In a quiet conference room, the air was thick with anticipation as Michael Alford and Mike Norvell settled into their seats. The walls, adorned with team memorabilia, served as a reminder of the stakes at hand.
Michael, the athletic director, leaned forward, his fingers interlaced. “Mike, we need to talk about the direction of the program. The fans are restless, and we can’t afford another season like last year.”
Mike nodded, his brow furrowed. He was aware of the pressures mounting on him. “I understand. We’ve got talent, but injuries and inconsistency plagued us. We need to find a way to harness that potential.”
Michael sighed, looking out the window at the practice fields where players were already sweating through drills. “We need to sell hope, not just results. The fans want to believe in the future. Can you guarantee we’ll be competitive next season?”
“Guarantees are hard in this game,” Mike replied, his voice steady. “But I believe with the right recruiting and some adjustments on the field, we can turn things around. We need to engage the community more too. It’s about building a culture, not just a team.”
Michael considered this, tapping his pen on the table. “What about the staff? Are there changes you think we should make?”
“Possibly,” Mike admitted. “I’ve been evaluating our coaching strategies. We need fresh perspectives and to strengthen our weaknesses, especially in the secondary.”
A pause hung in the air, thick with the weight of decisions yet to be made. Michael’s gaze sharpened. “We’re in this together, Mike. If we’re going to make these changes, we need to present a united front. The board is watching closely.”
“I get it,” Mike said, leaning back, the tension in his shoulders easing slightly. “But I need your support on this. We’ll take some heat, but it’s about the long game. We can’t just chase wins for the sake of wins.”
Michael nodded slowly, a plan forming in his mind. “Let’s set up a community outreach program, engage former players, and maybe even host some open practices. Let the fans feel involved in the process. It’ll buy us some time and faith.”
“Exactly,” Mike replied, his eyes brightening. “If they see us working hard and making changes, they’ll feel part of the journey. Let’s get to work.”
As they shook hands, a sense of determination filled the room. It was just a meeting, but it marked the beginning of a new chapter—one where hope could be kindled in the hearts of fans, players, and coaches alike. They had a long road ahead, but together, they were ready to embrace the challenge.
FSU football was looking to pull off the upset against the Duke Blue Devils in their Friday night matchup. The Seminoles failed to do that as they lost 23-16 to fall to 1-6 on the season and suffer their first-ever loss against Duke in their 23 meetings.
Brock Glenn made his second start of the season but did not make it to halftime as true freshman Luke Kromenhoek relieved him in the second quarter after Glenn committed turnovers on three straight plays, making the Seminoles the first team to do that this season.
The Blue Devils took advantage of the turnovers turning them into 17 points and taking a 17-6 lead into halftime.
Glenn wasn’t the only offensive player to struggle, as the wide receivers dropped several passes, and the offensive line failed to give either quarterback time to operate. The poor showing ruined an outstanding start for the defense.
The group forced five three-and-outs in the first half and held Duke to 62 yards and 1.9 yards per play in the first half. Duke quarterback Maalik Murphy finished the first half 5-of-13 for 32 yards as FSU broke up six of his passes.
FSU started the second half with a bang as freshman Samuel Singleton Jr. returned the opening kickoff 95 yards for a touchdown, making a 17-13 Duke lead. It was FSU’s first kick return touchdown since Deuce Spann returned one against Duke last season.