Remember last month when college football in Tallahassee was rah-rah fun?
The view was great from atop the world as Florida State and Florida A&M each clinched conference titles.
Coaches Mike Norvell at FSU and Willie Simmons at FAMU supported each other and commented how wonderful it was for the community when both programs are winning at high levels.
FSU and FAMU fans, with forever personal and intimate connections to their programs, proudly rallied behind their school colors.
Tallahassee, the City of Champions, never sounded sweeter.
During the span of 41 days, however, the business side of college football has reared its homely head in Tallahassee. While not a pleasant sight, fans have dealt with this part of the changing game, too.
Simmons is gone, departing for Duke as its running backs coach after six seasons and leading the Rattlers to a SWAC title and HBCU national championship.
FAMU’s coaching search hasn’t gone smoothly either as fans and players have voiced their displeasure with the process. Votes of “no confidence” from FAMU’s National Alumni Association on the proposed candidate to replace Simmons and the leadership of the university’s athletics director have led to further discord.
FSU fans haven’t had it easy either concerning the status of Norvell.
After days of frustrating silence, Norvell announced Friday on social media he was staying at FSU.
He reaffirmed his commitment to the Seminoles after being considered a candidate to replace retiring Nick Saban at Alabama. Norvell thanked FSU President Richard McCullough and Vice President Director of Athletics Michael Alford for their continued support on “our journey back to the top! The future is bright in Tallahassee.”
Further proving money grows on trees, Norvell’s expected to receive a new eight-year contract worth an average of more than $10 million per season. That’s a bump of more than $2 million annually, placing him among the country’s best-paid coaches in college football.
The exponentially growing cost of keeping a winning coach
Fans may take it personally, but Simmons and Norvell are like any other coaches when it comes to exploring opportunities.
And there are select coaches like this likable duo that are probably worth their weight in gold, even though the financial support of fans is required to help foot the bills.
Norvell has done a terrific job rebuilding the Seminoles, going 23-4 the past two years and winning the ACC this season. He took over a reeling FSU program and led it to the brink of the College Football Playoff in his fourth year. And FSU leadership continues to provide the money and resources to help Norvell be successful as the university also navigates a possible exit from the ACC.
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