College Football has always been embedded deep in the country’s culture. This is the game that has given us those iconic moments, right from ‘The Play’ to the ‘Kick Six’. However, it would be an understatement to say that the cost of non-performance has been brutal and often mentally exhausting. We saw that last year with Ryan Day after he lost to Michigan. And this year, FSU DC, Tony White, is facing unprecedented criticism to the extreme after his team’s woes continue.

Tony White, at a recent press conference, expressed how he had received death threats on social media for the team’s poor showing. Despite that, the DC showed incredible resiliency and promised to wade through it, calling it a “part of the game.” “That’s just part of social media… that’s what you sign up for in this profession, but that’s not why I do it,” said White. Surely, Florida State is underperforming massively, but the death threats are a sad affair of things in CFB.

Florida State opened the 2025 season on a high note, defeating Alabama. Their performances produced 2 more wins, but since then, it all came to a screeching halt. The Seminoles have slipped into regression, losing 4 games consecutively. Amongst them, the losses against unexpected teams like Virginia and Stanford hurt the most, and the defensive lapses have been glaring in every one of them. Owing to that, there were speculations too about Mike Norvell’s job security.

Even the athletic director, Michael Alford, expressed disappointment in the recent results. “We rightfully have high expectations in everything we do to represent Florida State in the manner that built our reputation as one of college football’s best programs…We embrace those expectations while also sharing the deep disappointment when results on the field are short of that standard,” said Alford. Part of the blame surely goes to FSU’s defense.

Although Florida State is ranked 35th in total defense, it gives away 327.3 yards per game. The games show another picture altogether. For instance, Stanford averaged 18 points per game before facing FSU. However, stopping even that offense also became a mounting challenge for the defense, as Stanford put 13 points just in the first half. We also didn’t see the physicality that the Alabama game brought, and it might have to do with the UCLA job rumors for Tony White.

Are reasons for Tony White’s defensive regression linked with the UCLA job?

The 46-year-old has been in the football coaching scene since 2006 and has extensive experience to turn around the programs. His stint at Nebraska for two years, from 2023 to 2024, brought defensive dominance as he produced top-25 defenses in each year. Moreover, he also led the team as the eighth-best team in rushing defense in 2023. The experience and his connection as a UCLA alum thus made Tony White an ideal candidate for the job, and the rumors have intensified ever since.

According to a former Bruins player, Tony Whiter also had a call with UCLA alum Martin Jarmond, and showed high interest in the job. “(White) wants to be the next coach. He didn’t say that, but … you could just tell by his energy,” said the player. That possibility might be the biggest factor in FSU’s defensive regression.

Tony White has spent almost 11 months at FSU and surely has built a strong rapport with the players. That showed against Alabama in Week 1, when White limited Alabama to just 87 rushing yards. However, after DeShaun Foster’s firing at UCLA, rumors began about the UCLA job. And for now, it looks highly likely for White. Even though White won’t likely take up the job at least till December. It’s no excuse to give out death threats, which is highly condemnable. The 46-year-old is on a three-year contract starting from December 2024, on a $4.8 million contract. It now remains to be seen if Tony White can turn around FSU’s woes.