The countdown to kickoff against Alabama ticks down to just 18 days, and the Florida State Seminoles find themselves in a precarious position.
One might expect that by now, teams would be fully locked in and charging through their third week of fall camp with fierce determination. However, the atmosphere in Tallahassee is anything but settled.
In a recent press conference, Noles defensive coordinator Tony White delivered a candid assessment of his players that left no room for misinterpretation.
“There’s some guys who showed out, guys who are building the coaches’ trust and the confidence of their teammates,” White said. “And there’s some guys who, quite frankly, need to step their ass up. It’s unacceptable. We all need to make sure we’re all on the same page and we understand what’s asked of us and what the expectations are. And either guys do it or they don’t, and it’s not right if they don’t.”
Adding another level of urgency, Kalen DeBoer has officially named redshirt junior quarterback Ty Simpson as the starter for the season opener against FSU. If significant improvements aren’t made soon, it could spell disaster for the Seminoles as they approach Week 1.
White continued with pointed remarks.
“I never get upset when the ball beats you,” White said. “But if you’re not doing what you’re trained to do and you’re not playing your butt off, then that is unacceptable. That is not right … There’s just too much of that. We’ve got to eliminate that and move forward.”
With just weeks left before hosting Alabama at Doak Campbell Stadium, the Seminoles have little time to turn things around. Kickoff is set for 2:30 PM ET and will be broadcast live on ABC.
Lee Ann joins the Saturday Down South team, bringing over fifteen years of experience covering the SEC as both a sports journalist and football scout. With her keen eye for talent, she has also flexes her skills as the Director of Recruiting for the Rebel Walk( Ole Miss) Herring, is a staff writer at USA Today Sports Wildcats Wire, where she dives into the thrilling world of Kentucky football and basketball. When fall rolls around, you can catch her on air as an analyst for the Wake up 502 College Football Show on Big X Sports Radio 96.1 FM—because who doesn't love a good game day chat? A proud Brown University alum, Lee Ann balances her time between the sidelines and press box with her passion for coaching her boys' youth lacrosse and savoring a fine glass of bourbon alongside a good cigar. So, whether she's dissecting plays or rallying the next generation of athletes, Lee Ann is your spirited insider ready to tackle all things SEC!
