FSU football: How many Nole fans are fully committed to the program?

How committed are you as an FSU football fan?

I’ve spent a lot of time pointing out the issues with FSU football over the past couple of weeks. I’ve placed blame on the last two coaching staffs for their failure to recruit and develop talent.

There’s plenty of blame to go around, and the FSU administration isn’t without fault either. They took the consistent success Bobby Bowden achieved for granted and failed to keep up with the times.

It’s one thing Jimbo Fisher rightfully had a gripe with during his time in Tallahassee. I’m not excusing him for his part in not understanding how to explain why money is needed for certain things.

However, the FSU administration failed when it came to planning for the future. The best way I can describe it is by giving an employee one percent raise every year and not accounting for yearly inflation(other elite programs increasing their budgets and giving every year).

FSU boosters have seen a giving increase over the past decade. The boosters received nearly 26 million in gift commitments in 2013. That number increased to 47.1 million in 2018 and 64.4 million in 2019, according to a report from the Tallahassee Democrat.

Thankfully, the FSU booster program is under the same umbrella as the athletics department now.

From The Democrat:

"Hulen stated that FSU has 362,000 alumni and that 50% of them are under the age of 45. Getting the younger generation of alumni to support is a key for the athletic department and Seminoles Boosters to build up its overall support and endowment like other major programs across the country that have a 50-plus year head start."

Remember when FSU football used to be one of the most feared programs in the nation? More alumni becoming boosters is one way to make that happen again.

Parting Thoughts

I understand the COVID-19 pandemic has made it tougher for families to make ends meet, and donating money is the last thing folks are thinking about. However, if FSU football is going to return to elite status, this is one area where FSU football fans are going to have to sacrifice.

The whining and crying I see from fans on Twitter, FSU Facebook Group, and our own Facebook page are almost unbearable. Fans are expecting players to sacrifice and be committed to the process, but I have to pose the question to FSU fans that are not Seminole Boosters.

If you are an FSU football fan and not a booster, how committed are you to the process? I can tell you who is ALL IN, that team up the road that wears orange, and their head coach is about as smart as a wall of sheetrock.

FSU football is never going to eclipse Clemson while trying to count every penny in the budget. If you’re not a booster and you care about FSU football, I suggest becoming one here for just $70. If you can contribute more, by all means do so, but of course, only spend what you can afford.

It’s no different than making a difference with your vote politically.

Some people won’t vote because they don’t believe it makes a difference, and the same goes for becoming a donor. However, if an additional 14,500 alumni donate the minimum of $70, that’s over one million dollars that could help the program.

If you are in a position where you can’t afford to do so right now, the next best thing is sending this article to another FSU football fan who may be able to afford to commit.