Welcome to The Chief Brief!

Here’s what’s on your Tuesday docket:

⛳ Luke Clanton Shines at U.S. Open: Luke Clanton finished as the second-lowest amateur at the U.S. Open, marking a historic performance for Florida State. Clanton’s stellar rounds and standout moment on the 18th hole highlighted his strong season.

🏌️‍♂️ FSU Golfers Earn All-ACC Academic Honors: Four FSU Men’s Golfers—Gray Albright, Cole Anderson, Frederik Kjettrup, and Tyler Weaver—were named to the 2024 All-ACC Academic Team, showcasing their excellence both on the course and in the classroom.

⛳ Dominance in Women’s Golf: Alice Hodge led five Seminoles on the 2024 All-ACC Academic Women’s Golf Team, maintaining the team’s academic and athletic excellence under Coach Amy Bond’s leadership.

🏈 FSU Offers 2028 QB Prospects: Florida State offered 2028 quarterbacks Neimann Lawrence and Luke Rubley after impressive performances at the QB camp, signaling a promising future for FSU football.

📰 Florida AG Demands ACC Media Contracts: Florida AG Ashley Moody requested the court to compel the ACC to produce media rights contracts with ESPN amid FSU’s lawsuit, citing violations of the Public Records Act.

🏈 New-Look ACC and 2024 Projections: The ACC expands to 17 teams, adding Cal, Stanford, and SMU. Florida State is projected to dominate, with Miami, Clemson, and NC State also contending for top spots. The new teams and retained contenders promise an exciting 2024 season.

⛳ Luke Clanton's Impressive U.S. Open Performance ⛳

Florida State Men’s Golf rising junior, Luke Clanton, showcased an outstanding performance at the 124th U.S. Open Championship, finishing as the second-lowest amateur at 8-over (76-69-69-74) and tying for 41st overall at Pinehurst No. 2.

Key Highlights:

• Historic Rounds: Clanton became the first amateur at the U.S. Open to record consecutive rounds in the 60s, achieving separate 69s in his second and third rounds.

• Seminole Pride: He is the first Seminole amateur to make the cut at a major since John Pak at the 2020 U.S. Open.

• Signature Moment: Nearly holed out an eagle pitch from 129 yards on the 18th hole on Sunday, earning a crowd ovation.

Coach’s Praise:

FSU Head Coach Trey Jones, who accompanied Clanton at Pinehurst, expressed immense pride in Clanton's performance and conduct, especially his interactions with spectators.

Season Highlights:

Clanton has had a stellar year, including first-team All-America honors and leading the Seminoles to a National Runner-Up finish. He set a new FSU single-season scoring average record with a 69.33 in 2023-24. Famous for his appearances on the Good Good social channels, Clanton became the first Seminole to win three consecutive collegiate tournaments. He earns an exemption to the 2025 Valspar Championship.

Looking Ahead:

Clanton, along with ACC Freshman of the Year Tyler Weaver, returns for what promises to be another accomplished season for the Seminoles, despite losing strong senior players from last year’s team.

Clanton’s performance at the U.S. Open and throughout the season sets a high bar for the Seminoles' future successes.

🏌️‍♂️ Four FSU Golfers Named to All-ACC Academic Team 🏌️‍♂️

Four Florida State Men's Golfers—Gray Albright, Cole Anderson, Frederik Kjettrup, and Tyler Weaver—have been named to the 2024 All-ACC Academic Team, reflecting their excellence both on the course and in the classroom.

Key Highlights:

• Frederik Kjettrup: Earns his fourth selection, graduating in Sport Management. He finished his collegiate career with high honors and was the ACC Men's Golf Scholar-Athlete of the Year in 2023.

• Gray Albright: Graduated with a degree in Real Estate and capped his All-ACC senior season with two tournament titles. He is also a two-time ACC Academic Honor Roll selection.

• Cole Anderson: Earned his Finance Degree and was selected to the All-ACC Academic Team for the first time. Anderson recorded four Top 10 finishes this past season with 19 rounds at par or lower.

• Tyler Weaver: The ACC Freshman of the Year returns to the Seminoles. He made a significant impact with an unblemished match play record at the NCAA Championships, contributing to the team's National Runner-Up finish.

⛳ FSU Women's Golf Dominates All-ACC Academic Team ⛳

Florida State Women's Golf continues to excel both on and off the course, with five Seminoles named to the 2024 All-ACC Academic Women's Golf Team. Alice Hodge leads the way, being named for the fourth consecutive year, joined by Katherine Cook, Mirabel Ting, Kaylah Williams, and Lottie Woad.

Key Highlights:

• Alice Hodge: Fourth consecutive All-ACC Academic Team selection, an Elite 90 Award nominee, and key player in leading FSU to four National Championships.

• Team Excellence: Achieved a 3.892 GPA in the spring 2024 semester, the highest in program history. The Seminoles also maintained a cumulative team GPA of 3.629 for the academic year.

Coach's Reflection:

Head Coach Amy Bond praised her team's dedication to academics and athletics, stating, "The value placed on academics by each member of our team is an important part of what makes our program one of the best."

Athletic Achievements:

• Lottie Woad: First Team All-American, set the school record for lowest stroke average (70.04).

• Mirabel Ting: Honorable Mention All-American, individual medalist at the Valspar Augusta Invitational.

• Katherine Cook: Played in key championships, showcasing her growth and contributions.

• Kaylah Williams: Competed in the ACC and NCAA Regional Championships for the second time.

Overall Success:

The team finished tied for 11th at the NCAA Championships and earned five top-five finishes in 2024. Florida State was ranked in the top 20 nationally throughout the season and secured a top-12 finish in the NCAA Championship for the seventh time in school history.

🏈 FSU Offers 2028 Quarterback Prospects 🏈

Florida State extended offers to two standout quarterbacks from the 2028 class, Neimann Lawrence and Luke Rubley, after impressive performances at Monday's quarterback camp.

Neimann Lawrence:

• Background: Lawrence, from Miami (Fla.) Ransom Everglades, played varsity football as an 8th grader.

• Performance: He impressed head coach Mike Norvell and quarterbacks coach Tony Tokarz with his consistent accuracy and strong arm.

• Reaction: "It was truly special. Most of my family and friends are true Florida State fans...that offer was a truly special moment," Lawrence said.

• Offers: Already has offers from Arkansas, Miami, Nebraska, Ohio State, TCU, UCF, and West Virginia.

Luke Rubley:

• Background: Rubley, from Aurora (Colo.) Regis Jesuit, was a lesser-known prospect but showed a big, live arm and great frame.

• Performance: He caught the attention of the FSU staff with his ability to go through progressions and throw accurately.

• Reaction: "It was very exciting. I had to hold down the emotion...one of my biggest moments in my life," Rubley said.

• Offers: FSU is his first offer.

Both quarterbacks are not yet ranked by 247Sports.com but have shown significant potential.

📰 Florida AG Demands ACC-ESPN Media Rights Contracts in FSU Lawsuit 📰

Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody has requested the Leon County court to compel the ACC to produce media rights contracts between the conference and ESPN amid Florida State's ongoing lawsuit against the ACC.

Key Points from Moody's Filing:

1. Public Records Argument: Moody asserts that Media Rights Contracts are public records as they involve the official business of a public university (FSU). The AG claims these contracts are subject to Florida's Public Records Act because they generate public revenue and are explicitly subject to Florida law.

2. Violation of Public Records Act: The ACC is accused of violating the Public Records Act by not producing the full Media Rights Contracts and only providing redacted portions.

3. Disclosure Laws: The Media Rights Contracts should adhere to the disclosure laws of FSU, a Florida institution, and the ACC should not be the sole custodian of these records.

Jurisdiction and Sovereign Immunity: The AG argues that Florida has personal jurisdiction over the ACC due to its various business dealings in the state, including spring meetings and financial ties to bowl games held in Florida.

Ongoing Legal Battles: FSU and the ACC are also engaged in a separate legal dispute in North Carolina, while the ACC faces cases against Clemson in both North Carolina and South Carolina, reflecting the tension as premier football programs seek to exit the conference.

🏈 New-Look ACC and 2024 Team Projections 🏈

The ACC is expanding and evolving in 2024 with the addition of Cal, Stanford, and SMU, bringing the total number of member schools to 17. Here’s a look at the 247 Sports projected records and standings for each team:

Top Teams:

1. Florida State (11-1, 8-0): Projected to dominate the conference, with their only loss to Notre Dame.

2. Miami (11-1, 7-1): A strong contender, only falling to Florida State.

3. Clemson (10-2, 7-1): Key matchups against Georgia and Florida State will define their season.

4. NC State (10-2, 7-1): Easiest conference schedule, poised for a 10-win season.

Middle of the Pack:

• SMU (9-3, 6-2): Expected to have the best season among ACC newcomers.

• North Carolina (9-3, 5-3): Benefiting from a favorable schedule.

• Virginia Tech (8-4, 5-3): A resurgence is predicted after a 7-6 finish last fall.

• Louisville (7-5, 5-3): Poised for a minor rebuild but should reach bowl eligibility.

Struggling Teams:

• Pittsburgh (5-7, 2-6): Needs an upset win to make the postseason.

• Wake Forest (5-7, 2-6): Could push for a bowl game but faces tough late-season matchups.

• Boston College (3-9, 1-7): A rebuilding year is expected.

• Stanford (3-9, 1-7): Tough ACC schedule mirrors their Pac-12 struggles.

Bottom Teams:

• Virginia (2-10, 0-8): Projected to have a tough season, winning only against Richmond and Coastal Carolina.

With the addition of new teams and the retention of strong contenders, the ACC promises an exciting and competitive 2024 season. Florida State remains the favorite, but challenges from Miami, Clemson, and NC State ensure a thrilling race for the top.

And that’s a wrap!

Thank you for joining us as we celebrate the outstanding performances and achievements of our Seminoles.

Stay tuned for more updates and insights on FSU sports.

As always, Go Noles!