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Yesterday’s Poll Results

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🏹 Welcome to The Chief Brief! 🏹

A rough football finale, a blunt postgame presser, cutting-edge upgrades for FSU Baseball, and a major Sunday test for Women’s Hoops — today’s edition covers a full spectrum of emotions across Seminole athletics.

⚠️ Football Hits Rock Bottom (Again)
Florida State closed the 2025 season with a 40–21 loss at Florida, extending its road drought to 735 days and locking in a second straight losing season. The Noles trailed by just three at half, but mistakes, missed chances, and Jadan Baugh’s 266-yard demolition sealed their fate.
Norvell apologized, called the run defense a “complete failure,” and vowed “drastic” changes — with evaluations beginning immediately.

⚾ Baseball Makes a Big-Time Analytics Jump
FSU Baseball unveiled Driveline’s LaunchPad system inside its upgraded pitching lab — giving players big-league biomechanics data without the markers or motion suits. Pitching coach Micah Posey and Link Jarrett spearheaded the investment, calling it a player-first leap forward for development.

🏀 Women’s Hoops Eyes an Upset in Fort Myers
After Friday’s balanced win over Missouri State, the Seminoles meet No. 9/8 Oklahoma tonight at 6:30 p.m. — the first-ever matchup between the programs. Solè Williams is red-hot (17.7 PPG), and FSU’s depth showed up in the semifinal, but the Sooners present their toughest test yet.

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🏈 FSU Ends Season With 40–21 Loss at Florida, Extends Road Drought 🏈

Florida State closed the 2025 campaign with a 40–21 loss in Gainesville, finishing 5–7 for the second straight losing season — and the fourth in six years under Mike Norvell.

📉 Historic Road Struggles Continue

• 10th straight road loss

• 735 days since FSU’s last win away from Doak

• Next chance to end streak: over 1,000 days after the last win

This comes less than a week after FSU’s administration announced it would retain Norvell.

🔥 What Went Wrong in Gainesville
UF sophomore RB Jadan Baugh delivered an all-time performance:

• 266 rushing yards, 2 TD

• 2nd-most in UF history (behind Emmitt Smith’s 316)

The Noles trailed just 17–14 at half, but key moments slipped away:

• Castellanos inches short on 4th-and-1 at FSU’s own 40

• UF immediately capitalizes with a TD drive

• Illegal substitution gives UF a free first down on 4th and short

• Missed FG (Weinberg from 42) followed by a UF 54-yarder

📈 Offensive Notes
Total offense: 364 yards
Rushing: 167 yards

• Castellanos: 77 yards, team leader

• None of FSU’s RBs broke 27 yards despite UF’s previous run-defense struggles

⭐ Bright Spot
WR Lawayne McCoy flashed late:

• Spectacular one-handed 4th-down grab

• 27-yard catch-and-run

• 17-yard TD to cut the lead to 34–21

🧠 Why It Matters
FSU enters the offseason with:

• Back-to-back losing seasons

• No bowl game

• A two-year road drought that keeps growing

• Major questions around execution, discipline, and critical-game management

👉 Full game recap available via the original report

🎙️ Norvell’s Postgame Presser: Anger, Apologies & Promises of Change 🎙️

After FSU’s season-ending loss at Florida, Mike Norvell met the media with a tone that alternated between frustration, apology, and a repeated vow that “changes” are coming — soon.

🔥 Frustration Boils Over
Norvell didn’t hide how angry he was about the performance:

• “Extremely disappointing.”

• “A game we needed to win… and it didn’t show up.”

• “When that doesn’t show up, it is infuriating.”

• “We’re not good enough at doing things right consistently.”

• “To go two years without a road win is incredibly disappointing.”

He apologized directly to the fanbase:

• “I apologize to everyone associated with this program.”

⚠️ Run Defense? ‘A Complete Failure’
Asked about Jadan Baugh’s 266-yard demolition, Norvell was blunt:

• “Complete failure.”

He later emphasized that while young players flashed, the team had “too much inconsistency” and couldn't sustain stops on the road.

🔄 Offseason Changes Incoming — But Not Discussed Yet
Reporters pressed him multiple times about staff changes or coordinator evaluations.

Norvell’s response each time:

• “There will be a time and place for all of that.”

• “We’ve got to be drastically better than we’ve shown.”

• “It starts immediately.”

• “We will assess, address, and do everything necessary to get it fixed.”

On assistants specifically:

• “Wasn’t good enough.”

• “We’ve shown growth… but we have to do a better job.”

🏟️ Road Woes & The Mental Block
Norvell on the two-year road drought:

• “We’ve had opportunities… but we let things snowball.”

• “Try to address areas of disconnect.”

• “Play the play.”

McCoy called it what it is:

• “Absolutely frustrating.”

💬 Tommy Castellanos 4th-and-1 Call
Norvell stood by the decision:

• Felt it was a high-percentage look based on season trends

• Called it a “bang-bang play” where TC “got the edge” but came up inches short

• Noted UF scoring three plays later was where momentum flipped

🌱 Young Talent Still a Bright Spot
Norvell repeatedly returned to player development:

• “I believe in our young playmakers.”

• “We have to keep things simple and help them develop.”

McCoy echoed optimism for 2026:

• “Absolutely. The program is going up — we just have to put it all together.”

• Praised young WRs Gelsey, Mallory, Moore.

🧠 Why It Matters
Norvell didn’t detail the upcoming changes — but he made it clear they’re coming fast.
Tomorrow begins the assessment.
The next month determines the direction of his tenure.

👉 Full press conference information here.

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⚾ FSU Upgrades Pitching Lab With Cutting-Edge Driveline ‘LaunchPad’ System ⚾

Florida State baseball just took a major leap in player development, adding Driveline’s LaunchPad motion-capture technology to its pitching lab inside Dick Howser Stadium.

🔥 What LaunchPad Actually Does

• Tracks body biomechanics, not just ball flight

• No markers, suits, or sensors — players throw in full uniform

• Converts complex data into simple, actionable insights

• Helps identify delivery trends, mechanical issues, and performance gains

Pitching coach Micah Posey:
“Trackman shows what the ball is doing… LaunchPad shows what the body is doing.”

🤝 How FSU Landed It

• Posey’s long-standing ties with Driveline (dating back to Dallas Baptist) opened the door

• Jamie Arnold tested the system in Tampa last winter

• Instead of sending the whole staff to Tampa, Driveline suggested: Why not build one here?

• CEO Mike Rathwell and founder Kyle Boddy helped bring the project to Tallahassee

• Link Jarrett was “all about it from the get-go,” pushing investment in top-tier development tools

🔧 How FSU Will Use It

• Not an every-bullpen tool — more of a monthly check-in

• 80% of the staff has already run through it

• After winter break, pitchers will get a few bullpens in before another assessment

• Posey: “We don’t want internal lab rats… my job is to make the info simple and actionable.”

📈 The Learning Curve
Like the original pitching lab (high-speed Edgertronic cameras + Trackman), LaunchPad will take time to master.
Posey expects their understanding — especially around torso/pelvis movement — to grow significantly over the next 1–2 years.

🧠 Why It Matters
FSU now owns one of the most advanced biomechanics systems in college baseball — a major player-development edge and a clear sign of Jarrett’s commitment to giving pitchers every possible competitive advantage.

👉 Full report available via the original source

🏀 FSU Faces No. 9/8 Oklahoma in Coconut Hoops Final 🏀

Florida State looks to ride its momentum into Sunday’s 6:30 p.m. matchup against nationally ranked Oklahoma, meeting the Sooners for the first time in program history.

🔥 How They Got Here

• FSU beat Missouri State 85–75 on Friday

• All 10 Noles scored and grabbed at least one rebound

• Solè Williams led with 21 points — now averaging 17.7 PPG

• Oklahoma dominated Coppin State 100–46 to reach the Great Egret Division final

💥 Top Performers vs Missouri State

• Sydney Bowles — 14 points

• Allie Kubek — 10 points

• Jasmine Shavers — 10 points

• Williams — career-high 9 made free throws

• Pania Davis & Tatum Greene — 5 rebounds each; Davis added 2 blocks

• Mari Gerton — career highs in rebounds (4), assists (2), FGs made (2)

• Noles hit eight threes, including Davis’ first career triple

📺 How to Watch
FloCollege
📻 96.5 The Spear + SiriusXM app (Jack Kavovit & Melissa Bruner)

🧠 Why It Matters
FSU showed depth, toughness, and late-game control on Friday — but Oklahoma represents its toughest test yet. A win would be a major statement as the Noles try to build consistency heading into December.

👉 Full matchup preview available via the original report

And that’s a wrap!

FSU football faces an offseason full of decisions, self-reflection, and real pressure — but other programs on campus are pushing forward with energy, innovation, and top-tier performances.

As always, thanks for reading The Chief Brief and riding through the highs and the lows with us. We’ll be right here breaking it all down, one day at a time.

See you tomorrow.
— Chief