🏹 July 18th - The Chief Brief 🏹

Drafts, Academics, and Big Decisions

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The Chief
July 18, 2024

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Welcome to The Chief Brief!

Happy Thursday, Seminole!

We are smack dab in the middle of the heat of July.

Here’s what’s making headlines this week:

📚 FSU Women’s Golf Team Shines On and Off the Course 📚
The Florida State Women’s Golf team continues to excel, both academically and athletically. Seven Seminoles have earned spots on the 2024 ACC Academic Honor Roll, with standout performances from Lottie Woad, Mirabel Ting, and Katherine Cook. Discover how this team balances top-tier golf with academic excellence and record-setting achievements.

🏐FSU Volleyball Team Earns AVCA Team Academic Award🏐
The Florida State volleyball team has been honored with the 2024 AVCA Team Academic Award for their impressive GPA of 3.384. Learn more about their remarkable season, including a first ACC Championship since 2012, and the accolades earned by Coach Chris Poole and player Audrey Koenig.

⚾️ FSU Baseball Announces 2024 Fall Schedule ⚾️
Florida State baseball is gearing up for the fall season with exciting matchups, including games against Auburn and Alabama. Check out the full schedule and mark your calendars for the Garnet & Gold Game.

🏈Top Prospect Vernell Brown III to Announce Decision on July 21🏈
Orlando Jones wide receiver Vernell Brown III is set to announce his college decision this Sunday. With Florida State among his finalists, find out what makes the Seminoles a strong contender in his recruitment.

🏀NBA Summer League Update: Former Seminoles in Action🏀
Catch up on how former Seminoles are performing in the NBA Summer League, including John Butler Jr.’s recent game highlights. See how they’re making an impact on the court and what’s next for them.

🌐Conference Realignment Buzz: FSU’s Future Still Uncertain🌐
The latest conference realignment news suggests that the SEC and Big Ten may not be immediate destinations for Florida State. Dive into the current speculation, potential challenges, and what options might be on the table for the Seminoles.

📚 FSU Women's Golf Team Shines On and Off the Course 📚

First-Team All-American Lottie Woad is among seven members of the nationally ranked Florida State Women's Golf team named to the 2024 ACC Academic Honor Roll.

Joining Woad on the honor roll are graduated senior Alice Hodge, juniors Kaylah Williams and Madison Hewlett, sophomores Mirabel Ting and Katherine Cook, and freshman Bella Bugg. In total, 289 Florida State student-athletes earned this prestigious academic recognition.

Consistent Academic Excellence

The FSU Women's Golf Team has maintained a remarkable streak, having at least five players named to the ACC Academic Honor Roll for 13 consecutive years under the leadership of head coach Amy Bond.

Stellar Academic and Athletic Achievements

  • Lottie Woad: The sport management major earned All-American First-Team honors and ACC Academic Honor Roll recognition for the second consecutive season. She set a school-record with a 70.04 stroke average and achieved a personal-best 3.938 GPA.

  • Mirabel Ting: In her first season, Ting earned All-American Honorable Mention honors and made the ACC Academic Honor Roll with a 3.563 GPA and a 72.50 stroke average. She also won the individual championship at the Valspar Augusta Invitational.

  • Katherine Cook: Currently studying abroad in Italy, Cook earned ACC Academic Honor Roll honors for the second time, with President's List and Dean's List accolades in her academic career.

Team Achievements

The Seminoles ended the 2024 season ranked in the nation's top-20 in the Golfstat rankings.

They tied for 11th at the NCAA Championship Finals, placed fifth at the NCAA Las Vegas Regional Championship, and won the Collegiate Invitational at the Guadalajara Country Club in February.

The team set a program record with a 3.829 cumulative GPA, the second-highest in school history by any team.

🏐 FSU Volleyball Team Earns AVCA Team Academic Award 🏐

The Florida State volleyball team was honored with the 2024 AVCA Team Academic Award, maintaining a year-long GPA of 3.384. This award recognizes teams that achieve a GPA of 3.3 or higher.

Academic and Athletic Excellence

  • Academic Success: FSU's volleyball team maintained a GPA of 3.384 during the fall and spring semesters.

  • On-Court Achievements: The Seminoles had a standout season, finishing with a 23-9 record, the most wins since 2016, and winning their first ACC Championship since 2012. They qualified for their 24th NCAA Tournament, marking their 14th appearance in the last 15 seasons.

  • Coach and Player Honors: Head Coach Chris Poole was named ACC Coach of the Year, and Audrey Koenig was named ACC Co-Player of the Year. Additionally, nine players were named to the All-ACC Academic Team.

    Read more here

⚾️ FSU Baseball Announces 2024 Fall Schedule ⚾️

Fresh off their trip to the College World Series, Florida State baseball head coach Link Jarrett revealed the Seminoles' 2024 fall schedule on Wednesday.

Fall Matchups:

  • October 12: FSU will face Auburn in Pensacola at Blue Wahoos Stadium, the Double-A affiliate of the Miami Marlins. The game is set to begin at 12:00 PM CT (1:00 PM ET).

  • October 26: The Seminoles will host Alabama at Dick Howser Stadium in Tallahassee, with the game starting at 12:00 PM ET.

  • November 1: The fall schedule concludes with the Garnet & Gold Game, held the Friday before the FSU-North Carolina football game.

    Read more here

Personality Hats are in

Fashion has spoken, and the personality hat is all the rage these days. You know what that means? It means it’s a great time to put your logo on a hat.

Talking about all the rage these days, you’re going to want to make it a Branded Bills hat. They make quality merch people actually want to wear.

Don’t just take it from us, see what a happy client has to say about the branded hats they just ordered:

“They're wearing them to bowling alleys, sporting events, etc.” Rebecca Ferguson, Empire CAT

If you want to make a statement with your company merch, hit up Branded Bills.

🏈 Top Prospect Vernell Brown III to Announce Decision on July 21 🏈

Orlando Jones wide receiver Vernell Brown III is set to reveal his college decision on Sunday, July 21 at 2 PM ET. Brown, the No. 33 prospect in the On3 Industry Ranking, has narrowed his choices to Florida, Florida State, Miami, and Ohio State.

Finalists and Visits:

  • Florida: Brown has strong connections to the Gators, appreciating Coach Billy Gonzales and their proven development of receivers.

  • Florida State: The Seminoles were Brown’s second offer, and he values the efforts of Coach Mike Norvell and the staff’s consistent recruitment.

  • Miami: Brown is impressed with Coach Kevin Beard and the direction of the Hurricanes’ program.

  • Ohio State: The Buckeyes appeal to Brown for their exceptional track record in producing and developing wide receivers under Coach Brian Hartline.

Decision Details:

Brown has taken official visits to all four schools and will make his announcement without informing the programs in advance, revealing his choice to everyone simultaneously.

“It comes down to where I want to be,” Brown said. “All four are great schools with strong programs, so it comes down to where I feel most at home.”

Will it be the Gators, Seminoles, Hurricanes, or Buckeyes? Stay tuned this Sunday to find out where Vernell Brown III will continue his football journey.

🏀 NBA Summer League Update: Former Seminoles in Action 🏀

NBA 2K25 Summer League 2024 continued in Las Vegas, Nev. on Tuesday, featuring three games with former Florida State players but just 1 saw action. Here's a recap of their performances:

Indiana Pacers 98, Phoenix Suns 94

  • Malik Osborne: Did not play (coach's decision).

Portland Trail Blazers 82, Washington Wizards 80

  • John Butler Jr.: Played 15:25, scored 1 point (0-of-2 from the field, 1-of-2 from the free-throw line), recorded 1 rebound, 2 steals, and 1 block.

San Antonio Spurs 90, New Orleans Pelicans 85

  • Darin Green Jr.: Did not play (coach's decision).

Upcoming Game:

  • Phoenix Suns vs. Oklahoma City Thunder: Wednesday at 8 PM (NBA TV).

🌐 Conference Realignment Buzz: FSU's Future Still Uncertain 🌐

This week at SEC Media Days, further conference realignment buzz suggests that the SEC will not be a potential suitor for Florida State if the Seminoles successfully leave the ACC.

Brett McMurphy of The Action Network reported Tuesday that both the SEC and Big Ten are not expected to be landing spots for Florida State unless the ACC dissolves, despite those being the Seminoles' primary desired destinations.

Potential Challenges

"If the ACC doesn't implode, Florida State could be in a dangerous spot," a source told McMurphy. "I don't know if they have a home. Unless there's a doomsday scenario and the ACC implodes, FSU is in a bad spot."

SEC's Stance

Conference expansion continues, but the SEC is not looking to expand this week, according to commissioner Greg Sankey. With Florida State and Clemson currently entangled in legal issues with the ACC, they are the focus of many discussions.

"I pay attention. We are focused on our 16," Sankey said Monday. "I've said before that I am not a recruiter. I'm not going to entangle (the SEC) in litigation."

Sankey mentioned receiving multiple calls during the realignment era, beyond just Texas and Oklahoma. However, McMurphy reports that three SEC presidents are "not interested" in Florida State, showing no appetite for expansion to include the Seminoles.

Big 12 as an Option

This is where a move to the Big 12 could come in for Florida State. Big 12 commissioner Brett Yormark said last week there's not "time to press pause" on conference expansion and is "still open for business." Preliminary discussions between Florida State, Clemson, and the Big 12 are ongoing, focusing on financial viability.

Dellenger reported that joining the Big 12 would be Florida State's third option, behind leaving for the SEC or Big Ten or remaining in the ACC with enhanced revenue and fewer teams. With recent additions like Colorado, Utah, Arizona, and Arizona State, the Big 12 already agreed to revenue dilution, which would not occur again.

Yormark's discussions about the Big 12 potentially involving private equity, selling part of itself to a firm, and giving up naming rights could make financial sense for expansion.

And that’s a wrap!

From academic honors and athletic achievements to the latest in recruiting and conference realignment news, FSU continues to make headlines.

Stay tuned for more updates and insights as we follow the Seminoles' journey.

Until next time, keep cheering on our Noles!

Go Noles!

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