FSU head coach Mike Norvell closed practices to the media after the 2024 season, much to the chagrin of the local media. It has been debacle after debacle, mostly from the subscription sites that cover college football recruiting.
Not only that, but the narratives some at those outlets have tried to paint over the past few years haven’t done themselves any favors.
For whatever reason, they believe Mike Norvell owes them something, as their coverage will help, but Mike Norvell feels it’s the opposite, and they continue to prove him right.
Last week, a person from a site asked FSU running back Ousmane Kromah why he hadn't entered the transfer portal when it opened. Like, what? Why would you ask that of a player who never had any rumblings about potentially entering the portal?
This week, it was a person from another site putting words in the mouth of a local recruit who’s among the best nationally. Now other social media accounts are running with a fake headline where the guy took something out of context instead of using an actual quote:
After visiting Florida State’s practice today, 4 star CB prospect Izayah Vickers apparently said the practice was “essentially mediocre” 😭
— Recruits CFB (@recruits_cfb) March 24, 2026
Obviously that’s not something you want to hear from your top prospect at cornerback for the 2026 class… especially when he goes to… pic.twitter.com/oTUWHr2IAW
My son did not say that about a program he grew up loving. Period!! https://t.co/zl5pdYQL8h
— Ronald Vickers (@RonaldV93781539) March 25, 2026
I'm not one to tell folks how to spend their money, but paying these sites when it's the national guys who break all the real news seems like a waste. Give that money to FSU baseball, soccer, softball, or some sport that could use it until football figures it out if you don't want to give to them.
The guy eventually took down the post on the subscription website, but it wasn't until other social media accounts started spreading what he wrote that damage was done.
The staff has been 7-17 over the past two years and is constantly criticized for not recruiting good enough talent from the high school ranks. However, instances of these recruiting sites interviewing these high school players and taking things out of context definitely don't help FSU at all.
I've been preaching for a while that these sites only care about subscriptions and making money. They manipulate recruiting rankings and form narratives that they know will drive traffic. The latter has gotten worse since their access was cut after the 2024 season.
Then they wonder why they don't have access.