Firings at FSU
FSU Athletic Director Fired After Bad Start to Football Season
After a disappointing last couple of years for Florida State University (FSU) football, they have decided to make some changes and fire their athletic director Michael Alford. This happened on Sept. 14, a week after FSU’s tough loss to the SMU Mustangs on Sept. 7.
FSU has struggled heavily ever since their undefeated 13-0 season in 2023. Since then, they have gone 2-10 in 2024, 5-7 in 2025 and have started 2026 off as 1-1 after a close win against the New Mexico Lobos and a disappointing loss against the Mustangs. Due to these performances, FSU head coach Mike Norvell is on the hottest seat in all of college football. A few years ago, Norvell was one of the best coaches in the nation, as he coached FSU to a 13-0 season. After said season, Alford gave him an $84 million, 8 year extension to his contract, which has now backfired. The contract now has to be bought out for a record high $51 million in order for Norvell to be out as coach.
“Alford convinced the president and board of trustees that not only did Norvell deserve a big raise — a year after getting another raise that doubled his salary to $8 million annually,” writer Matt Hayes said. “FSU also needed to be liable for a massive buyout in the process.”
The allocation of NIL to players was another big reason why Alford was let go. This new era of college football comes with players having a hefty price tag, and FSU has been a historically good team when it comes to money. Therefore, FSU should be getting top end recruits; however, the opposite is true. The money given to Texas Longhorn transfer running back Quintrevion Wisner proved to be a major problem. The Seminoles paid him $650,000 to come to Tallahassee; however, he has barely seen the field, and recorded zero snaps played against SMU.
“Alford came to Florida State in 2020 to lead its fundraising arm, Seminole Boosters,” writer Andrea Adelson said. “A year later, he was hired as athletic director at a time when Florida State faced looming financial shortfalls and had a football program that had underachieved.”
With the firing of Alford, FSU fans are hoping to have a brighter future for their football program. The outrage was started by a lack of wins, so if the Seminoles can win again, they might just be able to restore their image as one of the most prestigious programs in the nation.
Comments