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Florida State Fires Athletic Director Michael Alford

By Drooid · Sep 14, 2026, 11:25 PM UTC · How we work

Summary

FSU Fires AD

Florida State University fired athletic director Michael Alford on Monday.
President Richard McCullough praised coach Mike Norvell and urged the team to win.
Norvell’s buyout is $51 million if fired this season, $45.6 million after.
The Seminoles travel to Tuscaloosa to face Alabama as three-score underdogs in week 3.
FSU fell 27-24 to SMU, leaving the team 1-1 on the season.

Summary

Norvell Meets Flaherty

Coach Mike Norvell traveled to Port Charlotte on Sept. 11 to watch quarterback commit Logan Flaherty play.
Flaherty praised Norvell’s personal attention despite social-media criticism.
Norvell’s unusually long visit included meeting support staff.
Fans chanted “We want Jimbo” when former coach Jimbo Fisher returned as an ACC Network analyst.
Fisher reportedly would accept a $4 million-$5 million salary, far below typical $8-$10 million FSU coaching offers.

Summary

Alford Secures Funding

Alford oversaw $500 million+ facility upgrades, including Doak Campbell Stadium and the Dunlap Football Center.
FSU carried $437 million athletics-related debt for fiscal 2025, ranking among the nation’s highest.
Athletics revenue rose 31.5% since 2022, the department’s largest increase ever under Alford.
The ACC lawsuit Alford led settled in June 2025, reducing exit fees by $18 million annually through 2029-30.
Alford’s 2024 contract extension totals $6.7 million, with a $1.45 million base salary through 2028.

History

Historical Context

Rising college-football pay mirrors a wider surge in sports salaries, as seen in professional deals like the Kansas City Chiefs’ $504 million contract (2020-2033) and the New York Mets’ $765 million agreement (2025-2039). Texas A&M’s $3.4 billion endowment in 2024 illustrates the financial depth of Texas universities that can support such expenditures. The trend pressures other universities to manage multi-hundred-million-dollar facility projects and buyouts.

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FSU Fires AD

Florida State University fired athletic director Michael Alford on Monday.
President Richard McCullough praised coach Mike Norvell and urged the team to win.
Norvell’s buyout is $51 million if fired this season, $45.6 million after.
The Seminoles travel to Tuscaloosa to face Alabama as three-score underdogs in week 3.
FSU fell 27-24 to SMU, leaving the team 1-1 on the season.

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