Governor DeSantis Allocates Dollar1 Million: Gov. Ron DeSantis is not holding back in the face of Florida State’s exclusion from the College Football Playoff. He revealed on Tuesday that his 2024-25 budget allocates $1 million for potential litigation expenses arising from what he deems a “really, really poor decision” by the Playoff committee to exclude the undefeated Seminoles, who clinched a major conference title. During a budget presentation news conference, the Republican governor expressed his discontent with the “very, very controversial ruling” that saw Florida State bypassed in favor of a one-loss team, Alabama.
According to DeSantis, the 13-0 Seminoles rightfully “earned a spot” in the Playoff but were unjustly overlooked. This decision marked a historic moment as FSU became the first undefeated Power Five conference champion to be surpassed by a one-loss team in the Playoff’s history, including its predecessor, the Bowl Championship Series. The SEC champion, Alabama, secured the fourth and final spot, joining other undefeated teams like Michigan, Washington, and one-loss Texas.
DeSantis emphasized the significance of an undefeated season and questioned the committee’s emphasis on other factors. He expressed his desire to see traditional football powerhouses in the stateFSU, Miami, and Floridacompeting for national titles once again. The governor also highlighted the importance of retaining blue-chip recruits within the state, echoing sentiments from when he signed Florida’s name, image, and likeness law in 2020.
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While uncertain about potential litigation outcomes, DeSantis is ensuring that FSU has financial support if needed, allocating $1 million in the budget for possible legal expenses. Despite the unfortunate circumstances, he remains committed to the cause, stating, “We are going to put aside $1 million and let the chips fall where they may on that.”
In addition to addressing the football controversy, DeSantis took the opportunity to commend the state’s overall university system, proud of its esteemed academic rankings. He humorously expressed his wish for football rankings to match the academic excellence of Florida’s universities.
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Our Reader’s Queries
When did DeSantis get elected governor of Florida?
On January 8, 2019, DeSantis took over as the Governor of Florida. His leadership has leaned towards conservatism. Just three days into his term, he pardoned the Groveland Four, a group of black men wrongly accused of rape in 1949.