One Mike down, one to go. FSU begins house cleaning with AD firing | Opinion

Don’t go there. Don’t give the brilliant minds at Florida State credit for perfect timing.

Because absolutely nothing in years at FSU has been timed with any semblance of recognition or reason.

So don’t take the firing Monday of athletic director Mike Alford, days before the Alabama game, for anything other than it is: The house is being cleaned of all things Mike Norvell.

The first step is Alford, whose lone poor decision at FSU was a belief of what was being sold about Norvell, FSU’s then-hot coach after the 2023 regular season.

Alabama needed a coach, and Norvell was its top choice. Only he wasn’t.

In fact, Alabama athletic director Greg Byrne told me he never even spoke to Norvell.

But Alford convinced the president and board of trustees that not only did Norvell deserve a big raise — a year after getting another raise that doubled his salary to $8 million annually — FSU also needed to be liable for a massive buyout in the process.

Now here we are, one Mike down and one to go. And FSU on the hook for a $51 million buyout of Norvell — who never had interest from Alabama in the…

Original source: https://www.usatoday.com/sports/