Florida State University Athletic Director Michael Alford poses for a portrait before kickoff of the game between the Seminoles and the Clemson Tigers at Doak Campbell Stadium on Saturday, Oct. 15, 2022. Alford005 Alicia Devine/Tallahassee Democrat / USA TODAY NETWORK

FSU athletic director hints at long-awaited return fans have been begging for

Originally posted on Florida State Seminoles on SI
By Logan Robinson | Last updated Aug 25, 2025 8:00 AM ET

Florida State Vice President and Athletic Director Michael Alford has turned multiple pages in FSU’s history and is aiming his vision straight into the program’s next chapter.

Some fans believe Florida State’s logo and uniform rebrand sparked the Seminoles’ slump after their 2013 National Championship. Whether or not you buy into that theory, change appears to be on the horizon, and this time, there’s a nod to Bobby Bowden’s dynasty era woven into the process. Forgive me if I agree with the fans here, but a collaborative “good call” moment seems to be on the horizon.

A Hint of the Past

Alford recently dropped a cryptic tweet hinting that the original garnet might be making its way back to Doak Campbell Stadium. No official announcement, no press release, just enough to light up message boards and spark speculation. With stadium renovations already underway, fans are starting to connect the dots, wondering if the upgrades are part of something bigger than fresh paint and new seats.

pic.twitter.com/qxSOHSVvWy
— Michael Alford (@SeminoleAlford) August 24, 2025

And when you look at Alford’s pedigree, it tracks. Before taking over as FSU’s athletic director, he led the Seminole Boosters into the new era of college football after stops at Alabama, Dallas Cowboys, USC, and Central Michigan. He understands how branding ties into culture, and how culture ties into winning.

For now, nothing’s confirmed. It’s one cryptic tweet, one potential color shift, and a lot of whispers floating through Tallahassee. But maybe that’s the point. Maybe this isn’t about a uniform change as much as it is a reset, a subtle reminder that Florida State knows who it is and where it wants to go.

Love it or not, Doak Campbell Stadium is wrapping up a $265 million renovation, and a “new-look” end zone could serve as another nod to an era fans thought was coming back, before it was quickly taken away.

Alford knows what he’s doing. His track record proves it, and his vision is starting to bleed through every decision, from facilities to branding to the game-day experience itself. Fans may not love every move, but if this is the start of pulling the past and future together, it’s hard not to see the long-term play.