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Florida State athletic director Michael Alford updates fans, Seminole Boosters
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- Florida State athletic director Michael Alford updates fans, Seminole Boosters
Florida State Athletic Director Michael Alford and Seminole Boosters CEO Stephen Ponder hosted a town hall to update boosters on multiple topics including Doak Campbell Stadium renovation, NIL and the 2024 football season .
The virtual meeting specifically designed for booster members is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday.
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Doak Campbell is currently undergoing a multi-million dollar reconstruction to provide a better "fan experience." Seating capacity for the stadium reduced from 79,560 to a 55,000 sell-out capacity this season as construction continues in an effort to have the stadium ready for FSU's season opener vs. Alabama in 2025.
The Seminoles sit at 1-9 and are currently having one of the worst seasons in program history, just a year after winning an ACC title and going 13-1.
FSU recently fired three coaches : defensive coordinator Adam Fuller , offensive coordinator Alex Atkins and wide receivers coach Ron Dugans.
Alford wants FSU football at the "top" every season
Alford was asked about his vision for the future of FSU football and what he wants that to look like.
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"We want Florida State football to be at the top on a perennial basis."
He said the investment into the programs across the board will continue and that the investment into FSU is to make it the very best in college athletics. Alford said that the school will continue to look for different revenue streams and ways to maximize contributions.
Alford said he is very excited about the future of FSU and its athletics programs and that FSU will continue to fund its programs at a "championship level."
Alford said the search for new football coaches has already started
Alford said the interest in the open caching roles at FSU is "overwhelming" and that prominent names are reaching out and believe FSU will be "back."
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"The amount of interest to be a part of this program and part of this university and community has been overwhelming," Alford said. "Especially by the type of people and the resumes that they bring with them to be a part of this program. It speaks to the tradition of Florida State, it speaks to what our donor base has been able to do."
Alford said the decision to make the firings when Norvell did was with the student athlete's best interest in mind. He said that the people interested in taking roles on Norvell's staff will help FSU get back to the top.
"We will fix it," Alford talks 2024 football season
"None of us one anticipated, two are very happy about where we are," Alford said. "But we are where we are, so more importantly what are we doing to address it?"
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Alford said he and head coach Mike Norvell talk weekly and have an open, candid relationship where they discuss how to move forward and make sure this season doesn't happen again.
He wouldn't get into specifics of what led to this season's struggles and the plan for what's next but he said he and Norvell have a good relationship and will "fix it."
"We all want Florida State to be the very best to compete for National Championships," Alford said.
Alford says the House settlement will allow FSU to provide more scholarships to athletes
The House vs. NCAA Settlement case, is a court case that has approved NCAA institutions to pay student-athletes directly.
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Alford said that the agreement will cap the amount of money that can be spent on athletes, and he plans to meet with the Cowboys to discuss how to operate with the cap. With scholarship limits being lifted and turned into roster limits, Alford said the ability to pay directly gives FSU more opportunity to fund student-athletes in Olympic sports with full scholarships so they can graduate debt-free and have free schooling.
He said things will operate like the NFL. Alford said that everyone will be on a level playing field.
"We've got a revenue problem," Alford provides a brief update on FSU vs. ACC lawsuit
Alford said that the lawsuit brought forward against the ACC is about revenue and wanting to compete with other elite programs in the country.
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He said FSU is a national brand and few schools in the country compete at the level the Seminoles do across the board in athletics. Alford said the conference media agreement isn't at the level as other conferences, and that places like the SEC and BIG10 can go back to the market and renegotiate deals before the Seminoles can.
Alford said he wants to fund programs like soccer and softball more so they can "compete for national championships." He said that FSU wants to find different revenue models so FSU can compete at an elite level and attract the best student-athletes.
Alford said FSU is behind SEC, BIG10 in generating revenue from stadium
Alford said the renovations to Doak Campbell Stadium allow FSU to increase its revenue generated from the stadium.
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He said that FSU is about $13 million behind the average SEC school, he mentioned Mississippi State as an example, and about $9 million behind the BIG10 in generating revenue from the school's venues and stadiums.
Alford said he wants to provide best-in-class amenities and experiences for fans, especially those who travel to Leon County for a weekend during football season.
Alford gives an update on the athletics framework
Ponder and Alford began the meeting with a message on the purpose of this evening's meeting.
Ponder said he wants to take boosters "under the hood" of what's going on and to answer some pressing questions. Alford starts his remarks with a thank you to boosters and supporters.
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Alford says outside of media contracts that boosters are the biggest providers of revenue, accounting for about 35% of the athletics revenue. He said that FSU is looking to grow and expand its current assets.
"In order for us to compete at an elite level, which we all want to compete at an elite level we need to continue to look at growing what we currently have and how do we enhance our current revenue streams, make the fan experience better and provide different opportunities for our donors and our multimedia rights holders, our sponsors to partner with us," Alford said.
Alford said Doak is going to be able to be used for events outside of football multiple times a year for things like concerts and motocross. He said he wants to bring more people to Tallahassee.
The meeting is set to start at 6:30 p.m.
The Seminole Boosters video call will begin at approximately 6:30 p.m.
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Updates on stadium renovations, NIL, House vs. NCAA settlement case and the 2024 FSU football season are all expected.
Boosters will ask questions to both Alford and Ponder during the call.
Liam Rooney covers Florida State athletics for the Tallahassee Democrat. Contact him via email at LRooney@gannett.com or on Twitter @__liamrooney
This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: FSU AD Michael Alford speaks to fans at Seminole Boosters town hall
