FSU president tells frustrated fans 'we know it isn't' fine without naming Norvell

Florida State president Richard McCullough wrote an open letter to fans Tuesday saying he understands their frustration with the football program and the athletic department. He did not mention coach Mike Norvell by name.

"We are not asking you to ignore the results. We are committed to changing them," McCullough wrote. "And we are not asking you to believe that everything is fine. We know it isn't."

The letter is mostly about the athletic director job. Florida State fired AD Michael Alford last month, and McCullough said the school has been evaluating "every aspect" of the athletics organization since, including what it wants from the next AD. He said that work is nearly done and the search will begin "soon." ESPN's Pete Thamel read it as the president acknowledging the school is moving slowly.

What the letter leaves out is the part fans keep asking about. Since winning the ACC title in 2023, Norvell is 10-21. McCullough announced at the end of last season that Norvell would return for 2026 with a restructured personnel department and more resources. The Seminoles are 3-4 this year, and fans have grown angrier about what they see as the administration waiting on the football decision.

McCullough set the bar in plain terms. "Florida State should compete for championships, develop exceptional student athletes, attract outstanding coaches and personnel, and operate with the resources, leadership, and commitment necessary to succeed at the highest level of college athletics," he wrote. "That standard is not negotiable."

He called this a "consequential moment" for the school and asked fans to stay behind the current players.

So the president admits it isn't fine, says the standard is championships, and still won't say the coach's name. The order of operations seems to be AD first, then everything else. Whether fans accept that wait probably depends on the rest of this season.

What's next: Florida State hosts Clemson on Saturday at 7 p.m. ET on ACC Network. Clemson comes in with three losses, and Dabo Swinney said Tuesday he still believes in his team.