BOT Chair Peter Collins on Florida State's future: 'I feel really good about our prospects'

During an exclusive one-on-one interview with Warchant.com on Tuesday night, Florida State’s Board of Trustees Chair Peter Collins made it quite clear the status quo won’t work for the Seminoles.

Collins, who was recently re-elected as FSU’s Chair for an additional two years, didn’t mince words when talking about the Seminoles’ plight in trying to compete financially in the ACC when he talked on Warchant TV with Ira Schoffel and Tom Lang.

This came on the eve Wednesday afternoon’s Florida State Board of Trustees meeting.

“I think today when you think about what we’re going to be next year (in the ACC) and what the SEC and Big Ten are relative to what we make … that gap is massive,” said Collins, who then joked that he wasn’t breaking any news with that statement. “And when the gap gets that large, is it insurmountable? I think I said in our meeting in February that it’s almost impossible to make up that gap. And I think (athletics director Michael) Alford said it is impossible.

“And it’s not wrong. Our boosters are doing an unbelievable job. Everybody is doing a great job of fundraising. … But we’re going to be $30 million, $35 or $40 million behind the other conferences. That’s an insurmountable gap that you have to do something about.”

So, what exactly can be done?

Well, Collins was asked about his comments from earlier this year, when he said the university had a, “very good handle on the Grant of Rights.”

That, of course, alludes to the ACC’s media right contract with ESPN, which is in effect until 2036.

“When I say we have a handle on the Grant of Rights, we understand the document very well,” Collins said. “We understand our position on that document, we understand the legal argument in that document, we understand who the parties would be under that document, and we believe we have a very good handle on what our risks are under that document. And what our opportunities are under that document.

“That’s the least of my worries based on what we know. … We understand it. We have gotten a lot of counsel on that document. That will not be the document that keeps us from taking action. And I’ll leave it at that.”

What that action will be, well, Collins wasn’t saying on Tuesday night.

Time will tell.

But he was adamant the Board of Trustees, along with the FSU administration, are going to do everything in their power to make sure the athletic department is competitive nationally for the long haul.

That they will do whatever it takes to make sure Florida State remains one of the top-revenue producing departments — and football programs — in the country.

“It’s a critical decision,” Collins said. “And it’s one of those decisions where you can’t be afraid to make a tough decision, even if you don’t know exactly how it’s going to turn out. … I think the leadership in the university is willing to make a tough decision and take whatever comes from it. What that is today? I’m not going to tell you, but we’ve done a lot of work. And I would say we’ve done a lot of work going back to July (of 2022).”

*ALSO SEE: DEPTH CHART PROJECTIONS — Warchant’s Florida State Football pre-camp breakdown

Collins said the impetus to do “work” wasn’t necessarily when Oklahoma and Texas announced they would be moving to the Southeastern Conference, but when USC and UCLA announced they’d be going to the Big Ten. That’s when things sped up, he said.

“We’ve been getting the best advice we can for a year,” Collins said. “And we’re going to make a very educated decision. I can’t tell you today what decision is going to be, but I can tell you it will be made with the institution in mind.”

Collins was also asked about the ACC’s proposed uneven distribution model, which rewards teams for on-field success, and if that could factor into any decision at all.

It doesn’t sound like it would.

“Let’s say it gives Florida State $6 million more a year,” Collins said. “Ok, now we’re not losing $35 million, we’re losing $29 million a year to our competitors. You could argue that’s still insurmountable.

“We’re not going to close the gap with unequal revenue distribution.”

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While Collins was dismissive of various Internet reports about Florida State’s plans, he did say that the Seminoles have strong options before them and that he feels great about the future.

“I feel really good about our prospects,” Collins said. “Especially knowing how hard people are working on it. … I can tell you I feel very good about where we’re going to be. And we’re working every single day, making sure that becomes a reality.”

Collins said he wouldn’t be surprised if Florida State’s athletics future is discussed at Wednesday’s Trustees meeting, but he said there is no plan for action to be taken.

Talk about this story with other die-hard FSU football fans on the Tribal Council.