Welcome to The Chief Brief!

It’s the weekend Seminole!

Two of our teams are still competing and there are many visitors on campus for Coach Norvell to attend to.

Here’s what’s on the docket for today:

⚾️ FSU Dominates UConn in Super Regional Opener ⚾️ Florida State surged to a record-setting 24-4 victory over UConn in Game 1 of the Tallahassee Super Regional. Key performances by Carson Dorsey, Jaime Ferrer, and Marco Dinges set NCAA records for most runs and largest margin of victory in a Super Regional game.

🎾 FSU Women's Tennis Players Earn All-ACC Honors 🎾 Three FSU women's tennis players received All-ACC accolades: Vic Allen (second-team singles), Ellie Schoppe (third-team singles), and Allen/Millie Bissett (second-team doubles). They helped FSU achieve 17 wins and advance in the NCAA Tournament.

🏃‍♀️ FSU Women's Track Advances in NCAA Championships 🏃‍♀️ The FSU women's track team had a strong start at the NCAA Championships. Alexandra Webster advanced in the 100m hurdles, while Dajaz DeFrand and Shenese Walker earned second-team All-American honors in the 100m.

🏀 Jamir Watkins Returns to Florida State 🏀 Jamir Watkins announced his return to FSU for the 2024-25 season. Watkins, who led the Seminoles in scoring last season, considered other schools but chose to stay in Tallahassee.

🏟️ Inside the Future of Florida State: AD Michael Alford’s Perspective Amid Potential ACC Exit 🏟️ AD Michael Alford is leading FSU's potential departure from the ACC, focusing on strategic positioning, legal battles, and financial planning to ensure FSU's competitive future.

⚾️ FSU Dominates UConn in Super Regional Opener ⚾️

Florida State (46-15) surged to a 24-4 victory over UConn (35-25) in Game 1 of the Tallahassee Super Regional, setting records for most runs and largest margin of victory in NCAA Super Regional history. Key performances included:

• Carson Dorsey: 5.1 innings with one earned run, improving to 7-4.

• Jaime Ferrer: Two home runs, extending his season total to 19.

• Marco Dinges: Home run and four consecutive multi-hit games.

Scoring Summary

• B1 | FSU 3, UCONN 0: Dinges and Ferrer hit back-to-back home runs.

• B2 | FSU 5, UCONN 0: Max Williams' two-run shot.

• B3 | FSU 8, UCONN 0: Smith and Tibbs' milestone hits.

• B6 | FSU 15, UCONN 1: Ferrer homered, contributing to a six-run inning.

• B7 | FSU 24, UCONN 1: Ross' three-run homer.

Notable Stats and Records

• FSU set NCAA records for most runs (24) and largest margin of victory (20) in a Super Regional game.

• Jaime Ferrer: Extended hitting streak to 10 games.

• Cam Smith: Achieved 100 hits for the season.

• James Tibbs III: Reached 200 career hits and leads the ACC with 87 RBI.

Up Next

Florida State and UConn play Game 2 of the Super Regional today at 11:00 a.m. on ESPN.

🎾 FSU Women's Tennis Players Earn All-ACC Honors 🎾

Three members of the No. 22 Florida State women's tennis team received All-ACC accolades on Friday:

• Vic Allen (Graduate): Second-team All-ACC, with 16 singles wins, three top-25 victories, and ACC Player of the Week for three consecutive weeks. Allen finishes her career ranking eighth in school history for total wins.

• Ellie Schoppe: Third-team All-ACC in singles, with 15 victories and seven ranked wins, including three against top-25 opponents.

• Allen and Millie Bissett (Doubles): Second-team All-ACC in doubles, reaching the NCAA Doubles Championship round of 16 and finishing 16th in national rankings.

The three helped FSU achieve 17 wins, advance to the ACC Quarterfinals, and reach the second round of the NCAA Tournament.

🏃‍♀️ FSU Women's Track Advances in NCAA Championships 🏃‍♀️

The No. 20 Florida State women's outdoor track and field team had a strong start at the 2024 NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships on Thursday.

• Alexandra Webster: Advanced to Saturday's final in the 100-meter hurdles, placing fifth at 12.71 seconds.

• Dajaz DeFrand and Shenese Walker: Earned second-team All-American honors in the 100-meter, finishing 12th and 13th, respectively.

• Suus Altorf: Finished 18th in the 1,500-meter.

• Tyra Wilson: Placed 18th in the 400-meter hurdles.

• DeFrand: Advanced to the 200-meter final on Saturday.

🏀 Jamir Watkins Returns to Florida State 🏀

Jamir Watkins announced via social media that he will return to Florida State for the 2024-25 season. Watkins, the top available player in the On3 Industry Transfer Rankings, considered other schools such as Michigan, St. John’s, Oregon, Kansas State, and Cincinnati but ultimately chose to stay in Tallahassee.

2023-24 Season Highlights:

• Averaged 15.8 points, 2.8 assists, and 6.0 rebounds per game.

• Scored a career-high 34 points against Virginia Tech in the ACC Tournament.

Watkins aims to build on his success from the previous season.

Career Overview:

• Started at VCU, where he played three seasons.

• Missed the 2021-22 season due to a knee injury.

• Transferred to Florida State, where he led the Seminoles in scoring.

Team Outlook:

• FSU saw significant roster turnover, with eight players entering the portal.

• Additions include former Hampton forward Jerry Deng, who averaged 10.1 points and 4.2 rebounds last season.

🏟️ Inside the Future of Florida State: AD Michael Alford’s Perspective Amid Potential ACC Exit 🏟️

Leadership at the Forefront: Michael Alford, FSU's athletic director, is spearheading the university’s potential departure from the ACC amidst a landscape of legal challenges and strategic positioning for the future.

Legal Battles and Financial Concerns: FSU and Clemson have sued the ACC, seeking to exit the conference. Alford emphasizes the necessity of these actions, aiming to align FSU with the changing dynamics of college athletics and the financial disparities compared to the SEC and Big Ten.

Strategic Vision: Alford discusses the importance of FSU's brand value and future positioning. He highlights the need for meticulous planning, including potential private equity involvement and long-term budgeting up to 2043, to ensure FSU remains competitive.

Conference Realignment and Market Desirability: FSU is exploring options for joining a new conference. Studies show FSU’s high market desirability, positioning them ahead of several current SEC and Big Ten schools in terms of regular-season viewers. The SEC and Big Ten are both potential destinations, each offering unique advantages.

Private Equity Considerations: Alford acknowledges the potential role of private equity in college sports, despite some skepticism. He is open to exploring these financial avenues to enhance FSU’s athletic programs.

Future Projections: Alford’s vision extends beyond immediate changes, focusing on where FSU will be in the next 5, 10, and 15 years. This long-term strategy includes assessing revenue streams and forecasting future trends in college athletics.

Cultural Fit and Expansion Talks: While the SEC seems like a cultural fit, the Big Ten’s expansive approach also makes it a viable option. Conversations with other conference representatives indicate a willingness to consider expansion if it benefits their league.

Final Thoughts: Alford’s proactive and strategic approach is aimed at securing FSU’s future in an evolving collegiate athletic landscape. His focus on brand value, financial planning, and market positioning underscores his commitment to maintaining FSU’s competitive edge.

You can read more here

And that’s a wrap!

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Keep cheering for our Seminoles as they make strides on and off the field. Don't miss the upcoming games and stay tuned for more updates.

Also if you’re curious about the current status of Doak’s construction, here’s a video.

Go Noles!