🏹 November 10th - The Chief Brief 🏹

“From Court to Crisis: FSU Finds Wins in Tennis, Woes in Football

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The Chief
November 10, 2025

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🏹 Welcome to The Chief Brief! 🏹

Happy Monday, Seminole!

Florida State athletics had a weekend filled with contrasts — flashes of dominance on the court, heartbreak on the field, and renewed uncertainty in the football program’s future.

🎾 Tennis Triumphs
Eva Shaw punched her ticket to the NCAA Women’s Singles Championships, capping a strong ITA South Sectionals performance that highlighted FSU’s growing national presence. Meanwhile, the men’s squad closed its fall slate with sweeping wins in Destin and Athens, led by Azariah Rusher’s ranked victory and a doubles clean sweep.

🏀 Basketball Battle in Storrs
The FSU women’s basketball team showed heart against No. 1 UConn, draining a season-high 12 threes — the fifth-most in program history — despite the 99–67 loss. Solè Williams, Allie Kubek, and Jasmine Shavers each hit double figures as the Seminoles proved their offense can travel.

🏈 Football Fallout in Death Valley
Back on the gridiron, FSU’s 24–10 loss to Clemson exposed recurring flaws: penalties, drops, and red-zone inefficiency.

  • PFF data revealed the defense stood tall (six players graded above 70) while the offense sputtered again.

  • Offensive coordinator Gus Malzahn admitted, “We’ve got to respond to adversity better — that’s on me.”

  • And behind the scenes, pressure is mounting on Mike Norvell, with internal discussions about his future reportedly heating up as FSU faces a must-win Senior Day against Virginia Tech.

👉 Bottom Line:
From tennis titles to coaching turmoil, it was a weekend that showcased both FSU’s athletic promise and its football growing pains. The next few weeks could define not just this season — but the Seminoles’ direction for years to come.

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🎾 FSU’s Eva Shaw Qualifies for NCAA Women’s Singles Championships 🎾

Florida State junior Eva Shaw punched her ticket to the NCAA Women’s Tennis Singles Championships after an impressive showing at the ITA South Sectionals in Baton Rouge, finishing tied for fifth to secure her spot among the nation’s top 64 competitors.

🔥 Shaw Shines in Baton Rouge

  • Advanced to the singles quarterfinals with a hard-fought three-set win (6–4, 2–6, 7–5) over Miami’s No. 69 Raquel Gonzalez.

  • Despite falling in the quarters, Shaw’s strong run and top-five finish earned her qualification for the national championship in Orlando.

  • The NCAA Singles Championship bracket will be unveiled Monday on NCAA.com, with play beginning Nov. 18 at the USTA National Campus.

💪 Doubles Success and UNF Invitational Highlights

  • Shaw and Bissett went unbeaten on Day 1, each winning their singles match before teaming up for a doubles victory.

  • At the UNF Invitational, FSU picked up nine total wins, reaching two singles finals and one doubles final.

  • Mary Boyce Deatherage and Kristyna Lavickova claimed the Flight 2 doubles title, while Cade Cricchio advanced to the Flight E singles final for the second straight year.

🎾 FSU Men Close Fall Season Strong at ITA Sectionals and Battle of the Beach 🎾

Florida State men’s tennis wrapped up its fall slate on a high note with standout performances at the ITA Sectional Championships in Athens and the Battle of the Beach in Destin, earning key wins in both singles and doubles competition.

🔥 Momentum Across Two Tournaments

  • Azariah Rusher notched one of the weekend’s biggest victories, defeating No. 109 Stefano D’Agostino in straight sets at the ITA Sectionals.

  • At the Battle of the Beach, the Seminoles swept all singles matches vs. Tulane, highlighted by:

    • Justin Lyons (6–4, 6–2)

    • Jan Sebesta (6–7, 6–3, 6–1)

    • Gabrielle Brancetalli (7–5, 7–3)

    • Oren Ezerzer (6–4, 6–2)

💪 Doubles Dominance

  • Lyons/Sebesta defeated South Florida’s Accossatto & Van Raemdonck, 8–5.

  • Brancetalli/Ezerzer followed with an 8–3 victory over Nizar Bouyacoub & Yigin.

🏀 FSU Women Fall to No. 1 UConn Despite Season-High Three-Point Performance 🏀

Florida State women’s basketball (2–1) battled hard but couldn’t overcome the top-ranked Huskies on Sunday, falling 99–67 at Gampel Pavilion. Despite the loss, the Seminoles showcased strong perimeter shooting and encouraging depth against one of the nation’s toughest opponents.

🔥 Bright Spots in Storrs

  • Solè Williams led FSU with 14 points, while Allie Kubek and Jasmine Shavers added 11 apiece.

  • The Seminoles hit 12 three-pointers, their most this season and fifth-highest single-game total in program history.

  • Kubek and Shavers each drained three from deep to fuel the offense.

💪 Contributions Across the Board

  • Emma Risch posted eight points and a career-high three blocks.

  • Pania Davis added nine points and led the team with six rebounds.

  • FSU outscored UConn 19–16 in the fourth quarter, finishing the game with energy and confidence.

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📊 FSU Snap Count Breakdown: Clemson 24, Florida State 10 📊

A closer look at who saw the field — and how much — during Florida State’s 24–10 loss to Clemson, courtesy of TruMedia via PFF.

🔥 Offensive Leaders

  • QB: Tommy Castellanos played every offensive snap (72), showing his dual-threat durability despite constant Clemson pressure.

  • WR Duo: Duce Robinson (66) and Lawayne McCoy (62) dominated targets, while freshman Micahi Danzy logged 53 snaps.

  • RB Rotation: Gavin Sawchuk (22) led the backfield, followed by Roydell Williams (17) and Samuel Singleton Jr. (14).

  • TE Usage: Randy Pittman Jr. (68 snaps) was heavily involved, nearly matching the offensive line’s full workload.

  • OL Ironmen: Luke Petitbon, Adrian Medley, Micah Pettus, and Richie Leonard IV all played 72 snaps, anchoring the front five.

💪 Defensive Highlights

  • DL Anchors: Darrell Jackson Jr. (47) and Daniel Lyons (39) paced a deep rotation that featured nine players.

  • LB Core: Blake Nichelson (42) led the linebackers, with Elijah Herring (32) and Justin Cryer (31) close behind.

  • Secondary Workhorses: Earl Little Jr. (53), Edwin Joseph (52), and Ashlynd Barker (52) each logged heavy minutes in coverage, while Jerry Wilson (55) topped the corners.

📈 PFF Grades: FSU vs. Clemson — Defensive Bright Spots, Offensive Struggles 📉

Following Florida State’s 24–10 loss at Clemson, Pro Football Focus released its player grades — offering a deeper look into who delivered, who disappointed, and where the Seminoles fell short.

🔥 Top Offensive Performers
Despite a disjointed showing, a few Seminoles stood out:

  • RB Ousmane Kromah (69.8) — Showed burst in limited touches, continuing to make the most of his carries.

  • RB Samuel Singleton Jr. (69.3) — Productive in spurts, helping FSU sustain drives early.

  • OL Gunnar Hansen (68.3) — Highest-graded lineman in pass protection.

  • WR Duce Robinson (68.2) — Led all receivers again, turning in another 100+ yard night.

  • QB Tommy Castellanos (60.5) — Flashed athleticism but struggled with accuracy under pressure.

🚨 Offensive Lows

  • OL Micah Pettus (47.9) — Rough outing up front, part of a line that surrendered six sacks.

  • WR Squirrel White (47.5) — Quiet night after limited involvement.

  • FSU’s Wide Receiver Depth — Outside of Robinson, no wideout graded above 54.

💪 Top Defensive Grades

  • DB Ashlynd Barker (79.0) — Team’s top overall grade; sticky in coverage and consistent tackling.

  • LB Elijah Herring (78.9) — Commanded the middle of the field, finishing as FSU’s top-graded linebacker.

  • DB Earl Little Jr. (73.1) — Continued his breakout season with another strong all-around performance.

  • DL Deante McCray (72.5) — Created backfield disruption in limited snaps.

  • LB Stefon Thompson (71.7) — Added stability to the second level in his return to the rotation.

📊 Quick Take

  • The defense once again carried the load — six players graded above 70 — while the offense faltered, with no player above 70 overall.

  • Drops, missed throws, and inconsistent blocking continued to plague a unit that has now scored just 10 points in back-to-back road games.

📊 Final Notes & Stats: Clemson 24, Florida State 10 📊

Florida State’s 24–10 loss at Clemson was another night of missed opportunities and frustrating trends — a game that reinforced both the Seminoles’ potential and their persistent inconsistency.

🔥 Key Team Notes

  • FSU’s captains: Duce Robinson, Luke Petitbon, Darrell Jackson Jr., and Earl Little Jr.

  • Both offensive and defensive starters were unchanged for the second straight week — the first time since 2021 FSU started the same 22 players in consecutive games.

  • Darrell Jackson Jr. extended his team-best streak to 22 consecutive starts.

💡 Offensive Breakdown

  • Tommy Castellanos: 23/43, 250 YDS, 1 TD, 1 INT; added a season-long 26-yard run.

  • Duce Robinson: 9 REC, 124 YDS — fourth 100-yard game this season, most by an FSU WR since 2014 (Rashad Greene).

  • Lawayne McCoy: 4 REC, 46 YDS, 1 TD — tied career highs in both categories.

  • FSU had 12 explosive plays (6 passes, 6 runs) but none resulted in points.

  • The Seminoles went 2-of-4 in the red zone and converted just 33% on third down.

  • FSU scored on only 2 of 12 drives (17%), with just one touchdown drive all game.

  • Clemson’s defense racked up 6 sacks and 9 tackles for loss, both season highs.

💪 Defensive Highlights

  • Mandrell Desir: 5 tackles, 1 sack — leads all ACC freshmen with 4.0 sacks, most by a Seminole true freshman since 2017.

  • Ashlynd Barker: 7 tackles, 1.5 TFL, 1 sack — now second on the team in sacks (3.5).

  • FSU’s defense held Clemson to just 319 total yards and forced six three-and-outs.

  • Despite the effort, the Seminoles lost the turnover margin 2–0, ending Clemson’s six-game drought in that category.

🧮 Game & Program Trends

  • FSU total offense: 360 yards (season low) — down from its national-leading 510.5 average.

  • Penalties: 5 for 50 yards, all offensive — four on a single drive.

  • Time of Possession: Clemson 34:22 | FSU 25:38.

  • K Jake Weinberg: hit a career-long 46-yard FG, now 9-of-12 on the year and 39-of-39 on PATs.

  • P Mac Chiumento: launched a 54-yarder, his third straight game with a 50+ yard punt.

🏟️ Historical Context

  • Clemson improved to 17–21 all-time vs. FSU and 10–9 at home.

  • Dabo Swinney: now 11–6 against FSU — his tenure accounts for 11 of Clemson’s 17 all-time wins.

  • FSU still hasn’t won back-to-back games in Death Valley since 1975–2001, a stretch that saw them win their first seven there.

🧠 Malzahn Aims to Fix Road-Game Woes After Another Costly Collapse 🧠

Florida State offensive coordinator Gus Malzahn didn’t mince words Sunday night as he reflected on FSU’s 24–10 loss at Clemson — a game that echoed the Stanford defeat three weeks earlier. The problem, he said, wasn’t yardage. It was execution.

🔥 Déjà Vu on the Road

  • FSU outgained both Stanford and Clemson, yet managed just one touchdown in each road game.

  • “When it happens twice, you’ve got to look at everything,” Malzahn said. “We can’t have those self-inflicted mistakes — drops, turnovers, penalties — and expect to win.”

  • FSU tallied four official drops, including a crucial fourth-and-1 miss by TE Randy Pittman that could’ve gone for six.

🎯 Execution Breakdown

  • Malzahn admitted the staff must improve at teaching composure and response to adversity:

  • QB Tommy Castellanos went 23-of-43 for 253 yards and a TD but was sacked six times. Malzahn praised his toughness yet acknowledged the imbalance:

  • Miscommunication also proved costly — Lawayne McCoy’s offensive PI wiped away a key red-zone chance, while a fumble inside the Clemson 10 killed early momentum.

💬 Bottom Line
Florida State has the yardage to win big games but not the discipline. As Malzahn put it, “We should’ve put more points on the board — and we could’ve made that game a different game than it was.”

🔥 Pressure Mounts on Norvell as FSU Reassesses Its Future 🔥

Three weeks after Florida State’s leadership launched a “comprehensive assessment” of the football program, internal discussions about Mike Norvell’s future have reignited following the Seminoles’ 24–10 loss at Clemson — a defeat to one of the ACC’s weakest Tiger teams in decades.

💰 Buyout and Budget Tensions

  • Norvell’s buyout sits near $59 million, though a mitigation clause would reduce that if he secures another job.

  • Sources indicate financial strain is a growing concern — with more than $20 million already spent on this year’s roster, confidence in donor support for another cycle appears shaky.

  • If Norvell remains, funding a competitive 2026 roster could be a major challenge.

🏛️ Internal Deliberations

  • Key decision-makers include President Richard McCullough, Athletic Director Michael Alford, and Board of Trustees Chair Peter Collins, all heavily involved in post-Stanford discussions.

  • Sources say that while Alford’s public statement promised patience, behind-the-scenes conversations never stopped.

  • Sunday morning meetings reportedly included renewed debate about timing — whether delaying a decision could hurt FSU in the coming coaching carousel, which is expected to include major programs like Florida, LSU, Auburn, and Penn State.

📉 Performance Reality Check

  • Norvell’s record now stands at 37–32 overall, 21–25 in the ACC, across six seasons.

  • Despite preseason optimism and heavy NIL investment, FSU sits at 4–5, needing two wins for bowl eligibility.

And that’s a wrap!

This weekend felt like a crossroads for Florida State.
While tennis and women’s hoops proved the Seminole spirit is alive and thriving, the football program finds itself staring down a different kind of test — one of leadership, direction, and identity.

Senior Day is next up, but the conversation in Tallahassee has already shifted to something bigger than one more home game: what happens next.

Until tomorrow — stay sharp, stay loyal, and stay unconquered.
– Chief

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