🏹 October 7th - The Chief Brief 🏹

FSU Eyes Rebound, Recruits Still Believe

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The Chief
October 07, 2025

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How do you think Florida State responds against Pitt this weekend?

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🏹 Welcome to The Chief Brief! 🏹

Happy Tuesday, Seminole!

⛳ Golfers Chasing the Leaders
FSU men’s golf sits fifth after two rounds at the Hamptons Intercollegiate, led by Andrew McLauchlan’s late birdie surge as play resumes Tuesday morning.

🏀 Women’s Hoops on National Stage
The Noles will appear on TV 13 times this season, including primetime matchups with Indiana, UConn, and Florida.

🏖️ Beach Volleyball Begins Big 12 Era
Brooke Niles’ squad sets its fall slate, opening Oct. 11–12 at Stetson as they prepare for their first season in the Big 12.

⚾ BJ Gibson Chooses Baseball Full-Time
FSU’s dual-sport athlete departs football to focus on the diamond, where his upside projects highest heading into 2026.

🏀 Men’s Hoops Hosts Blue-Chip Visitors
Top 2027–28 recruits, including 4⭐ Martay Barnes and 2028 PG Tai Bell, praised Luke Loucks’ staff and the program’s energy during Miami weekend.

🎙️ Norvell: “We Can Beat Anyone — If We Take Care of Us”
The head coach called for accountability and composure ahead of Saturday’s home test vs. Pitt, where FSU looks to end its two-game skid.

🎯 Recruits Still Believe After Miami Loss
Despite the scoreboard, prospects lauded FSU’s fight and culture — a key sign of stability in the program’s long-term recruiting momentum.

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⛳ FSU in Contention at Hamptons Intercollegiate ⛳

Play was suspended Monday evening due to darkness, but the 15th-ranked Florida State men’s golf team remains firmly in the mix after two rounds at the Hamptons Intercollegiate in East Hampton, N.Y.

🔥 Leaderboard Snapshot

  • FSU: 5th place at +4 (580) after two rounds

  • Leader: No. 21 Georgia (-7, 558)

💪 Top Performers

  • Andrew McLauchlan: Surged on the back nine with five birdies, carding rounds of 72 and 70 to sit 8th overall (-2).

  • Jack Whaley: Three birdies in Round 2, finishing T-14 at +1 (145).

  • Patrick McCann: Closed strong with three straight birdies, T-21 at +2 (146).

  • Wilmer Edero & Jack Bigham: Both T-25 at +3 (147), with Bigham having one hole left in Round 2.

📅 Tuesday Tee Times (Round 3)
McLauchlan (7:50 AM) • McCann (8:00) • Edero (8:10) • Whaley (8:20) • Bigham (8:25) • Brewer (8:30)

🏀 Women’s Hoops Set for 13 National TV Appearances 🏀

Florida State women’s basketball will enjoy strong national visibility this season, with 13 televised games across four major networks — including 10 on the ACC Network.

🔥 Key Broadcast Highlights

  • Home on ACCN:
     🗓️ Nov. 16 vs. Indiana (5 PM)
     🗓️ Jan. 4 vs. Virginia (2 PM)
     🗓️ Jan. 25 vs. Georgia Tech (4 PM)
     🗓️ Feb. 22 vs. Stanford (2 PM)

  • On the Road (ACCN): Miami, Clemson, NC State, Louisville, Duke, and Wake Forest.

  • National Matchups:
     📺 at UConn (FS1, Nov. 9 – 4:30 PM)
     📺 vs. Florida (SEC Network, Nov. 20 – 6:30 PM)
     📺 vs. Georgia (ESPNU, Dec. 3 – 5 PM, ACC/SEC Challenge)

🏖️ FSU Beach Volleyball Sets Fall Slate, Eyes Big 12 Era 🏖️

Florida State Beach Volleyball has unveiled its 2025–26 fall schedule, featuring a mix of in-state matchups, national qualifiers, and the annual AVCA Pairs Championship — all part of the team’s buildup to its first season in the Big 12 Conference.

🔥 Fall Schedule Highlights

  • 🏐 Oct. 11–12: at Stetson (DeLand, FL)

  • 🏠 Oct. 18: Garnet & Gold Scrimmage (following Coach Brooke Niles’ Elite ID Camp)

  • 🌎 Oct. 25–26: East & West Coast Qualifiers (Tavares, FL / Huntington Beach, CA)

  • 🏆 Nov. 7–9: AVCA Pairs Championship (Huntsville, AL) — select FSU pairs to compete

💪 Program Outlook
Head Coach Brooke Niles, entering her 11th season as the NCAA’s all-time winningest coach, continues to set the standard. Under her leadership, the Noles have made the NCAA Tournament every year, including a quarterfinal run last May.

With three transfers and five freshmen joining the roster, Florida State begins its Big 12 journey this season alongside TCU, Arizona, Arizona State, Boise State, and South Carolina — aiming for that elusive first national title.

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⚾ Dual-Sport Athlete BJ Gibson Departs FSU Football for Baseball ⚾

Florida State sophomore BJ Gibson has officially left the football program to focus full-time on baseball, the university confirmed Monday. The news was first reported by Warchant’s Matt LaSerre.

🔥 From the Gridiron to the Diamond

  • Gibson, FSU’s backup punt returner, appeared in two games this season.

  • As a freshman receiver, he recorded two catches for 14 yards after working his way from scout team to the rotation.

  • On the diamond, Gibson played 21 games last spring, hitting .242 with 11 runs, 4 RBIs, and 4 stolen bases — showcasing elite speed and range in the outfield.

💡 Why It Matters
With his athleticism and quick bat speed, Gibson’s professional upside is considered higher in baseball, where he’ll now focus his full attention heading into the 2026 season.

🏀 FSU Men’s Hoops Hosts Top 2027–2028 Recruits During Miami Weekend 🏀

Florida State men’s basketball welcomed five standout visitors to Tallahassee over the weekend, showcasing its program and new coaching staff while leveraging the energy of Saturday’s Miami football matchup.

🔥 Key Visitors & Takeaways

  • 2028 PG Tai Bell (Mater Lakes Academy, FL)
     Son of former NBA guard Raja Bell and brother of Texas QB commit Dia Bell.
     ⭐ “I loved how the new staff mixes college and pro experience… they really made it feel like home.”
     Offered in May, Bell confirmed: “I will be back for sure.”

  • 2028 CG Nijaun Harris (St. Petersburg, FL)
     ⭐ “The staff was energetic and caring — everything was under control and intense in the best way.”
     Enjoyed the visit thoroughly: “The overall experience was great. I loved it.”

  • 2027 SG Martay Barnes (4⭐, The Academy of Central Florida)
     Ranked No. 42 nationally, No. 3 SG in his class.
     ⭐ “Loved the atmosphere — the staff is real, connected, and lets players play free. They show love every day.”

  • 2027 SF Carson Crawford (4⭐, Fleming Island, FL)
     ⭐ “Loved watching practice — they play fast and defend hard. The team is organized and team-oriented.”
     Ranked No. 64 overall, No. 17 at his position.

  • 2027 PF Griffin Starks (4⭐, Southeastern Prep, FL)
     ⭐ “The team bond and facilities stood out — great environment.”
     Ranked No. 83 overall, No. 13 PF in the class.

🎙️ Norvell Addresses Mistakes, Leadership & Response vs. Pitt 🎙️

Head coach Mike Norvell met with reporters Monday to unpack Florida State’s 28–22 loss to Miami and outline his vision for rebounding against Pitt. Now 3–2 overall and 0–2 in ACC play, the Seminoles are focused on cleaning up self-inflicted errors that have derailed back-to-back weeks.

🔥 Key Takeaways from Norvell’s Presser

  • Accountability First: “We’ve shown what we can be — but it comes down to applying it throughout a full game.”

  • On Turnovers & Penalties: Called them the biggest factors in both losses. “You’ve got to win those areas to beat good teams.”

  • On QB Tommy Castellanos: Praised his passion and leadership — “He cares. He’s emotional because he invests.” — but noted the need to control those emotions and trust his reads.

  • On Confidence: “I’m not worried about confidence… we’re disappointed, but not defeated. These guys believe.”

  • On Defense & Injuries: Confirmed cornerback Quindarrius Jones is out for the season after surgery. Urged younger DBs to “step up and seize the opportunity.”

  • Big Picture: “We’ve played three Top 25 teams. We’ve earned our record — but if we take care of us, we can beat anyone.”

💡 Why It Matters
Norvell struck a tone of belief and accountability — aiming to refocus the team before Saturday’s noon kickoff against Pitt, where execution and composure will determine whether FSU’s season stabilizes or spirals.

🎯 Recruits Praise FSU’s Fight Despite Miami Loss 🎯

Even with Saturday’s 28–22 loss to No. 3 Miami, Florida State’s biggest recruiting weekend of the year still yielded positive impressions among top targets — many of whom highlighted the team’s fourth-quarter surge and resilience.

🔥 Key Reactions from Top Prospects

  • Kaden Henderson (4⭐ LB, 2027): Praised FSU’s defensive effort and late-game fight — “If they had a couple more plays, they definitely could’ve won.” Said the loss “doesn’t affect” his recruitment, with FSU still near the top of his list.

  • Corbyn Fordham (3⭐ TE, FSU commit): Attended his first game since flipping from Ohio State — “It was great seeing the tight ends used in different positions.” Said he’s recruiting fellow TE Heze Kent: “That would be a great addition to the room.”

  • Kaiden Hall (4⭐ S, Florida commit): Noted FSU’s “fight and culture” — “Coming back from 28–3 shows a lot about their team.” While still committed to Florida, he didn’t rule out a future official visit to Tallahassee.

  • Kam Wilson (3⭐ EDGE, Syracuse commit): “Great fight, great atmosphere. Playing in here would be a blessing.” Plans to return for an official visit soon.

💡 Why It Matters
While the result on the scoreboard wasn’t what FSU hoped for, the message of culture and competitiveness still resonated with visitors — key momentum as Norvell’s staff works to steady both the roster and recruiting narrative ahead of Pitt.

And that’s a wrap!

That’s a wrap for today’s Chief Brief — a reminder that great programs aren’t defined by bad weeks, but by how they respond to them.
From the greens of East Hampton to the grit of Doak, the Noles are still fighting to prove their story’s far from finished.

Stay locked in. Stay unconquered.
— The Chief

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