Monday, February 27, 2017

Clemson's title and the bottom line

So on a one off, the ACC change the rules for Clemson here?  But not every year?  So, Clemson, you get the cash.....but hey, next year, FSU, you might not?

Sound kosher to anyone outside Clemson and Tobacco Road?

Clemson is RIGHT overall, it just shouldn't be for this 1 year.  It should be the case always and FSU has been making this fight for years.  Sadly, Clemson never seems to work with FSU to fix things permanently and here, only work to fix it just for themselves.

Standard ACC BS.


http://www.tigernet.com/story/football/Money-Ball-What-National-Championship-Clemsons-bottom-line-15665

Clemson made its second consecutive trip to the College Football Playoff this past season, and the Clemson Athletic Department took home a bigger share of this year’s College Football Playoff check to the ACC. The man that Clemson fans love to hate played an important role in Clemson’s monetary gain.We wrote last year that Clemson wound up with a deficit of more than $3 million after last season’s trip to the playoff. Factoring in the bonuses for the coaches and three expensive trips to Charlotte for the ACC Championship Game, to Miami for the Orange Bowl and Phoenix for the National Championship, Clemson had no way of even coming close to breaking even.Athletic Director Dan Radakovich was determined to chart a different course this season and turned to ACC Commissioner John Swofford for help.ESPN pays the College Football Playoff about $470 million a year for the media rights to the three playoff games and four other bowls, and most of the money is distributed to the 10 FBS conferences and schools.The following estimates of the CFP revenue distribution are based on preliminary calculations for the 2015-2016 season and are only approximate projections of potential revenue distribution from each component:(1) Each conference will receive $300,000 for each of its schools when the school’s football team meets the NCAA’s APR for participation in a post-season football game. Each independent institution will also receive the $300,000 when its football team meets that standard.(2) Each of the 10 conferences will also receive a base amount. For conferences that have contracts for their champions to participate in the Orange, Rose or Sugar Bowl, the base combined with the full academic performance pool will be approximately $51 million for each conference. The five conferences that do not have contracts for their champions to participate in the Orange, Rose or Sugar Bowls, will receive approximately $79 million in aggregate (full academic pool plus base), which the conferences will distribute as they choose. Notre Dame will receive a payment of $2.58 million if it meets the APR standard; the other two independents will share $618,241.(3) A conference will receive $6 million for each team that is selected for the semifinal games. There will be no additional distribution to conferences whose teams qualify for the national championship game. A conference will receive $4 million for each team that plays in a non-playoff bowl under the arrangement (in 2014-2015, the Cotton, Fiesta and Peach Bowls).

(4) Each conference whose team participates in a playoff semifinal, Cotton, Fiesta or Peach Bowl, or in the national championship game will receive $2.08 million to cover expenses for each game.Additionally, certain conferences in the Football Championship Subdivision conferences will receive $2.34 million in aggregate.




That means the CFP wrote a $6 million check to the ACC, to be divided 14 ways among the member schools. However, Clemson made the trip to Phoenix for the National Championship last season, and many fans made the budgetary decision to stay home this time around, waiting to see if Clemson advanced to the more travel-friendly spot in Tampa. Because of that, Clemson couldn’t sell enough Fiesta Bowl tickets. The other 13 schools in the conference were able to take their $350,000 checks to the bank, but Clemson would have taken a hit from the number of unsold tickets. That’s when Radakovich came up with a revolutionary idea, according to Deputy Director of Athletics Graham Neff. “We (Dan Radakovich) spent a lot of time with the ACC on looking at their old travel stipend - specifically their College Football Playoff travel stipends. Boston College was netting about $350,000 because of Clemson participating in the CFP,” Neff told TigerNet last week. “Well, that's fine, and we're not going to change the equity portion, but our claim to the conference was because of our participation and us getting a new six million dollars and we're losing money because it's expensive and the travel. “Is there a way we could take a portion of that six million dollars and compensate the participant better, so they're not going backward while everyone else is going forward? We put a proposal together, and Dan Radakovich took time with a bunch of other athletic directors and took it to the Commissioner (John Swofford) to provide an additional stipend to Clemson this year because of our participation in the CFP. That was an extra $750,000 that the league provided to us because of our participation. We generated money for the whole conference, but we also protected the participant.”It was a step that greatly enhanced Clemson’s bottom line. “It's really good. It's a really positive view from the ACC,” Neff said. “We had to do some work because some of the schools didn't necessarily want to give back some their conference-earned money just because the CFP isn't a huge consideration for them. Dan did a lot of work, we got it, and everybody wants to protect the participants, and it was a really positive step.”Clemson was also able to add extra revenue by creating and licensing its own National Championship logo to sell on merchandise, meaning Clemson will do better than last year’s $3 million loss. “By way of us winning the National Championship, we're able to significantly increase our licensing revenue,” Neff said. “You've seen the National Championship logo that we have and everyone buying that and t-shirts, stickers and flag. We project about $700,000 of increased licensing revenue because we won the National Championship and are able to create our own mark and sell merchandise and generate royalties because of that. Since we didn't win it last year, we got some sort of bump in royalties but not to the tune of this $700,000 figure we're projecting. That's a significantly new royalty increase.“If you include that royalty revenue plus the operational saving with the travel stipend. There was another piece with the ticketing. We do project to come out in the black for the bowl post-season. When we talk about coaches bonuses, we would still have a negative of about two million dollars. Coaching bonuses are separate and we budget for those separately, but then operationally we try to break even. This year, with some help from the ACC and the licensing revenue, we will show a profit.”
















Forever a Nole: My Letter to Florida State

     
    

Forever a Nole: My Letter to Florida State
By Dalvin Cook
My time at FSU is over, but, man, I had a blast. All three years I spent at FSU, I enjoyed – especially the bonds and relationships that I built in the locker room.
Coming in, when you’re a younger guy, you never really know what to expect. Especially me, leaving my home in Miami. But I can say that coming to Tallahassee was one of the best decisions I have ever made. And being coached by Coach Graham and Coach Jimbo, and being around some of the teammates that I have been around, I feel like I have grown a lot on and off the field.
One of my favorite memories is that first time that I ran through the tunnel at Doak Campbell Stadium. It was The Citadel game in 2014.
Coming out of that tunnel, I was nervous. Before the game, Coach Fisher said I was going to get a lot of playing time. So there were a lot of emotions going through me. Running out of the tunnel, hearing the fans go wild, and watching Osceola and Renegade plant the spear was incredible. There’s not a better atmosphere in the country and it always kept me excited for game time.  I got my first carry that game and I scored my first touchdown, so the Citadel game is a game that I’m going to remember.

As I prepare to move on to the next level, I want to be sure to thank the people around Florida State and in Tallahassee who helped me get to where I am now:
To Coach Fisher: We have a father-son relationship, a brother relationship, a friend relationship. My freshman year, it was real tough because I was just a player relying on my talent. But you taught me to match hard work with talent. A lot of things you would say would kind of tick a nerve, but it made me think to myself, “I don’t ever want to hear him say that again, so I’m going to do everything right.”
You pushed me and got my best out of me.
To Coach Graham: You don’t get the credit you deserve. You’re kind of the man behind the scenes, getting the job done. You definitely helped me grow as a man, and with the things I was doing on the field. You pushed me to create good habits. You’re a father figure to me, and I look forward to texting and talking with you as I take these next steps. I know you’ll help me make sure I’m always on the same mission that I was on in Tallahassee.
To the FSU academic support staff: Shanika, Toya, Ashton – all of you helped me stay grounded and helped me to be in the situation I’m in now to help my family be in a better place. Thank you for pushing me and helping me become all I can be off the field. Coach Fisher took care of me on the field, and you helped me off the field.

To the strength and conditioning staff: Coach Vic, “Red,” Hocke, Lou and Brice, all of you pushed me to be that leader in the weight room, to set that example to the younger guys so that when they come in, they know what hard work looks like. Thank you for pushing me and giving me an opportunity to set that standard in the weight room.
To the sports medicine staff and trainers: Jake, Julie, Jeronimo and Jerry – you kept me healthy. My sophomore year was one of the toughest years for me. I had a hamstring injury, an ankle injury and a shoulder injury, and you never gave up on me. You always had faith in me and kept me level-headed. There were some days when I was like, “Man, why does this stuff keep happening to me?” But you kept my spirits up.
To the younger players at FSU: Trust the process. Buy in to what the coaches say, because they’ll never steer you the wrong way. You’re both in it for the same thing, that’s to win football games and get better. When I got to Florida State, I had to sit back and watch some tape on Devonta Freeman to see how he did things. Telvin Smith, even though he played a different position, Lamarcus Joyner, I just saw the way they played the game and the way they approached practice. Take the coaching. That’s the only tip you need.

Finally, to the fans: I said earlier that coming to Florida State was one of the best decisions I ever made, and you proved it. You’re the best fans in America. Years from now, when you think about me, I hope you think about a guy that left a legacy on the program at Florida State. When you pull up my film, or look at the off-the-field things I did, I hope you see a well-grounded guy. A “team” guy that loved the fans, that loved to play in Doak and just wanted to give you all a show.
I hope you think of me in a positive way. I hope I left my stamp on the program. And I hope that you remember me forever.
Forever a Nole,
Dalvin Cook

Instagram: @dalvincook
Twitter: @dalvincook
Snapchat: @dalvinjcook

Conference Payout Projections & Revenue Gap

Great projections from ACCfootballrx below (the immediate table is my expansion of it to included the P2).  The hope is the ACC closes the gap.  The most recent numbers show a huge jump in the revenue gap that the ACC and it's media have refused to admit is there (or disputed that it would be over $10 Million).  That gap is clearly surpassing that this year and likely next. 

Will the gap be closed with the ACCN?  I think so.  But where does that gap settle at?  Tough to tell right now.

I think one huge area that is rarely discussed in ACC circles, is the bowl contract needs to be fixed.  Swofford did a horrible job with this and is just another reason he owns much of this revenue gap situation.




ACCSECB1GApprox. Revenue Gap
2014-15$26.2M$32.3M$32.4M$6M
2015-16*$23M$40.4M$45M$17M-$22M
2016-17$28M   
2017-18$32.4M   
2018-19*$30.1M   
2019-20$41.1M   
2020-21$46M  

https://accfootballrx.blogspot.com/2017/02/accn-update-22717.html?showComment=1488210142185#!/2017/02/accn-update-22717.html

How much revenue can ACC teams expect to get once the ACC Network is up and running? Let's start with our previous estimates for ACC revenue growth based on the old TV contract, then add in what the FSU AD estimates each team will get from the new ACC Network deal:

Season$M/team+ACCN $ est. Total$
2014-15$26.2M$26.2M
2015-16*$23M$23M
2016-17$28M$28M
2017-18$29.4M+$3M$32.4M
2018-19*$27.1M+$3M$30.1M
2019-20$32.1M+$8 to $10M$41.1M
2020-21$33.5M+$10 to $15M$46M

How does ACC revenue projections compare to the SEC and Big Ten?
First, let me point out that you really have to watch out for little clues that the Big Ten is over-estimating revenue. For example, they said that "11 teams" were paid "$32 million" in 2014-15. The problem with that is there are 14 teams in the B1G, not 11 - and when you average all 14 you get $29 million, not $32 [LINK].

The B1G projects "12 of its 14 schools to pull in approximately $44.5 million during the 2017-18 school year. That would be the first year of the new television deal." [LINK]. The actual average that year? It's impossible to calculate exactly, but based on previous trends I'm guessing it's more like $42 million.

Meanwhile, the SEC reported an average for all 14 teams of $32 million for 2014-15. The biggest difference is that the Big Ten has a huge new TV contract about to kick in, while the SEC is mostly locked in for the long haul (with the exception of the smaller - but still very valuable - tier one package currently broadcast by CBS). Still, I wouldn't be surprised to see the SEC get about $40 million per team, just like the Big Ten.




http://gridironnow.com/timing-finally-right-acc-football-cash/2/

The last time the ACC had the chance to cash in on the value of its media rights – the sale of football and basketball games involving conference members to the highest bidding television network – was 2010. The league had never been weaker.

The conference’s football product, the asset which increasingly drives demand from networks, was a mess.

ESPN and the ACC agreed to a 12-year deal which would see each school receive roughly $13 million per year from the cable company, a handsome sum, but well below what the Big Ten was receiving and what the SEC would be receiving from its combined ESPN and CBS contracts, plus revenue anticipated from the SEC Network launch in 2014.

Timing is everything.

The next time the ACC will have the chance to cash in on the value of its media rights in late 2018 and early 2019 when the league, in conjunction with ESPN, will begin offering the ACC Network to distributors. The league has never been stronger.

Florida State is once again a perennial national power under Jimbo Fisher having finished ranked inside the top 10 four of the past five seasons. The Seminoles have beaten Florida six of the last seven years and as further evidence of the ACC’s increasing stature, Fisher has reportedly turned down overtures from LSU in each of the past two seasons to coach the Tigers.

Clemson is the national champion, having finished ranked inside the top 10 three of the past four seasons with no signs of slowing down.

A more competitive Louisville program has replaced Maryland. Excitement at Miami under Mark Richt and Virginia Tech under Justin Fuente is high. Very importantly, ACC teams now play five games annually against huge TV draw Notre Dame. The ACC turned in the best bowl record of any conference for 2016 and has stood toe-to-toe versus the SEC on the field across all games and teams for the past three seasons.

Heck, even Duke is good.

Timing is everything.

 When the ACC and ESPN begin their negotiations to convince cable operators to carry ACC Network, the conference will do so from a position of power almost unimaginable 10 years ago.

Florida State athletic director Stan Wilcox expects the results of those negotiations to be exceedingly lucrative. He recently told the school’s board of directors expectations inside the league are for revenues from the ACC Network to increase to $8-10 million per member school once the linear network launches in the fall of 2019.

That’s more revenue generated per school than SEC Network in its first year of operation. The figure is roughly three times what I would have anticipated, and while I still find Wilcox’s estimate to be unbelievably high, he must be getting that number from somewhere. Even if the figure is half of that, it’s a game changer for league members.

To reinforce my timing argument, understand that the ACC receives just over $27 million for placing a team in the Orange Bowl each season. The Big 12 receives roughly $40 million for its representative in the Sugar Bowl. Twenty-seven split 14 ways and 40 split 10 is a huge difference.

Imagine how different those figures would look if the contracts were written today instead of five years ago.

The 2000s were a lost decade for ACC football for which it was punished at the bargaining table. The 2010s have been a boon and the league is preparing to cash in.



http://floridastate.247sports.com/Board/36/Contents/Wilcox-projects-significant-revenue-jump-from-ACC-Network-51424858



Florida State athletics director Stan Wilcox said the ACC's revised television deal will deliver an increased payout of $3 million in the 2017-18 fiscal year.

Wilcox was asked about ACC television distributions at an FSU Board of Trustees meeting on Wednesday morning. A boost was expected with the July 2016 announcement of the ACC Network Extra by league commissioner John Swofford

Revenues will jump once the "linear" ACC Network launches in the fall of 2019. Wilcox said the ACC's projections have indicated that the distribution per school will increase by $8 million-$10 million in 2019-20, and then $10 million-$15 million in future years.

"These are all projections," Wilcox said. "It all depends on how well the network does. They are saying this network should have the same kind of return that the SEC Network has had in their first couple of years."
 


http://floridastate.247sports.com/Board/36/Contents/Wilcox-projects-significant-revenue-jump-from-ACC-Network-51424858

"The ACC Channel should do well, due to the size of the home media markets it will penetrate for ACC schools;
9 - Boston
10 - Atlanta
16 Miami
22 Charlotte
23 Pittsburg
24 Raleigh-Durham
37 Greenville-Spartanburg
46 Winston Salem
49 Louisville
85 Syracuse
107 Tallahassee
183 Charlottesvile, VA "

Sunday, February 26, 2017

FSU Film School Grads win Oscars. BEST FILM. (Updated)


Florida State Univ.Verified account@floridastate 9 hours ago

Florida State Univ.Verified account@floridastate 10 hours ago

Florida State Univ.Verified account@floridastate 10 hours ago


FSViewVerified account@FSView 9 hours ago

Florida State Univ.Verified account@floridastate 8 minutes ago

Florida State Univ.Verified account@floridastate 1 minute ago

http://www.tallahassee.com/story/entertainment/2017/02/26/moonlight-wins-first-oscar-best-supporting-actor/98460388/?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter
"Moonlight," which was written and directed by FSU Film School alum Barry Jenkins and has five other Film School grads on its production team, has picked up its first Oscar.

In the first award of the night, Mahershala Ali won for Best Supporting Actor.

Ali, who has not previously been nominated, thanked Jenkins as well as producer Adele Romanski, who, he said, “forced Barry to cast me,” in his speech.

"Moonlight" was nominated for eight Academy Awards: Best Supporting Actor, Best Supporting Actress, Best Cinematography, Best Original Score, Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Film Editing, Best Director and Best Picture.


Florida State Univ.Verified account@floridastate 2 minutes ago
Oscar nominated James Laxton's mother is an Academy Award-nominated costume designer, whose films include "Return of the Jedi.”

Florida State Univ.Verified account@floridastate 8 minutes ago

Saturday, February 25, 2017

20 & 30 year FSU trends


http://floridastate.247sports.com/Bolt/No-program-has-done-it-like-FSU-in-the-last-30-years-51461395

Florida State has the best win percentage against FBS opponents in the past 30 years.
The Seminoles, according to BCFToys.com, have a winning percentage of .798 versus FBS teams since 1987. Ohio State is the next closest team with a win percentage of .774.

Brian Fremeau @bcfremeau
Best win% vs FBS opponents since 1987:
.798 Florida St
.774 Ohio St
.739 Boise St
.738 Nebraska
.731 Alabamahttp://www.bcftoys.com/30-year-results/ 


The level of success falls off some in the last 10 years, as FSU is 7th in that time span with a win percentage of .732, which still isn’t too shabby. The success over 30 years is a testament to FSU’s longlast consistency as a program.





http://chopchat.com/2017/02/23/fsu-football-ranked-top-program-last-two-decades-analyst/

FSU football has had plenty of good moments over the last 20 years – now, one analyst is crunching the numbers to show how good the ‘Noles rank.

For the last 20 seasons, we know that FSU football has been one of the best teams in all of college football. Even during the lost half decade from 2005 to 2009, the Seminoles were still a national brand that was a premium attraction and still a household name.Over that span, the Seminoles have won two national titles (and played for two more) while winning the ACC 10 times, winning 12 of their bowl games while playing in a total of 12 postseason games that were either part of the Bowl Alliance, BCS or a College Football Playoff New Year’s Six game.
 
With all those numbers, where does FSU football rank among the elite programs over the span. Well, one college football analyst crunched the numbers and – as it turns out – the Seminoles come out right near the top.Brian Fremeau uses a system called the Massey Consensus on his website to break down teams by how they faced against certain levels of competition. Based on Florida State’s success of the span against both good teams and teams they should beat, the Seminoles came up just shy of being the top overall team:

Brian Fremeau @bcfremeau
Best 20-year average Massey Consensus ranking:
1.Ohio St
2.FSU
3.Oklahoma
4.Florida
5.LSU
6.Georgia
7.USC
8.Oregon
9.Alabama
10.Va Tech
Even with nearly 25 percent of the years being during the worst era of FSU football since the mid-1970’s, the ‘Noles still end up with the likes of Ohio State, Oklahoma and more that have been at the top of college football over the same span. It goes to show that when Florida State is on their game, there is hardly anyone who can hang with them.It should also be noted that, under Fremeau’s formula for the 2016 season, the Seminoles actually finished ranked higher than in the normal polls – coming in at No. 6 behind the four CFP teams and Oklahoma

Thursday, February 23, 2017

FSU announces new $173 Million Sodexo contract



Florida State Univ.Verified account@floridastate Feb 22
Locally sourced foods, micro-restaurants & major renovations, an improved dining experience is coming to !
Florida State University announced today a new, 10-year dining services agreement with Sodexo that will bring an expanded menu of healthy and locally sourced fresh foods prepared by culinary trained chefs to new and renovated dining facilities and restaurants across campus.
Celebrity chef and Florida State University alumnus Art Smith will serve as campus Culinary Ambassador as part of the agreement.
“We’re excited about our new relationship and thrilled to bring Chef Smith, one of our most successful grads, back to Florida State to enhance the overall dining experience for our students and the entire campus community,” said FSU President John Thrasher.
Chef Art Smith will serve as campus Culinary Ambassador as part of Florida State University’s new agreement with Sodexo.
Chef Art Smith will serve as campus Culinary Ambassador as part of Florida State University’s new agreement with Sodexo.

Worth more than $173 million over 10 years, the contract unites multiple dining and food programs, including residential, retail, concessions, catering and even mobile dining via food trucks and delivery. Other terms include internships and scholarships for students, funding for sustainability initiatives, meal plans for students and in-kind contributions for university events. FSU will become one of Sodexo’s marquee accounts.
“I’m very proud of this agreement. Dining is obviously integral to student success, and by extension, the university’s efforts to reach the Top 25,” said Kyle Clark, vice president for Finance and Administration. “I expect Florida State to become one of the top dining programs in the country.”
Sodexo will assume operations this summer, prior to the start of the fall semester. Current meal plans and rates will remain the same with no cost increases to students, faculty or staff and no interruptions in campus food and meal services.
“Sodexo and Florida State University are a strong match. We share a vision for the highest levels of service and innovation,” said Jim Jenkins, CEO Sodexo Universities East. “This partnership will expand FSU’s reputation as a leader in enrollment, retention and student satisfaction through our quality of life services. Our team is looking forward to getting started.”
Sodexo delivers more than 100 services across North America that enhance organizational performance, contribute to local communities and improve quality of life. The Fortune Global 500 company is a leader in delivering sustainable, integrated facilities management and food service operations.
Sodexo currently services a number of universities nationally including Georgia Tech, the University of South Carolina, Liberty University, Northwestern University and the College of William & Mary. Liberty’s main dining facility is currently the No. 1-ranked dining facility in the country, according to BestColleges.com.


The agreement was signed after a comprehensive review process that focused on improving the overall quality of the dining experience at Florida State. A committee of students, faculty and staff, including current Student Body President Nathan Molina, unanimously selected Sodexo with input from a dozen technical advisers and feedback from students and employees across campus.
“Students want more healthy options on campus, especially our students with specific dietary needs, and so that’s an area we put a lot on focus on during our review,” Molina said. “This new partnership will significantly increase the healthy options and alternatives available, and it will generate a lot of excitement and enthusiasm about eating on campus that doesn’t exist today.”
The new contract will retain many of the popular elements of the university’s current dining programs while adding a number of new features to transform the campus dining experience. The company will hold a series of informational town hall meetings in the coming weeks to answer questions and offer a sneak peek at what the future holds at Florida State.
The new contract will bring more culinary executive chefs to campus dining locations. In addition to healthy options, chefs will specialize in nutritious “Better from Scratch” homemade selections using local and regional foods and ingredients.
Campus residents and visitors will also find a wide selection of micro-restaurants that take the culinary experience at FSU to new levels of excellence. Sodexo will help launch the first of Florida State’s new micro-restaurant facilities, “1851,” on Jefferson Street this fall followed by other facilities during the next 10 years.
The STK Cruising Kitchen is a mobile full service kitchen to serve fans outside FSU’s athletic stadiums and venues.
The STK Cruising Kitchen is a mobile full service kitchen to serve fans outside FSU’s athletic stadiums and venues.
The agreement also includes athletics concession operations that will enhance the game day fan experience at campus venues including Doak Campbell and Dick Howser stadiums. The FSU Department of Athletics and Seminole Boosters, Inc. will work with Sodexo to develop new food offerings and service technology for upcoming seasons.
The university’s current provider employs nearly 1,000 full- and part-time staff at FSU, including a number of student employees. All current employees will be encouraged to apply for positions with Sodexo, which anticipates hiring the majority of existing employees and expects to hire additional staff, including more culinary trained professionals.
As culinary ambassador of Florida State University, Smith will make “healthy comfort cuisine” readily available across campus and will serve as liaison between the Florida Department of Agriculture’s Fresh from Florida program and Sodexo’s Floridian Flavors program.
Smith has received the culinary profession’s highest awards and has cooked for some of the world’s most famous celebrities. In 1997, Smith became the personal, day-to-day chef to Oprah Winfrey, a position he held for 10 years. Smith is executive chef and co-owner of restaurants in Chicago, Atlanta, Orlando and Washington, D.C.
For more information on the Seminole Dining Services transition, visit http://diningtransition.fsu.edu/.




http://www.fsunews.com/story/news/2017/02/22/fsu-signs-173m-food-services-deal-sodexo/98226292/

Students, faculty and staff seeking healthier eating options at Florida State University should expect to see a transformation in their on campus menu as part of a more than $173 million deal with food service giant Sodexo.
On Wednesday, the university announced to its board of trustees the signing of a 10-year dining services contract with industry giant Sodexo that will impact food service operations on campus and at Doak Campbell and Dick Howser stadiums.
The contract with Sodexo is valued at more than $173 million over the next 10 years. FSU’s transition to Sodexo from its current vendor, Aramark, becomes official this summer. Under Aramark, FSU earned more than $74 million over the past 15 years.

The new focus will be on healthy, locally produced foods, a variety of dining options, including expanded vegan and vegetarian choices, upgraded technology for quicker access and personal interaction with trained chefs who will be available to provide personal consultations.
Lending his expertise and vast network of resources will be famed celebrity chef/entrepreneur and FSU alum Art Smith. The former personal chef to Oprah, who is recognized as one of the country’s premier chefs and food educators, has been contracted by Sodexo to serve as “Culinary Ambassador” for FSU’s dining services operations.
Aramark’s 1,000 full and part-time employees are expected to find jobs with the new company.
“We’re excited about our new relationship and thrilled to bring Chef Smith, one of our most successful grads, back to Florida State to enhance the overall dining experience for our students and the entire campus community,” FSU President John Thrasher said.

Sodexo services universities, including Georgia Tech, the University of South Carolina, Liberty University, Northwestern University and the College of William & Mary. Liberty’s main dining facility is the No. 1-ranked dining facility in the country, according to BestColleges.com. Sodexo was the food service vendor at Florida A&M until December 2013.
FSU Student Body President Nathan Molina said Sodexo is following up on what many students have been requesting.
“The companies were very forward in listening to students,” Molina said of the four companies in the bidding process. “Students wanted more dynamic dining changes at the university and that’s what we are getting with this contract.
“There was a very specific interest in having more vegan and vegetarian options more available.”

Sodexo was attractive to FSU because of its commitment to promoting locally produced foods, its focus on nutrition, and its investment in sustainability efforts, university officials said. The company will be responsible for all of the university’s food and dining operations, including catering and a new food truck operations.
Universities across the country are investing in campus dining and meeting the needs of changing student demands as part of the total effort in recruiting, retaining and keeping students campus-focused in efforts to boost graduation rates.
“I’m very proud of this agreement,” said Kyle Clark, FSU’s vice president for finance and administration. “Dining is obviously integral to student success, and by extension, the university’s efforts to reach the Top 25.
“I expect Florida State to become one of the top dining programs in the country.”
Food service is a huge operation at FSU, with 41,000 students, including 6,000 living on campus. Income from its more than 26 campus eateries, athletic dining hall and athletic concessions brings in about $31 million annually.

Presently, 5,000 students take advantage of the dining meal plans that range from $525 to $1,999 per semester. Those costs are not expected to increase for the 2017-2018 school year, Clark said.
But what will change is a gradual transformation of each dining facility:
The Suwannee Room, located in the middle of campus and serving “thousands” of meals daily, will be renovated with a focus on sustainability, health and wellness.
Sodexo envisions transforming it into a 24/7 operation featuring Florida products and dishes with high-tech kiosk ordering systems and table tracking technology for late-night orders. Meals can be ordered to diners' requests and then taken directly to the table when ready.
Students also will have direct access to nutritionists.
The Fresh Food Company, another large dining hall located across from the College of Medicine, will be redesigned and become the “Seminole Test Kitchen” or “STK.
Inside, it will offer:

  • Floridian Flavors (focusing on Florida-based menus)
  • The Greenery (locally grown greens and salads)
  • Fishery (offering fresh Florida seafood)
  • Creating Your Own Station (offering individual choice selections)
  • The Butchery (grilled foods)
  • A bakery.
Another feature will be Summer Kitchens, designed for outside dining.
Students would be given the opportunity to taste new items created by Smith and other chefs working on and off campus. Students could vote for favorites, and those dishes would return and appear at other dining facilities across campus.
A new addition to the Suwannee and Fresh Food Company is “1851”, the first of several planned “micro-restaurants” opening this fall.
The 20,000-square-foot dining hall will be connected to the new residence hall at Jefferson and Woodward.
Inside, it will offer a convenience store, three themed restaurants (Italian, comfort food and international cuisine), and a grill.
In addition, the FSU Department of Athletics and Seminole Boosters will be brainstorming with Sodexo on adding new food services to the Dick Howser and Doak Campbell stadiums.
Jim Jenkins, CEO of Sodexo Universities East, said the partnership is focused on students.
“Sodexo and Florida State University are a strong match,” Jenkins said. “This partnership will expand FSU’s reputation as a leader in enrollment, retention and student satisfaction through our quality of life services. Our team is looking forward to getting started.”


FSU ranked Top 6 coaching job in CFB




Guy On CouchVerified account@DavidHaleESPN Feb 22
       
 
 


6. Florida State

Jimbo Fisher fought myriad battles with administrators to up their commitment level. A few years back, they finally arrived on the same page. Numerous projects in and around Doak Campbell Stadium have kept FSU zipping along from a continuity standpoint. Fisher does not get enough credit for what he’s built in the wake of the school’s awkward final chapter with Bobby Bowden. He would theoretically leave a far better program than the one he found.
With last year’s national title as emphatic punctuation, Clemson is proving to be a more-than-formidable foe in the Atlantic Division. The bright side for FSU: Clemson still has to come into your state for high-end recruits; you still get first cracks at keeping talent at home."

 
 

Madison Social set to expand impact



http://www.fsunews.com/story/news/2017/02/19/madison-social-set-expand-impact-upcoming-delivery-app/98102318/





Tallahassee hot-spot Madison Social is gearing up to bring its customers added convenience through its upcoming delivery app, set for release this March.

The app will focus on providing customers in the CollegeTown area with their favorite menu items without the long waits and costly delivery fees. Madison Social co-owner Matt Thompson says the project is part of their effort to expand their reach and capitalize on those seeking more variety for quick food options near campus.

Thompson, who is co-owner of Madison Social, Township and Centrale, says the bar/restaurant trio has seen difficulty in ensuring its customers have access to their signature dishes when they want them. “You can order your food from us and it takes an hour, hour and a half, even if you’re living right down the street from us,” said Thompson of the current food delivery landscape in the area.


“What we saw is that all three of our brands get orders through Penny Delivers all the time. Centrale provides our most restaurant experience, so we saw a lot of food orders come in for them, which is what really led the charge. If I can get it to you quicker than anywhere else you’re ordering from, our food becomes a more viable option.”

Catering to the needs of their CollegeTown-based customers demonstrates the impact local residents have had on Madison Social as well as, conversely, the impact the Madison Social brand has had on the area.

Thompson says that while their original mission might have been to provide a “different, better experience” for Tallahassee drinkers, they’ve seen a steady transformation of the businesses serving students and the rest of the Tallahassee community.

“To have a successful college town, you can’t have segregation of a community. For a long time, that’s what Tallahassee had. Students 25 years ago had no reason to go beyond Tennessee street and Monroe street. What we’ve seen over the years is an effort to pull more students to the other parts of town with these different kinds of places.”

It seems these developments are just the beginning for what residents can expect in the CollegeTown district. Thompson cited future projects, such as updates to the Donald L. Tucker Civic Center and FSU’s continuing efforts to become a National Top 25 University, as incentives to further develop Tallahassee’s urban culture.

These developments include continued establishment of CollegeTown as Tallahassee’s premiere food district, pioneered by Madison Social and Centrale, among others. Other developments, such as construction for the new Hotel Indigo starting this Fall, will aim to expand Tallahassee’s tourist market with travelling sports fans, business executives and, most importantly, visiting parents.

In the meantime, Madison Social, Township and Centrale will continue to hold down the fort as prime spots for local residents to enjoy food and drinks in a unique atmosphere. Come March, the new delivery app will ensure that CollegeTown residents will have even more convenient access to their favorite foods, be it a brick oven pizza or the coveted BLT dip.