FSU Apologizes After Tweeting Out Photoshopped Image of Martin Luther King Jr.
Jan 21, 2019
TALLAHASSEE, FL - DECEMBER 2: A general view of a Florida State Seminoles Helmet on the field before the game against the Louisiana Monroe Warhawks at Doak Campbell Stadium on Bobby Bowden Field on December 2, 2017 in Tallahassee, Florida. Florida State defeated Louisiana Monroe 42 to 10. (Photo by Don Juan Moore/Getty Images)
The Florida State football team found itself embroiled in controversy Monday.
The FSU Recruiting Twitter account that is associated with the team sent out an image of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. appearing to do the school's tomahawk chop on Martin Luther King Day. One of King's quotes was included in the picture.
Myron Medcalf of ESPN sent along an image of the since-deleted tweet:
For those who didn’t see this Florida State tweet before they took it down ... How does this happen? pic.twitter.com/bWsVURkHX8
"In a well-intentioned effort to recognize Martin Luther King, Jr. on this special day, a member of our recruiting staff created a graphic using one of Dr. King's quotes – 'If I cannot do great things, I can do small things in a great way.' The quote resonated with our program's Do Something mantra.
"However, in our attempt to more closely connect the message to FSU, we foolishly posted a graphic that was not in line with our intent. We are sorry for missing the mark in our attempt to celebrate Dr. King's legacy."
QB Deondre Francois to Return to FSU for Senior Season Amid Transfer Rumors
Jan 9, 2019
SOUTH BEND, IN - NOVEMBER 10: Deondre Francois #12 of the Florida State Seminoles looks to pass during the game against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish at Notre Dame Stadium on November 10, 2018 in South Bend, Indiana. Notre Dame won 42-13. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images)
Florida State quarterback Deondre Francois will return to the Seminoles for his final collegiate season, he announced Wednesday.
"I love Florida State, my brothers and know I have so much more to offer," Francois wrote in a post on Instagram. "I intend to become the leader my teammates need me to be because we have some unfinished business to take care of."
Jason Beede of Knights 247 shared Francois' post:
Breaking: #FSU QB Deondre Francois (@_Dirtie12) has announced on Instagram he will be returning to Florida State, confirming @Noles247 report. Says the Noles "have some unfinished business". Was once an option for #UCF as a grad transfer QB. pic.twitter.com/SKwfNB2532
Chris Hays and Chaunte'l Powell of the Orlando Sentinel reported on Dec. 19 the 21-year-old would play as a graduate transfer for another school in 2019 or enter the NFL draft. Francois then spoke with the Orlando Sentinel refuting the transfer rumors.
"Why would I not go back to FSU?"he said."I'm thinking about declaring [for the NFL] but I don't know what I'm going to do. I never told anybody nothing like that. I'm just unsure what I'm doing right now."
Eventually, Francois decided to head back to school.
His FSU career started with much promise in 2016 when he threw for 20 touchdown passes and averaged 8.4 yards per pass attempt in a 10-3 season. FSU ended the year 10th in the Associated Press poll.
He and the Seminoles entered 2017 with lofty expectations. The signal-caller was considered a Heisman Trophy contender, and FSU was ranked third in the AP poll and expected to contend for a national championship.
However, Francois suffered a broken knee cap in a season-opening loss to Alabama and missed the entire campaign. FSU went just 7-6.
The Floridian came back healthy in 2018, but the team struggled, going just 5-7 under first-year head coach Willie Taggart. Francois' stats dipped as he threw just 15 touchdowns and averaged only 6.9 yards per pass attempt.
A brighter future may lie ahead for FSU, however, as 247Sports ranks its 2019 recruiting class 17th in the nation. If Francois can return closer to his 2016 form and some of the new recruits make an impact, the 'Noles could be in line for a bounce-back season.
