with a 2–0 win over Samford at JoAnne Graf Field.
🔥 The Headline Performance
No-hitter #2 of Francik’s career (7 Ks, 98 pitches)
First FSU opening-night no-hitter since Julie Larsen (1986)
Francik is now the first Seminole since Meghan King with multiple career complete-game no-hitters
⚡ Offense When It Mattered
Third-inning RBI singles from Ashtyn Danley and freshman Anna Hinde
First career hits for freshmen Marin Heller, Hayley Griggs, and Hinde
Lonni Alameda started four freshmen for the first time in her FSU tenure
📊 By the Numbers
FSU improves to 15–0 all-time vs. Samford
30–5 all-time at the JoAnne Graf Classic
🧠 Why It Matters
Elite pitching carried the opener, but the real signal was youth production. When freshmen are contributing immediately and Francik is already in midseason form, the ceiling stays national.
🏐🔥 FSU Promotes Lindsay Allman to Head Volleyball Coach 🔥🏐
Continuity, credibility, and championship DNA.
Florida State has promoted Lindsay Allman to head volleyball coach, a move that rewards sustained success and keeps momentum intact within the program, Vice President and Director of Athletics Michael Alford announced Thursday.
🔑 Why This Hire Makes Sense
Four seasons as FSU’s associate head coach
Five years of prior head coaching experience (Indiana State)
Led recruiting and outside hitters/serve receive units that ranked top-3 in the ACC
Direct hand in multiple All-Americans and All-ACC performers
🏆 Results That Matter
Key architect of FSU’s 2023 ACC Championship (first since 2012)
Developed elite attackers like Iane Henke, Kyleene Filimaua, Audrey Koenig, and Khori Louis
Consistent top-tier efficiency in hitting percentage, kills, and serve receive
💬 Allman on the Opportunity
She called FSU “home,” thanked Chris Poole for trusting her with the program’s rise, and said her goal is clear: lead Florida State back to the top nationally and in the ACC.
🧠 Why It Matters
FSU chose continuity over disruption, elevating a coach who already knows the roster, recruits at a high level, and has proven she can win championships in garnet and gold.
🏀📉 FSU Women’s Hoops Falls at NC State 📉🏀
A tough night in Raleigh, but a few individual bright spots.
Florida State women’s basketball dropped an 83–55 road decision to NC State Wolfpack on Thursday night at Reynolds Coliseum.
🔥 Seminole Standouts
Avery Treadwell: First career double-double (12 points, career-high 12 rebounds), plus 2 blocks
Jasmine Shavers: 10 points, 4 steals
Tatum Greene: 9 rebounds, 8 points, 3 blocks
Sole Williams: 9 points, team-high 4 assists
📊 Game Flow
FSU hit early threes but was buried by an 11–0 NC State run in the first
Wolfpack led 52–23 at halftime
Seminoles showed fight after the break, outscoring NC State 20–16 in the third
Final margin reflected a strong first half by the home team
📍 What’s Next
Florida State returns home Sunday to host Miami Hurricanes in the annual Paint It Pink game at 2 p.m. inside the Donald L. Tucker Civic Center.
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🥍🚀 FSU Lacrosse Begins a New Era This Saturday 🚀🥍
History starts at the Seminole Lacrosse Complex.
Florida State will officially launch its inaugural women’s lacrosse season on Saturday, hosting the Stetson Hatters at 1 p.m. This opener marks the first game in a 16-game regular season for the program.
🧠 Leading the Charge
The Seminoles are guided by head coach Sara Tisdale, who brings more than a decade of collegiate coaching experience, 100+ career wins, and multiple conference championships into Year 1 at Florida State.
📋 Roster Snapshot
38 total student-athletes
24 Division I transfers (411 combined collegiate appearances)
14 true freshmen
More than 140 career goals and eight conference honors represented
🏟️ Big-Picture Context
FSU becomes the 13th women’s lacrosse program in the ACC
One of just two schools nationwide with a women’s lacrosse–only complex
🎟️ Game Day Info
Adults: $7
Youth: $4
FSU students: Free admission
🧠 Why It Matters
This is the start of a brand-new ACC program built with experience, ambition, and long-term intent. Saturday is the first step in establishing Florida State lacrosse on the national stage.
🎾🔥 No. 8 Texas A&M Visits Tallahassee for Top-10 Showdown 🔥🎾
A marquee test inside the Indoor Tennis Courts.
Florida State men’s tennis hosts Texas A&M Aggies on Friday at 5:00 p.m., renewing a matchup that produced a signature upset for the Seminoles just one season ago.
🔙 Flashback Worth Remembering
FSU stunned then–No. 9 Texas A&M on the road in 2025
Program’s first true top-10 road win since 2013
Strong doubles play set the tone all match
⭐ Players to Know
Corey Craig earned his first-ever Court 1 win as a Seminole in last year’s meeting
Erik Schiessl (#52), Luis Felipe Miguel (#82), and Azariah Rusher (#91) all rank in the ITA top 100
Miguel & Schiessl are the No. 15 doubles team nationally
📊 Opponent Context
Texas A&M enters 5–0
Fresh off a 4–2 win over No. 18 Duke
Headed to the ITA National Indoors Championship
🔙 Last Time Out
FSU (6–3) knocked off rival Florida 4–3 on the road
Clinched by a dramatic three-set win from Gabor Hornung
🎾✈️ FSU Women’s Tennis Heads West for Three-Match Weekend ✈️🎾
A packed slate and a real early-season test.
Florida State women’s tennis (2–2) travels to Santa Barbara for three matches in two days at the Arnold Tennis Center, facing a mix of familiarity and national competition.
📅 Weekend Schedule
Friday, 3 p.m. ET vs. UC Santa Barbara Gauchos (2–2)
First meeting since 2020 (FSU won 4–1 at ITA Kickoff)
Friday, 7 p.m. ET (doubles) / Saturday, 12 p.m. ET (singles) vs. Texas Tech Red Raiders (5–1, No. 22)
First matchup since 1983
FSU leads series 2–0
Saturday (afternoon) vs. Arizona Wildcats (4–2)
Last meeting: 2014 NCAA Tournament (FSU won 4–3)
🔥 Seminoles to Watch
Mary Boyce Deatherage: 3–0 in spring singles (8–3 overall)
Eva Shaw: 2–0 in spring singles (7–4 overall)
⚽✍️ Two More Seminoles Go Pro as FSU’s Title Core Cashes In ✍️⚽
The championship pipeline keeps moving.
Florida State soccer added two more names to its growing pro list this week, as Marianyela Jiménez and Kameron Simmonds officially signed professional contracts following FSU’s 2025 national title run.
Two seasons at FSU: ACC Tournament title (2024), NCAA title (2025)
Career at FSU: 33 games, 9 starts, 4 goals, 9 assists
2025 impact: 5 assists (tied for third on team), including a game-winner
Venezuelan international; started all three matches at the 2024 U-20 World Cup
🗣️ Brian Pensky:
“Mari leaves with an ACC title, a national championship, and her degree — and her future is incredibly bright.”
Two seasons at FSU after transferring from Tennessee
Helped deliver ACC Tournament (2024) + NCAA title (2025)
At FSU: 42 games, 36 starts, 6 goals, 3 assists
Career totals: 76 games, 18 goals, 4 game-winners
Jamaican international; played in the 2023 Women’s World Cup, Round of 16
🗣️ Brian Pensky:
“Her versatility was invaluable here — and it will be at the next level, too.”
📈 Big Picture
Jiménez and Simmonds join a rapidly growing list of Seminoles turning a championship run into professional careers across Liga MX Femenil and the NWSL further cementing FSU as one of the sport’s premier development pipelines.
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🏈🧾 Inside the Promotions: Contract Details for Austin Tucker & Ernie Sims 🧾🏈
Clear raises, short terms, and standard protections.
Florida State formalized offseason promotions for Austin Tucker (quarterbacks coach) and Ernie Sims (linebackers coach), with updated one-year agreements outlining compensation, benefits, and buyout language.
🔑 Austin Tucker — Quarterbacks Coach
Letter of Understanding: Dec. 16, 2025
Term: Through Jan. 31, 2027
Compensation: $325,000 (annualized)
Key Contract Points
Buyout (Coach exits early): 25% of remaining compensation
Waived if leaving for: HC job, coordinator role with play-calling authority, or NFL position
Buyout (FSU terminates w/o cause): 75% of remaining compensation
Perks
Nike Elite allotment: $1,250/month
Car allowance: $650/month
Cell phone, standard performance incentives
Tickets: 4 football, 2 other FSU sports (availability-based)
Signed by both parties on Dec. 16.
🔑 Ernie Sims — Linebackers Coach
Letter of Understanding: Jan. 1, 2026
Term: Through Jan. 31, 2027
Compensation: $400,000 (annualized)
Key Contract Points
Buyout (Coach exits early): 25% of remaining compensation
Waived if leaving for: HC job, coordinator role with play-calling authority, or NFL position
Buyout (FSU terminates w/o cause): 75% of remaining compensation
Perks
Nike Elite allotment: $1,250/month
Car allowance: $650/month
Cell phone, standard performance incentives
Tickets: 4 football, 2 other FSU sports (availability-based)
Michael Alford signed Jan. 2; Sims signed Jan. 13.
🧠 Why It Matters
Both deals follow a familiar FSU template: short-term flexibility, competitive raises tied to role elevation, and exit protections that keep upward mobility (or NFL jumps) realistic. It’s continuity without long-term risk — exactly the kind of structure you expect during a staff reset year.
🏈🧠 2027 Offensive Recruiting: What January Told Us 🧠🏈
Early boards forming, priorities emerging.
As Florida State Seminoles wrapped its 2026 roster in January, the staff simultaneously kicked off true groundwork for the 2027 high school class — hosting three Junior Days and hitting the road to evaluate top prospects. Here’s the tight, position-by-position takeaway on offense:
🔑 Quarterback: Board Taking Shape
Two offered QBs visited in January, signaling an early, selective approach.
One is a fast-rising in-state reclass with heavy SEC competition.
The other is a high-upside projection with limited varsity tape but tools FSU clearly values.
Read: The staff is prioritizing ceiling and fit over volume.
🏃♂️ Running Back: Board Is Deep (and Growing)
10 RBs with offers visited in January — a clear volume play.
One four-star sits atop the board, but multiple lower-ranked backs are internally valued higher than their ratings.
New RB coach Kam Martin made an immediate impact building depth and options.
Read: Expect competition, not a rushed take.
🧲 Wide Receiver: Real Momentum with Top Targets
FSU exited January as the leader for at least two high-priority four-stars.
One elite in-state WR still favors Clemson, but FSU closed the gap into clear No. 2.
A recent Florida decommit and a former FSU commit remain firmly in play.
Read: WR recruiting is trending up — but several battles are far from finished.
🧱 Tight End: Needs Reinforcements
Only three offered TEs visited.
One is a long-time commit with injury history.
FSU needs at least one more tight end in this class.
Read: Expect this board to expand quickly during spring practices.
🛡️ Offensive Line: Quality Visits, But Net Must Widen
Two four-star OT commits (to other schools) visited — both notable.
Several additional offered linemen made it to campus, but depth is still thin.
Read: Spring will be about casting a wider net before summer officials.
🧠 Big Picture
FSU identified priorities at QB and WR, built real depth at RB, and exposed clear needs at TE and OL. How aggressively the staff expands those thinner boards in March and April will tell us a lot about how confident they feel heading into the summer.
And that’s a wrap!
From Jazzy Francik setting an immediate tone on opening night, to FSU doubling down on continuity, development, and long-term structure across multiple programs, this edition was a reminder that progress doesn’t always arrive in one headline, sometimes it shows up everywhere at once.
As always, appreciate you riding with us.
We’ll be back tomorrow.
— Chief
