Tag: Florida State Seminoles

Florida State follows suit, shuts door on SEC rumors

On Monday rumors circulated on Twitter that Clemson and Florida State reached out to the SEC about potentially joining the conference. But a Clemson spokesperson quickly shot it down saying there was “no truth” to the rumor and Florida State …

On Monday rumors circulated on Twitter that Clemson and Florida State reached out to the SEC about potentially joining the conference.

But a Clemson spokesperson quickly shot it down saying there was “no truth” to the rumor and Florida State president John Thrasher followed suit on Tuesday.

“I want to be clear that persistent reports that Florida State has been in contact with the Southeastern Conference are untrue,” Thrasher said in a press release. “We have had no communication with the SEC or any representatives of the SEC.”

The rumor began circulating after a tweet from Marc Ryan of ESPN Upstate claimed the two schools reached out to the SEC but that the conference was apprehensive because of the markets.

Time to get the latest Clemson apparel to show your Tiger pride. Order your officially licensed Clemson gear right here!

Penn State in top four for Class of 2023 four-star tight end

Penn State is in the top four for a coveted four-star tight end in the Class of 2023

Penn State is closing in on signing its top-rated recruiting class under James Franklin with an impressive Class of 2022 haul. But the work on the 2023 class is already underway for the Nittany Lions. Already with one recruit on the board for the next recruiting cycle, Penn State is officially in stiff competition for one of its top tight end targets for the Class of 2023.

Ty Lockwood, a four-star tight end from Tennessee, recently announced his top four as his recruiting process continues. Penn State was among those in Lockwood’s top four, and it looks like Penn State will have some serious competition to work against.

As shared by Chad Simmons of On3 Sports, via Twitter, Lockwood has listed Penn State, Ohio State, Florida State, and South Carolina in his top four.

while we do not know when Lockwood is expected to make his decision, this will certainly be one to keep a close eye on.

Lockwood recently made an unofficial visit to Florida State as power conference offers continue to come in for the Tennessee native. It was reportedly the first visit he has taken, and no official visits are currently reported. Penn State extended its offer last November.

[lawrence-related id=4959,5091,4597,4005]

Follow Nittany Lions Wire on Twitter and like us on Facebook for continuing Penn State coverage and discussion.

[vertical-gallery id=3264]

[listicle id=5108]

Tension unresolved between Norvell, Swinney

CHARLOTTE, N.C. – After Florida State decided to cancel its matchup with Clemson in Tallahassee on November 21 last year things got heated. Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney felt Florida State forfeited the contest with the last-minute cancellation …

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — After Florida State decided to cancel its matchup with Clemson in Tallahassee on November 21 last year things got heated.

Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney felt Florida State forfeited the contest with the last-minute cancellation three hours before kickoff as the Tigers prepared to leave the hotel and head over to Doak Campbell Stadium.

“I don’t give a crap what they say. I know what the facts are,” Swinney said. “I know what the standard of play is. I know why the rosters were expanded to eighty because we anticipated positives on Friday.”

Seminoles head coach Mike Norvell was asked Thursday at the ACC Kickoff if he and Swinney had talked things out since the statements last November and the issue has not been addressed despite participation from both at the spring meetings.

“At the end of the day there is really nothing to work out, coaches can make statements and that’s an opportunity we all have,” Norvell said. “For me everybody is entitled to an opinion of what they want to state and I’m going to stay focused on what we are doing and what we are all about here at Florida State.”

Norvell said his team doesn’t need any extra motivation when they head to Death Valley on Oct. 30 this season. And his priority is restoring Florida State to its historic standard in college football. He also harped on the difficulty of finishing the season with three of their last four games being cancelled.

“The last month of the season was one of the hardest I’ve ever experienced as a coach or as a player. There is so much investment that goes into playing a game in the offseason and the work that goes in every week,” Norvell said. “Three of our last four games were cancelled and that’s something I hope I never have to experience again but you appreciate every day.”

Florida State quarterback Jordan Travis who started the majority of the season for the Seminoles last season was bothered by Swinney’s comments.

“Of course, everybody has there own opinion and they can say what they want but it doesn’t bother me much but if we were playing an NFL team and the game was cancelled I would’ve been upset,” Travis said.

Time to get the latest Clemson apparel to show your Tiger pride. Order your officially licensed Clemson gear right here!

Alabama football’s all-time record against the ACC

Alabama is plenty familiar with playing teams from the ACC. But what is the Tide’s record against each team? Find out here.

The Alabama football program has history in just about everyway imaginable. National titles, top recruits, NFL draft picks, the list could go on and on. Every school that’s come across the Crimson Tide on a football field remembers it too.

In most cases, Alabama has gotten the better of the opposing teams, especially those from other conferences. But that isn’t always the case, as you’re about to find out.

Roll Tide Wire is going through a series of looking at the Crimson Tide’s record against teams in each of the Power Five conferences, starting with the ACC. Overall, a ton of success, but there may be a few unlikely overall records that might surprise you.

At least you’ll now have this information in case any of your friends were wondering.

Penn State padding depth with transfer from Florida State

A former Florida State cornerback is reportedly heading to Happy Valley to add to the depth of the defensive secondary.

After a rocky experience at Florida State, cornerback AJ Lytton appears set to take the opportunity for a fresh start at Penn State. According to a report from 247 Sports on Tuesday evening, Lytton will enroll in classes at Penn State next week and officially join the program at that time.

Lytton was a four-star recruit in the Class of 2018 for the Seminoles. He was originally recruited to Tallahassee by former Florid State head coach Willie Taggart. He chose Florida State over offers from many top programs, including Alabama, Georgia, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Michigan, and even Penn State. Lytton, a native of Maryland, never made a visit to Penn State while being recruited out of high school, however.

Oct 27, 2018; Tallahassee, FL, USA; Clemson Tigers wide receiver Tee Higgins (5) is defended by Florida State Seminoles defensive back AJ Lytton (12) during the second half at Doak Campbell Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Melina Myers-USA TODAY Sports

Lytton appeared in 12 games for Florida State during the 2019 season and 10 games in 2018 as a true freshman. Between the two seasons as mostly a reserve (one start in 2019), Lytton recorded 28 tackles and 2.0 tackles for a loss with one interception and one forced fumble.

Lytton left the Florida State program in February 2020 and continued at a community college while taking the time to evaluate his options. A pandemic in 2020 may have led to Lytton letting the process play out a little longer than usual. At the time Lytton left the Florida State program, Taggart had been removed as head coach and Mike Norvell of Memphis had been hired. The transition for Norvell was a bit rocky for some players, perhaps including Lytton.

But sometimes all you need is a fresh start and a new opportunity. If Penn State can take advantage of a player ready to make up for some lost time, then they may have picked up quite the transfer prize. But the secondary is far from Penn State’s biggest issue on the roster in 2021. James Franklin has spoken at length about the quality depth Penn State appears to have in the defensive secondary.

The addition of Lytton appears to cement the depth as a strong suit for the upcoming season. But Lytton has two years of eligibility remaining, so his transfer addition would help solidify the position more in 2022 as well, with Kalen King and Joey Porter Jr. among the possible options to start at cornerback in 2022.

Follow Nittany Lions Wire on Twitter and like us on Facebook for continuing Penn State coverage and discussion.

[vertical-gallery id=3908]

[listicle id=293]

[lawrence-related id=3906,3726,3656,3545,3057]

Penn State’s all-time records against every ACC member

Penn State has a long and storied history with a number of teams from the ACC, although the vast majority of that history took place before many of those schools ever joined the conference. Realignment changes over the years have given Penn State …

Penn State has a long and storied history with a number of teams from the ACC, although the vast majority of that history took place before many of those schools ever joined the conference. Realignment changes over the years have given Penn State quite a history against the ACC’s membership without having too many experiences against the conference itself.

The ACC is home to many of Penn State’s longtime regional rivals such as Pittsburgh and Syracuse. It is also home to one of the teams that was the victim of Penn State’s second national championship, the Miami Hurricanes. Penn State and Boston College also have a little bit of history. With the ACC gobbling up many of the teams from the Big East, it seems fitting that Penn State would have the most history against the ACC today. Some Penn State fans would even prefer the Nittany Lions to be an ACC member instead of the Big Ten, but don’t hold your breath on Penn State leaving behind the Big Ten for a chance to join the ACC.

Here is a look at Penn State’s all-time records against each current member of the ACC. That includes schools like Pittsburgh, Syracuse, Boston College, and Miami despite the majority of games played against those schools were played prior to their joining the ACC. Games played against longtime ACC member Maryland have been included in Penn State’s records vs. current Big Ten members.

All data referenced is credited to College Football Reference. Rankings referenced are AP Top 25 where available.

If you want more, check out Penn State’s all-time records against current members of the Big Ten, Big 12, Pac-12, and SEC.

Note: Penn State has never faced Duke or Virginia Tech.

Follow Nittany Lions Wire on Twitter and like us on Facebook for continuing Penn State coverage and discussion. 

When, where, how to watch Oklahoma softball take on Florida State in decisive Game 3 of WCWS Finals

Everything you need to know for when No. 1 Oklahoma takes on No. 10 Florida State in the decisive Game 3 of the WCWS Finals on Thursday.

After Wednesday night’s late-inning comeback win, No. 1 Oklahoma (55-4) has moved one win away from its ultimate goal: a fifth national title. An entire season comes to down to one game on the sport’s biggest stage at Hall of Fame Stadium in the Women’s College World Series.

Awaiting them is No. 10 Florida State (49-12-1), which has put together an incredible run in their own right, but was denied a championship in its first attempt on Wednesday. How it rebounds will be a fascinating sight to see in what will once again be a heavily Oklahoma crowd.

At this point, with one game remaining in the season, both teams are going to leave absolutely everything on the field in the pursuit of immortality. It can be safely assumed every player is available as these teams try to finish their season with a win.

This has been an historic WCWS with attendance and viewership records to go along with epic games and moments. It seems only fitting these two great teams give fans one more show on Thursday with everything on the line. Buckle up, this one is going to be fun.

For this decisive, national-championship-deciding game, here is everything you need to know:

WHEN: 2 p.m. CT

WHERE: Oklahoma City, Oklahoma (Hall of Fame Stadium)

HOW TO WATCH: ESPN

HOW TO LISTEN: Sooner Sports Radio Network – 107.7 FM The Franchise in Oklahoma City; KTBZ 1430 AM in Tulsa; Tune In Radio App

ADDITIONAL RADIO: SiriusXM channel 84 and Westwood One Sports Radio

No. 1 Oklahoma comes alive late to defeat No. 10 Florida State 6-2, forces decisive Game 3

No. 1 Oklahoma softball came alive in the late innings to best No. 10 Florida State 6-2 and force a decisive Game 3 on Thursday.

No. 1 Oklahoma softball was back in a familiar situation at the Women’s College World Series on Wednesday night needing a win to keep their season alive when they faced No. 10 Florida State in Game 2 of the WCWS finals.

As she has done multiple times throughout play in Oklahoma City, head coach Patty Gasso turned to senior pitcher Giselle Juarez (22-1) to get the start in the circle and she was fantastic yet again after an early stumble tossing a complete game.

After the Sooners came up empty in the top of the first, the Seminoles would be the first team to strike on a two-run home run to left field off the bat of first baseman Elizabeth Mason. Florida State quickly held a 2-0 advantage and would take that into the third inning.

It was at that point that Oklahoma would get their first offense with third baseman Jana Johns crushing a ball way out to left field for a solo home run that sliced the deficit in half at 2-1.

That would remain the score all the way into the sixth inning when second baseman Tiare Jennings reached on error to open up the frame and bring up designated player Jocelyn Alo as the leading run at the plate. And then, well, she did what she does.

Alo blasted her 33rd home run of the season to push the Sooners to their first lead 3-2 in a truly legendary moment. The home run was also the 159th of the season for Oklahoma – an all-time record by homers from a team. It also brought them up to the 630 run mark as a team – which is also a new NCAA record.

Alo’s bomb seemingly took the lid off for Oklahoma’s offense, as they would go on to tack on two more runs in the frame on RBI hits from left fielder Mackenzie Donihoo and center fielder Jayda Coleman. Just like that, the Sooners led 5-2 late.

After Juarez pitched a clean bottom of the sixth, Oklahoma would add a little more insurance in the seventh on a sacrifice fly off the bat of right fielder Nicole Mendes that scored Alo. The Sooners took a 6-2 advantage into the final half inning.

From there, Juarez locked things down to give Oklahoma the victory and even up the series at 1-1 and force a winner-take-all game on Thursday afternoon. This was yet another fantastic display of resolve and refusal to go down by Gasso’s club.

The win moves the Sooners to 55-4 on the year and sets them just a single win away from their fifth national title in program history. This team remains incredibly resilient and truly never feels out of a game that they play. The offense was essentially non-existent until late in this one, but they were able to flip the switch late when they needed to do so. Not to mention Juarez, who was again tremendous.

Game 3 of the WCWS finals with everything on the line is set for Thursday afternoon at 2:00 p.m. CT in Oklahoma City.

Which rookie could be surprise gem for Chargers in 2021?

The Los Angeles Chargers have a rookie that could surpass expectations.

While expectations are set high for the Chargers’ early-round picks, there could be someone from the mid- late-rounds that ends up surprising in their rookie season.

Based on talent, upside, the right fit and a legitimate opportunity, Bleacher Report’s Kristopher Knox listed a first-year player who could end up being a surprise gem for each team in the league.

For Los Angeles, Knox listed third-round pick, tight end Tre’ McKitty as the team’s rookie who could surpass expectations.

The selection of McKitty was largely a traits-based pick, as he only had six receptions for 108 yards in 2020. However, McKitty is a 6’4″, 246-pound pass-catcher with 4.71 speed. Raw and unpolished as a route-runner, McKitty will be a rotational player early in his career. However, he can be a physical mismatch with big-play potential.

Expect McKitty to come on slowly as a rookie but develop into the type of vertical-threat tight end whom Los Angeles lost in Henry.

McKitty was drafted for his blocking skills, where he will have a role is an in-line blocker right off the bat. However, he has true potential to make an impact through the air than most realize.

He has the athleticism, ability to separate at the top of routes, a frame and great hands to reel in everything thrown his way along with impressive power and contact balance to gain yards after the catch.

For Georgia in 2020, McKitty only posted six receptions in four games, which marked a career-low. Before transferring, McKitty had 50 catches in three seasons at Florida State.

It might not be from the get-go that he gets pass-catching snaps since Jared Cook and Donald Parham are ahead of him on the depth chart, but don’t be surprised if McKitty carves up a role sooner than later.

NCAA Championship: Match play field, pairings set for 2021 men’s quarterfinals

Everything you need to know for the quarterfinals of the men’s NCAA Championship.

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — The men’s individual national champion has been crowned, which means one thing: it’s time for match play.

Clemson senior Turk Pettit won the individual national title at the 2021 NCAA Division I Men’s Golf Championship on Monday evening, signing for an even-par 70 to seal the deal at 7 under, one shot clear of 54-hole leader and Oklahoma State freshman Bo Jin.

Oklahoma State entered Monday’s final round of stroke play atop the leaderboard but fell back to second at even par for the week. Hosts Arizona State climbed from third to first to take the No. 1 seed at 3 under, followed by the Cowboys, Pepperdine (+5), Oklahoma (+10), Illinois (+14), Florida State (+16), Vanderbilt (+24) and North Carolina (+25).

Golfweek/Sagarin Rankings: Men’s team | Men’s individual

With the quarterfinals set to begin on Tuesday morning and the semifinals to follow, here’s a breakdown of the teams and matches competing for the team national championship (All Times Eastern).

[vertical-gallery id=778107230]