Yesterday’s Poll Results

Today’s Poll

🏹 Welcome to The Chief Brief! 🏹

Happy Thursday, Seminole!

March is heating up in Tallahassee! Spring football is in full swing, and FSU’s top athletes are making headlines across the board. Whether it's a dominant win on the softball field, history-making performances in the pool, or key recruiting visits on the horizon, there’s plenty to catch up on in the world of the Seminoles.

Inside today’s edition:
🔥 Spring football practice kicks off—Jaylin Lucas impresses in his return
⚾ FSU Baseball heads to Miami for a rivalry showdown
🏀 Ta’Niya Latson & Makayla Timpson earn All-America honors
🥎 Softball rallies to beat No. 24 Alabama on the road
🎾 FSU Tennis takes down Miami in a thriller
🏈 FSU hosts top EDGE recruit Jake Kreul for spring practice

From standout performances to major recruiting news, we’ve got you covered. Let’s dive in! ⬇️

🏊‍♀️ FSU Women’s Swimming & Diving Opens NCAA Championships

Florida State kicked off the NCAA Women’s Swimming and Diving Championships in Washington with the 200 medley relay, finishing 18th overall—just short of scoring.

🔥 Highlight of the Night:
✅ Alice Velden (Fr.) – Fastest 50-yard backstroke split in FSU history! (23.59)
✅ 6th-fastest time among all swimmers in the event
✅ Broke her own program record (previous: 23.96 at ACCs)

🗣 Coach Neal Studd:
💬 "We had a great relay that just fell short of scoring tonight. Alice was incredible—she smashed FSU’s all-time best 50 backstroke split."

🔜 What’s Next?
📅 Thursday’s Events:
🏊 200 IM Prelims – Maddy Huggins, Edith Jernstedt (1 PM ET)
🏊 1-Meter Diving – Samantha Vear (3:15 PM ET)
🏊 200 Free Relay Finals – Led by Maryn McDade, Jenny Halden, Jernstedt, and Gloria Muzito (9 PM ET)

Can the Noles make a splash and advance to the finals?

🔗 More on FSU at the NCAA Championships here.

⛳ FSU’s Luke Clanton & Alumni Set for PGA TOUR’s Valspar Championship

Florida State junior Luke Clanton is taking his talents to the 2025 Valspar Championship this week at Innisbrook Resort in Palm Harbor, Florida. He’ll be joined by FSU alumni Vincent Norrman, John Pak, and Cristobal Del Solar in the PGA TOUR field.

🔥 Clanton’s Road to the Valspar:
✅ Top-ranked amateur in the world
✅ Earned PGA TOUR Card at the Cognizant Classic
✅ Led FSU to victory at the Seminole Intercollegiate (March 11), winning the individual title at 15-under, 195

📅 Tee Times – Thursday, March 21
🔹 Luke Clanton – 2:24 PM
🔹 Cristobal Del Solar – 9:30 AM
🔹 John Pak – 9:36 AM
🔹 Vincent Norrman – 1:29 PM

📅 Tee Times – Friday, March 22
🔹 Norrman – 8:19 AM
🔹 Clanton – 9:14 AM
🔹 Del Solar – 2:40 PM
🔹 Pak – 2:46 PM

📺 How to Watch:
⏳ ESPN+ (7:30 AM) | Golf Channel (2 PM) | Sirius XM (12 PM)

Can Clanton continue his dominant season on golf’s biggest stage?

🔗 More on FSU’s presence at the Valspar Championship here.

🏀 FSU’s Ta'Niya Latson & Makayla Timpson Earn AP All-America Honors

Florida State junior guard Ta’Niya Latson continues to make history, becoming the program’s first-ever AP Second-Team All-American, while Makayla Timpson earned honorable mention recognition.

🔥 Latson’s Historic Season:
✅ Leads the nation in scoring (24.9 PPG)
✅ Fastest to 2,000 career points in FSU history
✅ ACC’s first 2,000-point scorer in three seasons since 2004
✅ 7 100-point games for FSU this season (program record)
✅ Career-high 40 points vs. Virginia Tech (ties FSU record)
✅ 4th triple-double in program history (vs. Gonzaga)
✅ Finalist for Naismith & Ann Meyers Drysdale Awards

🔥 Timpson’s Defensive Dominance:
✅ Only player in the country averaging 17+ PPG, 10+ RPG, 3+ BPG
✅ FSU all-time leader in double-doubles (46) & rebounds (1,074)
✅ Leads Power 4 players with 99 blocks this season
✅ Tied ACC Tournament record with 8 blocks in a game
✅ Finalist for Naismith Defensive Player of the Year & Katrina McClain Award

📅 What’s Next?
🏆 FSU vs. George Mason – NCAA Tournament First Round
📍 Baton Rouge, LA | 📺 ESPN2 | ⏰ Saturday, 7:45 PM ET

🔗 More on FSU’s All-Americans & March Madness journey here.

🥎 No. 9 FSU Softball Rallies to Take Down No. 24 Alabama, 5-2

A three-run bomb from Katie Dack and a shutdown bullpen performance by Julia Apsel powered No. 9 Florida State (26-5) to a 5-2 comeback win over No. 24 Alabama (21-10) on Wednesday night in front of 3,800+ fans at Rhoads Stadium.

🔥 Game Highlights:
✅ Dack’s Go-Ahead HR – Crushed her 8th HR of the season to put FSU up 5-2
✅ Jahni Kerr’s Clutch Double – Tied the game with a 2-RBI double in the 4th
✅ Apsel’s Bullpen Dominance – 3.0 perfect innings, 4 strikeouts, 10-0 record
✅ FSU’s Dominance vs. Bama – Won 4 of last 5 in Tuscaloosa, 7 of last 9 overall

📅 What’s Next?
🏆 @ No. 18 Duke – Friday, March 22 | 6 PM ET | 📺 ACC Network

🔗 More on FSU’s big win & upcoming series here.

🎾 FSU Women’s Tennis Edges No. 50 Miami, 4-3

No. 32 Florida State (11-4, 2-3 ACC) secured a hard-fought 4-3 victory over No. 50 Miami (8-6, 3-2 ACC) on Wednesday afternoon at the Scott Speicher Memorial Tennis Center.

🔥 Match Highlights:
✅ Doubles Dominance – No. 89 Eva Shaw & Maria Juliana Parra Romero took down No. 25 Xinyi Nong & Raquel Gonzalez (6-2), extending their unbeaten streak to 11-0
✅ Clutch Singles Wins – Millie Bissett rallied from a set down to clinch the match on Court 4 (2-6, 6-2, 6-3)
✅ Parra Romero – Earned her 10th singles win of the season, winning in straight sets on Court 5
✅ Putz’s Comeback – Overcame a 4-2 deficit in the second set to win (6-4, 7-5) on Court 6

📅 What’s Next?
🏟️ @ No. 62 SMU – Friday, March 22 | 6 PM ET

🔗 More on FSU’s win & upcoming road match here.

⚾ No. 5 FSU Baseball Heads to Miami for Rivalry Showdown

For the first time this season, No. 5 Florida State (18-2) hits the road for a weekend series, taking on in-state rival Miami (13-9) from March 20-22 at Alex Rodriguez Park at Mark Light Field in Coral Gables.

🔥 Series Schedule & Broadcast Info:
📅 Thursday, March 20 – 7 PM ET | 📺 ACC Network
📅 Friday, March 21 – 8 PM ET | 📺 ACC Network
📅 Saturday, March 22 – 7 PM ET | 📺 ACCNX

📻 Listen: WFLA 100.7 FM | FSU Gameday App | Seminoles.com

💪 FSU By the Numbers:
✅ .333 Team Batting Average | 33 HRs | 173 Runs Scored
✅ Pitching Staff ERA: 2.67 | 237 Strikeouts | 70 Walks
✅ Alex Lodise (.446 BA, 37 H, 8 2B) leads the offense
✅ Max Williams (8 HRs, 23 RBI) remains red-hot
✅ Wes Mendes (4-0, 0.66 ERA) & Joey Volini (5-0, 0.92 ERA) anchor the rotation

📊 FSU vs. Miami All-Time:
🔹 FSU leads series 162-136-4
🔹 Last Meeting: FSU swept Miami in 2024 (5-4, 11-7, 6-4) in Tallahassee
🔹 Miami swept FSU in 2023 in Coral Gables

🔜 What’s Next?
⚾ FSU vs. No. 13 Florida – Tuesday, March 25 (Jacksonville)

🔗 More on FSU’s road series at Miami here.

🎾 FSU Men’s Tennis Returns Home for ACC Showdowns

After a two-week road trip, Florida State men’s tennis is back in Tallahassee for key ACC matchups against No. 16 Clemson and Georgia Tech at the Scott Speicher Memorial Tennis Center.

🔥 Match Schedule:
📅 Friday, March 22 – 🆚 No. 16 Clemson | ⏰ 5:30 PM ET
📅 Sunday, March 24 – 🆚 Georgia Tech | ⏰ 1:00 PM ET (Seminole Heritage Match)

💪 Last Season vs. Opponents:
✅ 4-3 win over Georgia Tech – Loris Pourroy clinched a three-set thriller
✅ 4-1 win over Clemson

🚀 Players to Watch:
🔹 Jamie Connel – Took down the No. 65 player in the country, remains unbeaten in ACC play
🔹 Alex Bulte – Earned his first career ACC win (6-1, 6-3) on Court 3
🔹 Corey Craig & Azariah Rusher – Secured first-ever doubles win as a team
🔹 Joshua Dous-Karpenschif & Erik Schiessl – 9-2 record in doubles play this spring

🎗️ Special Events:
🏅 Friday: Special Olympic athlete recognition
🏅 Sunday: Seminole Heritage Match

🔗 More on FSU Men’s Tennis here.

🏀 FSU Forward Taylor Bol Bowen Enters Transfer Portal

Florida State sophomore Taylor Bol Bowen has entered the NCAA transfer portal, per ESPN’s Jeff Borzello. However, the 6-foot-10 forward is also considering a return to Tallahassee next season.

🔥 Bol Bowen’s 2023-24 Season Stats:
✅ 29 games played (28 starts)
✅ 8.0 PPG | 5.2 RPG | 1.5 BPG | 1.0 SPG
✅ 47.7% FG | 41.4% 3PT
✅ 4th-leading scorer for FSU

🚨 What This Means for FSU:
🔹 First of several expected departures this offseason
🔹 Follows FSU’s coaching transition from Leonard Hamilton to Luke Loucks
🔹 Seniors Jamir Watkins & Bostyn Holt have exhausted eligibility

🔗 More on Bol Bowen & FSU’s offseason here.

🏈 Spring Camp Kicks Off: Jaylin Lucas Shines in Return

Florida State's first spring practice was full of standout moments, but none bigger than the return of Jaylin Lucas. The dynamic athlete wasted no time making an impact, ripping off a big gain on his first competitive drill after recovering from a season-ending knee injury.

🔥 Coach Mike Norvell on Lucas:
💬 “Thought that was impressive… He’s busted his tail to get back.”
💬 “We’re gonna be smart with him, but he’s definitely a great playmaker.”

Lucas led all Power Four players (min. 5 attempts) with 10.4 yards per play last season and is expected to be used in “a variety of different places” in Gus Malzahn’s system.

🏈 Other Key Takeaways from Practice

🔹 Freshman QB Kevin Sperry – Perfect 4-for-4 start in 7-on-7 drills 🔥
🔹 CB Ja’Bril Rawls – Recorded an interception, continues to push for a starting spot
🔹 DBs Impress – Earl Little Jr., Edwin Joseph, and Ricky Knight all stood out
🔹 WR Micahi Danzy – Officially making the move from RB to WR
🔹 LB Justin Cryer – Getting reps at Sam LB (JACK hybrid role)
🔹 RB Roydell Williams – Getting praise for reshaped physique

👀 FSU’s next practice will continue to provide insight into key position battles.

🔗 More on FSU’s spring camp here.

And that’s a wrap!

From the grind of spring football to dominant wins across multiple sports, it’s a great time to be a Seminole. With rivalry matchups, NCAA Championship performances, and key recruiting battles all unfolding, the energy in Tallahassee is electric!

🔥 What are you most excited about this week? Let us know in today’s poll!

Until next time—Go Noles! 🍢