🏹 November 11th - The Chief Brief 🏹

🎖️ Pressure, Pride, and Postseason Push 🎖️

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The Chief
November 11, 2025

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Today’s Poll

Would you support a potential return of Jimbo Fisher to Florida State?

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🏹 Welcome to The Chief Brief! 🏹

Happy Tuesday, Seminole!

🇺🇸 Veterans Day Edition — The Calm Before the Fire 🇺🇸

Happy Veterans Day, Chief Nation — today, we honor those who’ve served our country and defended the freedoms that make Saturdays in Tallahassee feel a little more special. As we salute their service, Florida State faces its own battle: a high-stakes November stretch that could define the future of the program.

⚽ Soccer kicks off the postseason at home with its 26th straight NCAA Tournament appearance — an unmatched streak of consistency.

🏖️ Beach Volleyball wrapped the fall slate strong and now turns toward its Big 12 debut, building chemistry and confidence for Gulf Shores.

🏀 Men’s Hoops heads to Gainesville to test its fast-paced new identity against No. 10 Florida in Luke Loucks’ first major rivalry game.

🏈 Football takes center stage with Senior Day under the lights — FSU vs. Virginia Tech, a 13.5-point favorite but with pressure mounting on all fronts.

🔥 From Norvell’s post-Clemson manifesto and whispers of Jimbo Fisher’s interest in a return, to insider reports on the real dynamics behind the scenes, this edition breaks down fact from fiction as FSU’s leadership weighs what’s next.

👉 Bottom line: FSU’s athletic future is balancing between legacy and change — with championship programs staying steady while football faces its reckoning at Doak.

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⚽ FSU Soccer to Host Samford in NCAA Tournament First Round ⚽

The Seminoles are tournament-bound once again — and they’ll kick off their postseason journey right at home.

🔥 Dominance and Consistency

  • Florida State earned the No. 3 seed in its NCAA bracket and will host Samford on Friday, Nov. 14 at 5 p.m. ET at the Seminole Soccer Complex.

  • This marks FSU’s 26th straight NCAA Tournament appearance — every year since 2000 — and its 21st time hosting a First Round match.

  • The Seminoles are 24-0-1 all-time in NCAA First Rounds, advancing every single year except 2004.

💪 Season Snapshot

  • Ranked No. 6 nationally, FSU enters the tournament at 10-2-4 (6-2-2 ACC) after facing one of the nation’s toughest schedules, including three of the four No. 1 seeds in this year’s field.

  • The Seminoles went 1-2-1 in those high-profile matchups, proving their ability to compete with the elite.

🐾 Scouting Samford

  • The Bulldogs arrive as SoCon regular-season and tournament champions with a 13-2-5 record and a 17-game unbeaten streak.

  • FSU has never lost to Samford (5-0-0 all-time) and crushed them 8-0 in last year’s First Round.

📅 What’s Next
The winner will advance to the Second Round to face the victor of No. 6 Mississippi State vs. Lipscomb on Nov. 20 at a location yet to be determined.

🏖️ FSU Beach Volleyball Wraps Fall Slate, Eyes Big 12 Debut 🏖️

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Florida State beach volleyball closed its fall season with a strong showing at the AVCA Championships in Huntsville, Alabama and the Fall Invite at North Florida, setting the tone for what could be a breakout spring in the program’s new Big 12 era.

🔥 Strong Fall Performances

  • The AVCA Championships featured 64 top pairs nationwide, with FSU’s Alexis Durish and Audrey Rothman winning eight of eleven sets and taking down three opponents in straight sets.

  • Durish — who went 24–8 last spring with Audrey Koenig — reunited with Rothman, who returned from injury and immediately looked in form.

💪 New Faces, Same Fire

  • Transfer Jess Horwath and freshman Elena Lam built early chemistry, notching wins over FGCU and Florida Atlantic during the weekend.

  • The duo previously claimed first place in the Gold Bid Division at the AVCA East Coast Qualifiers, defeating Stetson in the final (23–21, 21–17).

🌊 Big 12 Era on the Horizon
Now joining the Big 12 alongside national powerhouses, FSU will enter the spring with renewed depth and postseason ambition. The Seminoles are already looking ahead to Gulf Shores in May, aiming for another run at the NCAA Championship.

🏀 FSU Men Set for Road Test vs. No. 10 Florida in Gainesville 🏀

Florida State men’s basketball (2–0) will face its first major challenge of the Luke Loucks era Tuesday night when the Seminoles travel to Gainesville to take on No. 10 Florida (1–1) — a frontcourt-heavy team coming off a dominant win over North Florida.

🔥 Rivalry Renewed

  • The Gators enter with momentum after a 104–64 victory over UNF, led by Alex Condon’s 25 points, 10 rebounds, and 4 assists — a major bounce-back from his off night vs. Arizona.

  • Florida’s size poses a test for FSU: the Gators start three players 6’9” or taller, while only two Seminoles in the main rotation exceed 6’7”.

  • UF has won four straight in the series, though FSU won seven straight from 2014–2020.

💪 Fast-Paced Noles

  • Under first-year head coach Luke Loucks, FSU has started hot — scoring 100+ points in back-to-back games for the first time since 1988–89.

  • The Seminoles are shooting 51.4% from the field and 40.3% from three, led by Lajae Jones (19.0 PPG, 75% from deep).

  • Loucks has implemented an NBA-style, up-tempo offense, spreading the floor and pushing the pace — but the Gators’ size and interior defense will be their toughest obstacle yet.

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🏈 FSU Hosts Virginia Tech for Senior Day Under the Lights 🏈

Florida State (4–5, 1–5 ACC) returns home for Senior Day at Doak Campbell Stadium, facing a 3–6 Virginia Tech team coming off a bye week and still adjusting under interim head coach Philip Montgomery. Kickoff is set for Saturday at 7:30 p.m. ET on the ACC Network — a must-win for the Seminoles’ bowl hopes.

🔥 Scouting the Hokies

  • Virginia Tech began the year 0–3, leading to the firing of Brent Pry and Montgomery’s promotion. Since then, the Hokies have gone 3–3, earning wins over Wofford, NC State, and Cal (in double overtime).

  • The offense leans heavily on the ground game — averaging 182 rushing yards per game (41st nationally) — led by dual-threat QB Kyron Drones, who has 1,592 passing yards, 15 TDs, and 8 rushing scores.

  • RB Marcellous Hawkins adds 576 yards (5.9 YPC), while backup Terion Stewart provides another 6.3 yards per carry.

📉 Defensive Struggles Continue

  • The Hokies’ defense ranks near the bottom of FBS in several key categories:

    • Scoring Defense: 29.7 PPG (101st)

    • Red Zone Defense: 97.1% (132nd — 2nd worst nationally)

    • Passing Efficiency Defense: 105th

  • Opponents score on 33 of 34 red-zone trips, including 24 touchdowns — a glaring weakness FSU will look to exploit.

💪 Players to Watch

  • QB Kyron Drones: Leads VT in total offense (232.2 YPG) and rushing TDs.

  • DT Kemari Copeland: Defensive anchor with 7 TFLs and 4.5 sacks.

  • LB Caleb Woodson: 41 tackles, steady in run defense.

  • K John Love: 14-of-17 on FGs, including two from 50+ yards.

📊 Series History & Context

  • FSU leads the all-time series 24–13–1, including a 39–17 victory in 2023.

  • The Hokies haven’t beaten the Seminoles since 2018, and Saturday marks just their third trip to Tallahassee since that season.

  • FSU’s offense, which has struggled on the road, will look to rebound at home against a defense surrendering nearly 30 points per game.

🎯 Vegas Favors FSU by Nearly Two Touchdowns vs. Virginia Tech 🎯

Florida State (4–5) enters Senior Day as a 13.5-point favorite over Virginia Tech (3–6), according to FanDuel Sportsbook, with the over/under set at 54.5 points. Kickoff is scheduled for Saturday at 7:30 p.m. ET in Doak Campbell Stadium.

🔥 Storylines to Watch

  • Pressure Mounting: Mike Norvell faces intense scrutiny after a 2025 campaign that’s gone off the rails — and this home finale could heavily influence his future.

  • Opposite Sideline: Virginia Tech is playing under interim coach Philip Montgomery, who replaced Brent Pry after an 0–3 start.

  • Bowl Stakes: FSU must win two of its final three to secure bowl eligibility, while the Hokies must win out.

🔥 Norvell’s Message After Clemson: Fixes Now, Trophies Soon 🔥

Mike Norvell’s Monday presser doubled as a postmortem and a manifesto. He owned the miscues at Clemson (drops, red-zone fumble, penalties, a mis-hit kickoff look) and said the staff is “evaluating everything” — from RB rotation to in-game composure — but he also went big-picture: he insists FSU will win a championship “in the very near future,” with 2026 circled as a pivot point.

What he emphasized

  • Accountability & execution: Missed chances on the road sunk FSU at Stanford and Clemson; emphasis this week is flushing mistakes and finishing drives.

  • Adjustments coming: RB usage could tighten toward the most explosive options; discipline/response to adversity is a point of daily coaching.

  • QB room: Strong public backing for Tommy Castellanos (“wouldn’t steal a rep” from him). Younger QBs have seen spots; health and situations will dictate further looks.

  • Youth core as the foundation: He spotlighted second-year/high-school signees playing real snaps (WRs Micahi Danzy, Lawayne McCoy; RBs Ousmane Kromah, Sam Singleton; DL Mandrell & Darryll Desir, Juju), plus proven anchors like Duce Robinson and Earl Little Jr.

  • Culture & belief: Practices are closed to centralize focus; he says buy-in remains high despite results.

The promise (and the pushback)

Norvell cited the 19-game win streak (2022–23) and past titles as proof of concept — “Fixed it once. We’re going to fix it again.” Outside voices note the current ledger (4–5 this year; 6–15 last 21; 2–12 in ACC over two seasons), but Norvell’s stance didn’t wobble: the roster is young, the staff is capable, and the standard is championships.

What’s next

  • Now: Senior Day vs. Virginia Tech (Sat., 7:30 pm ET) — a must-clean, must-finish game.

  • Later: Bowl eligibility would add valuable December reps for that young core Norvell keeps pointing to as the engine for 2026.

Bottom line: The rhetoric is bold; the margin for error is thin. If the “fix” is real, it starts with disciplined offense and red-zone conversions this week at Doak.

🔥 Norvell Watch: Myths, Money, and the Market—What’s Actually True 🔥

As speculation swirls around Mike Norvell’s future, a lot of half-truths have calcified into “facts.” Here’s a clear, sourced snapshot of where things really stand—and why this moment is so unusual for a blue-blood like Florida State.

  • “Nothing is happening behind the scenes.”
    Reality: Contingency planning is underway. Leadership (President McCullough, BOT Chair Peter Collins, AD Michael Alford) has been gaming out scenarios for weeks—including potential candidates and transition logistics. Silence ≠ stasis.

  • “FSU is getting left behind by not jumping first.”
    Reality: Coaching markets run on back channels. Early firings don’t guarantee early hires. FSU can (and does) engage agents now; the preference is a short gap between dismissal and hire to avoid a drawn-out, chaotic search.

  • “FSU can’t attract a top coach right now.”
    Reality: The job is still premium: elite recruiting base, modern facilities, historic brand, and (for now) an ACC path that’s less brutal than SEC/B1G. Interest has already been signaled privately.

  • “They’re not moving because they don’t have the money.”
    Reality: It’s expensive—but doable. Buyouts are typically paid over time, and there are multiple financing levers beyond one-off booster checks. Cost is a consideration, not a veto.

  • Public line: comprehensive review at season’s end.

  • Private posture: prepared to act, deliberately and quickly, if they enter the market—likely targeting sitting coaches, which inherently points to post-regular-season timing.

  • No hard “threshold” has been communicated (e.g., a single game result that automatically triggers change).

  • Unprecedented leash among champs: Of the 14 programs to win national titles since 1998, FSU is the only one to employ a coach for six seasons with a sub-.600 winning percentage across that span. Norvell sits at .536 (best-case this year ≈ .555). That’s not the norm for peers with championship standards.

  • The complicating spike: Years 3–4 were a legit peak (19-game run, ACC title), which muddies a simple “cut losses quickly” playbook and raises costs/optics. Still, the two-year results trend (6–15 overall; 2–12 in ACC) has leadership running full diligence.

Strategic Considerations in Waiting

  • Roster/recruiting stability: An in-season firing risks more attrition and a prolonged vacuum.

  • Search tempo: The goal is a tight window: decision → hire. Entering the market early doesn’t help if your primary targets are coaching elsewhere through November.

What to Watch Next

  • Performance and posture vs. Virginia Tech, then at NC State and Florida.

  • Recruiting tremors (decommits/late flips) and portal signals.

  • Any shift from “end-of-season review” to action—if it comes, expect a compressed timeline to a successor.

Bottom line: FSU isn’t asleep at the wheel. Plans exist, money isn’t a brick wall, and interest in the job is real. But the numbers are what they are—and in the company FSU keeps, this extended sub-.600 stretch is already an outlier. The next three weeks will tell us if “deliberate” becomes “decisive.”

🔥 Jimbo Fisher Lurking as Norvell Faces Mounting Pressure 🔥

The storm around Mike Norvell continues to build — and now, a familiar name has re-entered the conversation.

👀 Jimbo’s Interest

Former FSU head coach Jimbo Fisher, now an ACC Network analyst, has reportedly told confidants he’s eager to return to coaching — and would lobby for the Florida State job if it opens. Sources say Fisher has already built out a prospective staff “big board” and expressed interest to his agent, Jimmy Sexton, in finding a landing spot for 2026.

Fisher, who went 83–23 with three ACC titles and a national championship from 2010–17, returned to Doak Campbell Stadium earlier this fall for the first time since his departure — a symbolic move that raised eyebrows among boosters.

🎯 The Administration’s View

While Fisher may campaign for a reunion, insiders don’t expect him to be on the short list should FSU move on from Norvell. Athletic Director Michael Alford, President Richard McCullough, and Board Chair Peter Collins have done due diligence behind the scenes but are believed to be targeting sitting head coaches rather than former ones.

As one source put it, “Fisher would lobby, but FSU wouldn’t bite.” The school’s October statement publicly backed Norvell while privately preparing for all outcomes.

💥 Locker Room Fallout

The on-field collapse (4–5 overall, 1–5 ACC) has reportedly bled into the locker room. One current player told Noles247 that Norvell “lost the team” following the Stanford loss, adding, “Nobody believes the stuff he says anymore — it’s repetitive.” The report described silence in the room after Norvell told players he planned to stay.

💰 Context & Consequences

Since his 2024 extension — $10–11 million annually through 2031 — Norvell has gone 6–15. His buyout, roughly $53 million, remains the biggest barrier to an immediate change but not necessarily a dealbreaker if the administration reaches consensus on a transition.

Why it matters: Fisher’s return would be headline gold as well as internal political dynamite — beloved by boosters, polarizing among administrators, and expensive for all parties. For now, his shadow looms large while FSU’s leadership quietly weighs what comes next.

And that’s a wrap!

On this Veterans Day, we pause to honor those who’ve served — and to remember that perseverance, accountability, and courage define more than just the battlefield.

As Florida State athletics enters a decisive stretch — from soccer’s championship chase to football’s fight for bowl eligibility — the Seminole spirit is being tested and renewed all at once.

Whether it’s fixing what’s broken or chasing what’s next, one thing remains true: the Garnet and Gold never stand still.

Until tomorrow, stay proud, stay grounded, and keep your war paint sharp.

— Chief

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