Sports
Fire alarm goes off during Florida State postgame after expensive, disastrous loss to Memphis
Florida State’s recovery from last season’s playoff snub and historic Orange Bowl beatdown to Georgia is off to just as bad of a start.
Just one year after an undefeated season and being in contention for the playoffs, the Seminoles are off to an 0-3 start after a 20-12 loss to FBS Memphis on Saturday. Florida State paid Memphis $1.3 million to appear on their schedule this year as a buy game, and then lost anyway.
Then, after the game Florida State head coach Mike Norvell had to cut his postgame press conference off early after a fire alarm went off at the team facility.
The fire alarm spared the head coach from having to explain any more of the grueling details behind his team’s catastrophic loss.
“We all have to do a better job,” Norvell said during his postgame press conference. “…We can’t continue to come into games and see things that are absolutely not a part of who we are show up. So we all have to prepare better… These guys have not stopped working.”
Florida State is now winless since it was infamously left out of the College Football Playoffs last year, with four straight losses.
A general view of some Florida State Seminoles Fans with bags over their heads during the game against the Memphis Tigers at Doak Campbell Stadium on Bobby Bowden Field on September 14, 2024 in Tallahassee, Florida. The Tigers defeated the Seminoles 20 to 12. (Photo by Don Juan Moore/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** (Don Juan Moore/Getty Images)
Florida State started the season with a heartbreaking 24-21 loss to Georgia Tech in Dublin Ireland a week before the rest of the College Football schedule started. Things got worse on Sept. 2 when they fell to 0-2 with a 28-13 loss to the Boston College.
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“I’m just sick to how the season’s started,” Norvell said after the Boston College loss. “In all phases, we were not able to execute. I obviously didn’t put them in a position to showcase what I believe this football team is, and it’s extremely disappointing. I apologize to our fans, I apologize to everybody associated with the program – I mean, that was extremely disappointing that we were not better.”
But both of the Seminoles’ first two losses came against more justifiable opponents.
But Saturday’s loss, which came off the heels of the team’s bye week, was more unexpected as it was a 6.5-point favorite.
Head coach Mike Norvell of the Florida State Seminoles huddles with his team during their game against the Wake Forest Demon Deacons at Truist Field on October 28, 2023 in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. Florida State won 41-16. (Grant Halverson/Getty Images)
The Seminoles won’t have the luxury of playing any more opponents that they paid to be on the schedule any time soon either.
Their next three games will all be against ACC rivals, beginning with next Saturday against Cal, then a trip to new conference foe SMU, both are newcomers in the conference. The game after that Florida State will face longtime conference rival Clemson, which is looking to overcome its own struggles to start the season after a blowout loss to Georgia in Week 1.
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If the Super Bowl marks the end of the NFL season, WrestleMania is when WWE’s year is over.
There is no offseason in WWE, and when waves of departures hit the company, it hits harder than a Gunther knife-edge chop.
Uncle Howdy, Erick Rowan, Dexter Lumis, Joe Gacy, and Nikki Cross appear during SmackDown at First Horizon Center in Savannah, Ga., on May 23, 2025. (Rich Freeda/WWE)
Fightful and BodySlam both reported several superstars who left WWE on Friday ahead of “Friday Night SmackDown.” Some wrestlers confirmed their departures on social media.
Those who left included: Alba Fyre, Aleister Black, Alex Shelley, Andre Chase, Apollo Crews, Bo Dallas, Chris Island, Chris Sabin, Dante Chen, Dexter Lumis, Erick Rowan, Joe Gacy, Kairi Sane, Luca Crusifino, Malik Blade, Nikki Cross, Santos Escobar, Sirena Linton, Trill London, Tyra Mae Steele, Tyriek Igwe, Tyson Dupont, Zelina Vegas and Zoey Stark.
The WWE roster is loaded as it is with several NXT stars getting called up this week.
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Sol Ruca made her presence felt on Raw on Monday when she challenged women’s champion Liv Morgan. The Fatal Influence faction of Jacy Jayne, Lainey Reid and Fallon Henley took aim at the women’s tag team division on SmackDown on Friday. Ricky Saints and Blake Monroe also had vignettes for their upcoming appearances.
Meanwhile, former NXT champion Oba Femi has been on main WWE programming for the last few weeks and beat Brock Lesnar at WrestleMania 42.
Kairi Sane enters the ring during Monday Night RAW at Golden 1 Center in Sacramento, Calif., on April 13, 2026. (Rich Freeda/WWE)
Aleister Black and Zelina Vega make their way to the ring during SmackDown at Enterprise Center in St. Louis, Missouri, on April 3, 2026. (Craig Melvin/WWE)
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It’s not the end of the road for any of the recent departures. Several former WWE stars have made waves elsewhere. Some have even returned over the course of time.
Pitching coach Gus Rico was having dinner on Thursday when head coach Matt Mowry of Birmingham High complimented him on closer Aidan Martinez recording all seven of his outs on strikeouts.
“I had no idea,” Rico said. “Everything is a blur when I’m calling pitches.”
Martinez is throwing some blurs these days after returning this season following Tommy John surgery in June 2024. He touched 92 mph with his fastball and has been improving each week, getting better command and walking fewer batters. He has 28 strikeouts in 15 innings and three saves.
Birmingham is one game behind El Camino Real in the West Valley League standings going into showdown week, playing El Camino Real on Wednesday at on the road and Friday at home. The Patriots need a sweep to have a chance at their first league title under Mowry, who prefers winning City titles.
With Martinez throwing so well, it would be a good strategy for opposing teams to make sure they are leading going into the last two innings.
“He’s got a bright future,” Rico said.
This is a daily look at the positive happenings in high school sports. To submit any news, please email eric.sondheimer@latimes.com.
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Earlier this month, Michigan defeated UConn in the NCAA men’s basketball national championship game.
Shortly after the Wolverines captured the program’s first title since 1989, Michigan forward Morez Johnson Jr. announced he would enter the NBA Draft.
Despite declaring for the NBA Draft, Johnson has maintained his NCAA eligibility throughout the process. However, he has until May 27 to withdraw if he plans to return for his junior season.
Johnson played for Illinois during the 2024-25 season before transferring to Michigan last offseason.
Michigan’s Morez Johnson Jr. walks on the court against UConn at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis April 6, 2026. (Erick W. Rasco/Sports Illustrated)
After joining Michigan, Johnson quickly emerged as a key contributor, averaging the second-most points on the team. He also led the Wolverines in rebounding, averaging 7.3 per game.
Michigan head coach Dusty May eventually dubbed Johnson “The Enforcer” and “Junkyard Dog,” a nod to his tenacity on the defensive end. Johnson was named to the Big Ten’s All-Defensive Team.
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But Johnson’s offensive prowess didn’t take a back seat to his defensive strengths. His shooting from beyond the 3-point line showed improvement as the season progressed.
Morez Johnson Jr. of the Michigan Wolverines cuts down the net after defeating the UConn Huskies 69-63 in the 2026 NCAA national championship game in Indianapolis April 6, 2026. (Michael Reaves/Getty Images)
Many early NBA projections gave Johnson a first-round grade. It’s unclear how much name, image and likeness (NIL) compensation he would command if he returns to Michigan or transfers elsewhere.
Johnson has been active on social media, interacting with teammates as they consider returning to Michigan for another championship push.
Morez Johnson Jr. of the Michigan Wolverines celebrates after scoring in the second half against the UConn Huskies during the 2026 NCAA national championship at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis April 6, 2026. (Jamie Schwaberow/NCAA Photos via Getty Images)
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Michigan added a key piece this week, with Jalen Reed transferring from LSU, On3 reported. Reed was limited during the 2025-26 season by an Achilles injury.
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