{"id":393955,"date":"2026-09-08T19:28:15","date_gmt":"2026-09-08T19:28:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/393955\/"},"modified":"2026-09-08T19:28:15","modified_gmt":"2026-09-08T19:28:15","slug":"smu-trolls-fsu-football-after-27-24-win-in-tallahassee","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/393955\/","title":{"rendered":"SMU Trolls FSU Football After 27-24 Win In Tallahassee"},"content":{"rendered":"

Florida State\u2019s opportunity to make an early statement in the ACC slipped away Monday night as SMU escaped Doak Campbell Stadium with a 27-24 victory.<\/p>\n

The Mustangs left Tallahassee, Florida, while adding a little insult to injury after handing the Seminoles their first loss of the season.<\/p>\n

In the visiting locker room, SMU held a familiar celebration involving a sledgehammer, a slab, and a pointed barb from head coach Rhett Lashlee.<\/p>\n

SMU Adds Insult to Injury After Beating Florida State\"A<\/p>\n

A Florida State fan holds up a thumbs-down signal while yelling \u201cboo\u201d at Florida State Seminoles head coach Mike Norvell after the Seminoles lost to the SMU Mustangs on Monday, Sept. 7, 2026. | USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect<\/p>\n

Florida State has made breaking the rock a recognizable part of its postgame tradition after overcoming a tough opponent during the regular season under head coach Mike Norvell. Following a victory, a player is given a sledgehammer and the opportunity to destroy a slab painted with the opposing team\u2019s logo.<\/p>\n

SMU turned that familiar scene against the Seminoles following their late Labor Day victory over FSU.<\/p>\n

Their house. Our rock. Our tradition. pic.twitter.com\/1NlhzBzOUs<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 SMU Football (@SMUFB) September 8, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n

\u201cIt’s often imitated but never duplicated, and these dudes here, they duplicate our winning celebration,\u201d Lashlee said.<\/p>\n

The team gathered around Lashlee as he stood in the middle of the locker room and gave a speech, and SMU head strength and conditioning coach Shawn Griswold then stepped forward and used a sledgehammer to break a slab featuring Florida State\u2019s logo as the locker room erupted around him.<\/p>\n

The Mustangs made their message even clearer with their caption to the video posted on social media: <\/p>\n

\u201cTheir house. Our rock. Our tradition,\u201d SMU wrote.<\/p>\n

The Celebration Has Ties to Both Programs\"Florida<\/p>\n

Florida State football coach Mike Norvell coaches his players as they warm up after the game was delayed due to a power outage. The SMU Mustangs lead the Florida State Seminoles 17-10 at the end of the first half Monday, Sept. 7, 2026. | USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect<\/p>\n

Despite Lashlee’s jab, the two celebrations run through Arizona State, where Griswold led the sports-performance program, and Seminoles director of strength and conditioning Josh Storms served as his lead assistant. Norvell was also on Todd Graham\u2019s staff as the Sun Devils\u2019 offensive coordinator from 2012\u201315.<\/p>\n

After joining Norvell\u2019s inaugural staff at Florida State in December 2019, Storms helped bring the rock-breaking tradition to Tallahassee, Florida.<\/p>\n

The Mustangs\u2019 current version began after the Seminoles adopted theirs; both celebrations trace back to the three coaches’ time together at different stops throughout their careers.<\/p>\n

Griswold arrived at SMU in January 2022 and brought the same concept to SMU. The program now prepares a rock for each opponent and breaks it following a victory, much like Florida State does under Norvell.<\/p>\n

The connection between the two staffs gave SMU everything they needed to make Monday night\u2019s victory sting a little more.<\/p>\n

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