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Happy Thursday Seminole!

Here’s the strangely loaded July docket for you today:

🌊 Logan Robinson to Represent USA at Junior Pan Pacific Championships 🌊

Rising Florida State men’s swimming and diving freshman Logan Robinson has been selected to represent USA Swimming at the 2024 Junior Pan Pacific Championships in Canberra, Australia, from August 21-24. Robinson secured his spot with a stellar performance at the U.S. Olympic Trials, finishing 13th in the men’s 200-meter fly.

🏀 Former FSU Women’s Basketball Stars to Represent Spain at 2024 Olympics 🏀

Three former Florida State women’s basketball players—Lenor Rodriguez, Leticia Romero, and Maria Conde—have been selected to represent Spain at the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris. These athletes have previously contributed significantly to Spain’s international success, including a silver medal win in Rio 2016.

🏐 FSU Volleyball Welcomes Three New Signings for 2024 Season 🏐

Florida State volleyball head coach Chris Poole has announced the addition of three new players: Iane Henke, Caylan Russ, and Johanna Sova. These new signings aim to bolster the team’s depth and build on their successful 2023 ACC Championship season.

⚾️ FSU Baseball Adds Catcher Nathan Cmeyla from Transfer Portal ⚾️

Florida State baseball has secured its sixth transfer portal commitment with the addition of Nathan Cmeyla, a standout catcher from Dartmouth. Cmeyla brings significant offensive and defensive skills to the Seminoles, enhancing their roster for the upcoming season.

🏈 Four-Star DB J’Zavien Currence Highlights Top Schools in Recruitment 🏈

Top247 four-star defensive back J’Zavien Currence from Rock Hill, SC, has highlighted several standout schools in his recruitment, including Florida State, South Carolina, Virginia Tech, and Georgia. Currence plans to make his commitment decision before his senior season.

🌟 FSU Athletics and Legends Ink 10-Year Multimedia Rights Partnership 🌟

Florida State University Athletics has entered into a 10-year multimedia rights partnership with Legends, a global premium experiences company. This collaboration aims to enhance FSU’s multimedia rights, maximize revenue streams, and improve fan engagement.

🏈 Florida State Football in Phil Steele’s Preseason Top 25 🏈

Florida State football has been ranked No. 14 in Phil Steele’s preseason top 25 power poll for the 2024 season. Under head coach Mike Norvell’s strategic leadership, FSU is poised for a strong season with a mix of experienced transfers and talented recruits.

🏈 FSU and Clemson Consider Potential Move to Big 12 🏈

Veteran college football reporter Ross Dellenger has hinted that representatives from FSU and Clemson have had initial conversations with the Big 12 about potentially joining the conference. This move is considered a fallback option if their primary goals of joining the SEC or Big Ten do not materialize.

🏊‍♂️ Logan Robinson to Represent USA at Junior Pan Pacific Championships 🏊‍♂️

Rising Florida State men’s swimming and diving freshman Logan Robinson has been selected to represent USA Swimming at the 2024 Junior Pan Pacific Championships in Canberra, Australia, from August 21-24.

Stellar Performance at U.S. Olympic Trials

Robinson secured his spot on the USA roster after finishing as the top available junior in the men's 200-meter fly at the 2024 U.S. Olympic Trials, achieving a personal best of 1:58.08 and finishing 13th overall.

High School and Club Achievements

A native of Pensacola, Florida, Robinson was the 2023 FHSAA 3A state champion in the 100 fly (47.18) and 200 free (1:36.72).

While representing Greater Pensacola Aquatic Club, he was a seven-time finalist at the 2024 NCSA Spring Championship and a two-time finalist at the 2023 Speedo Junior National Championships, finishing fifth in the 200 free (1:50.62) and sixth in the 200 fly (2:00.04).

Check out the full details here

🏀 Former FSU Women's Basketball Stars to Represent Spain at 2024 Olympics 🏀

Three former Florida State women’s basketball players have been selected to represent Spain at the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris.

Lenor Rodriguez, Leticia Romero, and Maria Conde will be key players on the Spanish national team, which secured its Olympic spot by finishing as runners-up in the 2024 Olympic Qualifying Tournament after placing second at the FIBA EuroBasket 2023.

Olympic Veterans

• Lenor Rodriguez: Competing in her third Olympics, Rodriguez has been a consistent contributor to Spain's success on the international stage.

• Leticia Romero: Returning for her second Olympics, Romero helped Spain win the silver medal in Rio 2016, marking Spain’s only Olympic podium finish.

• Maria Conde: Also competing in her second Olympics, Conde played a crucial role in Spain’s performance at the Tokyo Games and the recent Olympic qualifiers.

Contributions and Achievements

• Rodriguez: Averaged 4.8 points per game at EuroBasket 2023, with a tournament-high nine points against Montenegro.

• Romero: Averaged 7.5 points per game in 2024 for Valencia Basket Club in the Women's Euroleague. Led FSU to the Elite Eight in 2017 and was a two-time WBCA All-American honorable mention.

• Conde: Averaged 7.3 points per game at EuroBasket 2023, scoring 22 points against Montenegro. Stepped up in Olympic qualification, leading Spain with 16 points in a crucial win over Hungary.

Olympic Schedule

Spain will begin their Olympic journey against China on July 28 at 7:30 AM ET at Pierre Mauroy Stadium in Group A.

Check out the full details here

🏐 FSU Volleyball Welcomes Three New Signings for 2024 Season 🏐

Florida State volleyball Head Coach Chris Poole has announced the addition of three new players to the 2024 roster: Iane Henke, Caylan Russ, and Johanna Sova. These signings bring the total number of new players to five, as the team looks to build on their successful 2023 ACC Championship season.

New Signings Overview

Iane Henke - 6'3" - Outside Hitter - Ulm, Germany - Anna Essinger Gymnasium Ulm - Cal State LA

Henke transfers from Cal State LA, where she played a pivotal role in their Division II National Championship victory last fall. She recorded a career-high 21 kills in the National Championship Game and tallied 407 kills throughout the season. Henke also led her team with 405 digs and earned First Team All-CCAA honors for two consecutive seasons. Henke plans to major in psychology at Florida State.

Coach Poole on Henke: "Iane played at a high level in Germany and is a very physical player. At 6-3, she is a great all-around player and has the skills to help us both on the right side and left side."

Caylan Russ - 5'6" - Libero - Winter Garden, Fla. - Windermere High School

Russ is one of the top liberos in Florida, ranked No. 4 by Prep Dig. A four-year letterwinner at Windermere High School, Russ recorded 468 digs and 48 aces in her senior season. She plans to major in biological science at Florida State.

Coach Poole on Russ: "Caylan will add to our libero position for passing and defense. She is very athletic and has played for one of the top club programs in the country."

Johanna Sova - 6'5" - Middle Blocker - Tallinn, Estonia - Gustav Adolf Grammar School

Sova brings international experience from the Estonian National Team, including U19 and U21 teams. She has won the Estonian Championship three times. Sova plans to major in special education at Florida State.

Coach Poole on Sova: "Johanna is 6-5 and has a long reach and arm span. She has gained experience playing for the Estonia National Team and will be counted on to give us depth in the middle blocker position."

These new additions are expected to strengthen the team’s depth and contribute significantly to their upcoming season. The Seminoles aim to continue their success and defend their ACC Championship title.

Check out the full details here

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⚾️ FSU Baseball Adds Catcher Nathan Cmeyla from Transfer Portal ⚾️

Florida State baseball has secured its sixth transfer portal commitment with the addition of Nathan Cmeyla, a catcher from Dartmouth. Cmeyla announced his decision to join the Seminoles on Wednesday night.

Player Profile

Nathan Cmeyla

• Position: Catcher

• Height/Weight: 5'11", 190 lbs

• Previous School: Dartmouth

• High School: Briar Woods High School, Ashburn, Virginia

• Hitting Style: Right-handed

2023 Season Highlights

Cmeyla had a standout season at Dartmouth, where he started 37 of 39 games:

• Batting Average: .350 (team-high)

• Slugging Percentage: .594 (team-high)

• Hits: 12 doubles, 1 triple, 7 homers

• RBI: 30 (team-high)

• Walks/Strikeouts: 10 walks, 17 strikeouts in 143 at-bats

Defensively, Cmeyla handled 276 chances behind the plate with 9 errors. He allowed 59 stolen bases but threw out 18, resulting in a .766 stolen base allowed percentage.

Career Stats

Over his four seasons at Dartmouth (including a canceled 2021 season), Cmeyla has played in 82 games, making 79 starts. His career stats include:

• Batting Average: .318 in 308 at-bats

• Slugging Percentage: .539

• On-Base Percentage: .367

• Home Runs: 11

Transfer Portal Class

Cmeyla joins a strong transfer portal class for FSU, which includes:

• LHP Joey Volini (USF)

• RHP Evan Chrest (JU)

• RHP/UTIL Peyton Prescott (JU)

• OF Gage Harrelson (TT)

• RHP Grant Cherry (LBSU)

Nathan Cmeyla's commitment adds significant depth and skill to the Seminoles' roster, enhancing both their offensive and defensive capabilities as they prepare for the upcoming season.

Check out the full details here

🏈 Four-Star DB J'Zavien Currence Highlights Top Schools in Recruitment 🏈

Top247 four-star defensive back J'Zavien Currence from Rock Hill (S.C.) South Pointe has identified several standout schools in his recruitment journey. The 6-foot-3.5, 210-pound talent is considering Florida State, South Carolina, Virginia Tech, Georgia, Notre Dame, Ohio State, Penn State, and Maryland.

Standout Programs

Florida State: "They're energetic guys down there. [Head] coach (Mike) Norvell is a young coach but knows what he's doing. He demands attention. When I talked to him in his office, I didn't take my eyes off him the whole time. He sat up straight and looked me in the eye, and I could tell he meant everything he said."

South Carolina: "They all got their character. [Head] coach (Shane) Beamer is an energetic guy. He means business. Everybody wants to win there. [Defensive backs] coach (Torrian) Gray is going to crack his jokes, but when it's time to work, it's time to work."

Virginia Tech: "They are not really making it a race to get me. They are saying, 'This is who we are. Now you decide if you want to be with us or not.' And I like that."

Georgia: "Georgia is one of the top schools in the country. Kirby Smart is the next Nick Saban. I know I would get developed by them."

Recent Visits

Currence visited Virginia Tech and South Carolina in June as part of a 7-on-7 event. He also visited Maryland, one of the first schools to pursue him, last month.

Rankings and Accolades

Currence is ranked No. 83 overall by 247Sports. He was also named a top-five defensive performer by 247Sports for his performance at the UA Future 50 at IMG Academy last month.

Check out the full details here

🌟 FSU Athletics and Legends Ink 10-Year Multimedia Rights Partnership 🌟

Florida State University Athletics has entered into a transformative 10-year multimedia rights partnership with Legends, a global premium experiences company.

This strategic collaboration aims to enhance FSU's multimedia rights and maximize its commercial platforms, positioning the university for success in the rapidly evolving collegiate landscape.

Expanded Collaboration

This new agreement expands the existing relationship between FSU Athletics and Legends. Currently, Legends supports premium seating for the $260 million renovation of Doak Campbell Stadium and manages hospitality, including concessions, premium suites and clubs, and catering for FSU Athletics.

Leadership Insights

Mike Behan, President of Legends College:

"Florida State University is a forward-thinking institution that understands the importance of aligning revenue streams to position for success in the new collegiate landscape. The recent NCAA settlement has further emphasized the need for universities to explore innovative ways to optimize their commercial potential. Legends is proud that FSU has entrusted our team to build on our partnership to capitalize on this opportunity and further solidify its position as a trailblazer in collegiate sports."

Partnership Goals

• Multimedia Rights Enhancement: Legends will collaborate with FSU Athletics to enhance multimedia rights, including broadcasting, licensing, and sponsorship opportunities.

• Revenue Generation: The partnership aims to create new revenue streams and maximize potential in existing ones, ensuring financial stability and growth.

• Fan Engagement: By leveraging Legends' expertise, FSU aims to enhance fan engagement and experience through improved services and offerings.

Legends' Expertise

Legends brings extensive experience and expertise to this partnership, having established itself as a trusted partner for numerous marquee institutions. The company provides comprehensive service solutions covering research, project development, premium ticket sales, sponsorships, food and beverage, merchandise, business intelligence, marketing, and philanthropic fundraising and engagement.

Florida State Global Partnerships

As part of this collaboration, Legends will form Florida State Global Partnerships and integrate its staff with the FSU Athletics team to drive the multifaceted partnership's success. This initiative aims to create a seamless and effective collaboration that benefits all aspects of FSU Athletics.

Check out the full details here

🏈 Florida State Football in Phil Steele's Preseason Top 25 🏈

College football rankings are rolling out this summer, and Phil Steele, a veteran in the business, recently revealed his top 25 power poll for the 2024 season. This list features several familiar faces and some surprises as teams prepare for an exciting season ahead. Let's focus on where Florida State stands among the elite.

14. Florida State Seminoles

247Sports post-spring ranking: No. 11

Florida State's Strengths

• Transfer Portal Mastery: Mike Norvell, renowned for his prowess in the transfer portal, has once again ensured that the Seminoles boast one of the ACC's top-tier rosters. The addition of former Oregon State and Clemson quarterback DJ Uiagalelei, who adapted quickly to the offense, has bolstered FSU's lineup.

• Elite Recruiting: Paired with an elite signing class, Norvell's offseason expertise has reloaded the team with talent, positioning them strongly for the expanded College Football Playoff.

• Defensive Prowess: FSU's defensive back seven are noted for their exceptional athleticism, adding to the team's competitive edge.

Key Highlights

• Quarterback Leadership: DJ Uiagalelei, with his quick adaptation to FSU’s pro-style scheme, is expected to be a pivotal player this season, surrounded by a variety of offensive weapons.

• Strong Defense: The Seminoles' defense, particularly the back seven, is anticipated to be a standout unit, contributing significantly to the team's success.

• Coaching Expertise: Mike Norvell’s strategic use of the transfer portal and recruiting acumen have set up FSU for a promising season.

Looking Ahead

With an expanded playoff format, the margin for error has widened, giving FSU a strong chance to compete for a postseason title. The team's combination of experienced transfers and talented recruits makes them a formidable contender in the ACC and beyond.

Check out the full details here

🏈 FSU and Clemson Consider Potential Move to Big 12 🏈

In recent developments, veteran college football reporter Ross Dellenger has hinted that representatives from Florida State and Clemson have initiated conversations with the Big 12 about potentially joining the conference. This move is considered a fallback option if their primary goals do not materialize.

Exploring Options

Dellenger, a senior reporter with Yahoo Sports, shared his insights during an interview with Big 12 reporter John Kurtz at the Big 12 Media Days. According to Dellenger, the Seminoles and Tigers are contemplating the Big 12 as a backup plan while they pursue other opportunities.

1. Primary Goal: The first preference for FSU and Clemson is to join either the Big Ten or the SEC. These conferences are projected to distribute significantly more revenue per school compared to the ACC.

2. Alternative Option: Another option under consideration is to reform the ACC with a smaller number of schools to increase the financial distribution per school.

3. Fallback Plan: The third option, which includes the Big 12, would come into play if the first two scenarios do not work out.

Big 12's Stance

Big 12 Commissioner Brett Yormark has expressed that the league is "open for business" and is keen on expanding to become the top conference in college sports. Adding marquee programs like FSU and Clemson could propel the Big 12 closer to this goal.

Legal and Financial Hurdles

Both FSU and Clemson are currently involved in lawsuits aiming to leave the ACC without incurring hefty exit fees and loss of media rights. The dream scenario for both schools is to join the SEC or Big Ten, which offer significantly higher annual distributions per school.

However, joining the Big 12 would still pose challenges. For FSU and Clemson to consider this move, they would likely seek:

• Higher Annual Payments: Comparable to what schools in the SEC and Big Ten receive.

• Financial Assistance: To cover exit fees and penalties associated with leaving the ACC.

Ongoing Discussions

While initial conversations have taken place, Dellenger emphasized that these discussions are still in the early stages. Much depends on the outcome of the legal proceedings to exit the ACC. Thus, any potential move to the Big 12 could be months or even years away.

Check out the full details here

And that’s a wrap!

Stay tuned for more updates on our Seminoles' journey, from thrilling Olympic news to exciting new signings and strategic partnerships.

As always, we appreciate your support and enthusiasm for FSU athletics.

Go Noles!