This article was written by Gus Wilson and published in Sports and Countryis a new media company founded by Clay Travis based on sports, culture, original voices and live conversation.** ** ** **
Florida State University President Richard McCullough Send a letter seminoles Fans on Tuesday addressed the state of the athletic department amid another disappointing football season.
After a 7-17 start in 2024 and 2025, McCullough acknowledged the program’s frustrations and reiterated that FSU remains committed to “lasting success at FSU.”
Florida President Richard McCullough: “We’re not asking you to ignore the results. We’re committed to changing them. We’re not asking you to believe everything is fine. We know it’s not.” https://t.co/tqUyYIFmUM
— Brett McMurphy (@Brett_McMurphy) October 27, 2026
“We are not asking you to lower your expectations. We are simply telling you that we share and embrace them,” McCullough wrote. “We’re not asking you to ignore the results. We’re committed to changing them.”
“We’re not asking you to believe everything is fine. We know it’s not.”
As a Florida State University alum and Seminoles fan, I took away one important takeaway from this letter: This is a huge burger.
Many people admit that things are not good enough. There’s a promise that Florida State understands the problem. And there are assurances a plan is in the works.
But there aren’t any practical answers yet as to how Florida plans to address the issue.
AD search hasn’t started yet
The most concerning part of McCullough’s letter is his update on the search for FSU’s next athletic director.
“We will soon be able to begin the search for a new athletic director.”
start.
Florida State fires athletic director Michael Alford September 14, and announced interim AD Bruce Warwick will lead the department “while a nationwide search is conducted for a permanent successor.”
That was 43 days ago.
A nationwide search has not yet begun.
McCullough explained that the school spent the past six weeks evaluating the structure of the athletic department and determining the roles, responsibilities and expectations of the next athletic director.
There may be legitimate reasons for doing this job, but it’s also an athletic department that’s in dire need of guidance right now.
When Alford was fired, I wrote a column explaining what Florida State’s next athletic director would need to accomplish, specifically when it came to fixing the football program.
The assumption at the time was that FSU would identify the person responsible for making these decisions in the coming weeks.
Instead, more than six weeks later, the school is still preparing to begin a search for that person.
That’s important because the biggest decision facing Florida State athletics isn’t waiting.
What will happen to McNorwell?
McNorwell Shouldn’t be the head coach at Florida State next season.
This is my opinion, but the results hardly require much explanation.
Norwell is 10-21 since winning the ACC title in 2023. Florida State went 5-7 in 2025 after going 2-10 in 2024 and is currently 3-4 in 2026.
FSU remains winless on the road after a wild double overtime loss to No. 3 Miami 😬
The Seminoles’ last road win was on November 25, 2023 against Florida. https://t.co/dQT9JD2eUQ
— Yahoo Sports (@YahooSports) October 18, 2026
Yet Norvell’s name did not appear once in McCullough’s letter.
Earlier this month, ESPN Pete Thamel Reports say Florida State’s athletic leadership issues must be addressed because the university determines Norvell’s future. Now, with the regular season about a month away, Florida State doesn’t have a permanent athletic director or even an active national search for one.
That leaves one obvious question: Who should make one of the most important football decisions Florida has faced in years?
Things get more complicated when you follow money.
Florida has funding problems
Florida cannot simply throw money at every problem right now.
According to Sports Business Journal, the athletic department is saddled with more than $430 million in debt, much of it related to facilities projects and backed by revenue bonds.
Florida State has more than $430 million in debt, complicating a potential $68 million breakup with football coach Mike Norvell and his staff.
Much of the debt is tied to financing, making it difficult for FSU to take on more debt.
via @espn | https://t.co/tXYxSIPO7M
— Sports Business Journal (@SBJ) October 12, 2026
Leaving Norwell will incur another huge expense. His personal buyout is reportedly about $47 million, and the total cost of firing Norvell and his staff could be closer to $68 million.
That doesn’t mean Florida is actually bankrupt.
Much of the debt relates to major investments, such as renovations Doc Campbell Stadium and the Football Operations Center. But it does mean the university is taking on a major financial commitment while trying to repair its football program, hire an athletic director and compete in a college athletics program that needs more funding than ever before.
These are exactly the kinds of issues a strong athletic director should help address.
Florida doesn’t have one yet.
Now do you want fans to pack Doc?
After explaining that the school is still implementing its plans, McCullough ended his letter by asking fans to keep showing up.
“What we are asking now is that you stand firm in support of our current student-athletes. Show them your support,” he wrote. “For the remainder of the season, bring Doc Campbell with you and bring your energy and enthusiasm to support our team every game. Our players show tremendous commitment and effort every day, and they deserve your continued support on and off the field.”
He was right about one thing. The players deserve support. They are not responsible for Florida’s leadership problems. They didn’t hand out contracts, form an athletic department or decide when to begin the search for their next leader.
But fans deserve more than being told to keep filling stadiums while those running the university are asked to be patient. Florida State fans watch 13-0 game ACC The championship team fell into a losing streak, starting with 3 wins and 4 losses.
They watched the athletic director get fired.
They have spent the past six weeks waiting to see who will replace him.
On Tuesday, they were essentially told Florida State would begin its search soon.
McCullough said Florida State understands the gravity of this moment.
OK Just do it now.
Because right now, Florida doesn’t look like it has a plan to act urgently to fix its problems. It looks like people are still deciding how to get started. For a university that talks repeatedly about competing for championships and operating at the highest level of college sports, that’s not serious enough.