TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WCTV) – College football looks more like its big brother the NFL with each passing season, now with the advent of contracts and direct compensation it\u2019s closer than ever, after a comprehensive assessment of the Florida State football program one thing became clear to athletic director Michael Alford and head coach Mike Norvell. It\u2019s too big a job for the way things have always been.<\/p>\n
\u201cA head coach not only coaches the team but what he has to deal with with contracts and putting rosters together in the portal,\u201d stated Alford about the current realities of running a major college football program. <\/p>\n
\u201cWe need more assistance.\u201d<\/p>\n
Enter the creation of a front office and the hiring of General Manager John Garrett. The former FSU Director of Scouting returning to Tallahassee after a two year stint as GM for Manny Diaz and the Duke Blue Devils, creating a collaborative structure in recruiting where Norvell\u2019s coaches makes the list and Garrett\u2019s staff buys the groceries.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey\u2019re responsible for those areas and to evaluate them through watching tape, talking to their high school coaches, getting their transcript, evaluating them from an intangible standpoint,\u201d said Garrett of the role Norvell\u2019s staff will play in the evaluation and acquisition processes. \u201cOnce they gather all that information if they believe they\u2019re a serious candidate for Florida State, they\u2019re passed on.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI thought this was an absolute necessity to take our personnel department and the focus of what we\u2019re doing in today\u2019s age of college football,\u201d said Norvell of restructuring his football program. \u201cMaking sure that the guys we\u2019re bringing in, it\u2019s an aligned vision.\u201d<\/p>\n
And while Garrett reports directly to Alford, the process will be full of checks and balances with final say over Norvell\u2019s program coming from the man himself.<\/p>\n
\u201cCoach Norvell has HC {Head Coach}, next to his name,\u201d quipped Garrett. \u201cWe\u2019re all here to make sure we make the best decision for Florida State University football under his guidance.\u201d<\/p>\n
With Seminole football hoping it\u2019s found the playbook for the future and not another false start.<\/p>\n
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