Florida State football 'getting closer' to 85% COVID-19 vaccination threshold

During Wednesday's media days session, ACC commissioner Jim Phillips said that over half of the league's football teams had reached the 85% COVID-19 vaccination threshold that permits the loosening and eliminating of some virus-related health and safety protocols. 

It appears the Florida State Seminoles aren't among the programs praised by Phillips. 

According to Curt Weiler of the Tallahassee Democrat, Florida State coach Mike Norvell said Thursday his team is "getting closer each day" to reaching the 85% vaccination mark. "That's something we're working through," he added. 

Norvell contracted COVID-19 last September. 

"We definitely are aware of all situations, but we're going to continue to see how that progresses," Norvell said. "We had a team meeting yesterday, there were some guys that elected that (the vaccine) was something they wanted to do moving forward. We're just going to continue to evaluate that as we get closer." 

Norvell explained that former FSU and NFL player Myron Rolle, who currently works as a neurosurgery resident at Massachusetts General Hospital, spoke with players and answered questions they have about the available vaccines.

While Phillips said Wednesday the ACC hasn't yet decided how it will handle potential schedule disruptions caused by COVID-19 this season, SEC commissioner Greg Sankey told reporters Monday that league doesn't intend to reschedule games and could make a school forfeit if it cannot field a squad for a scheduled contest due to absences and other issues linked with coronavirus cases. 

The Georgia Bulldogs and Alabama Crimson Tide are among big-name programs that have crossed the 85% vaccination threshold. 

Big Ten commissioner Kevin Warren said Thursday that league won't finalize procedures for possibly rescheduling or canceling games because of COVID-19 before "early August."