Florida State found a fitting way to honor one of the most recognizable voices in its history.
The school announced earlier this week that the radio booth inside Doak Campbell Stadium will now carry Gene Deckerhoff’s name, a tribute that matches the reach of a broadcaster who became part of the program’s identity for decades. Head coach Mike Norvell delivered the news directly to Deckerhoff in a moment that caught him off guard.
“Well, let me tell you, Gene, it's going to be really easy to find here moving forward because it is my tremendous honor to tell you that you are actually standing in the new Gene Deckerhoff Radio Booth right here at Florida State and Doak Campbell Stadium,” Norvell said.
“Congratulations, man, we are naming the radio booth after you and just so grateful for all that you've done, all that you mean to Florida State, all the incredible years of service, the great calls, and more than anything, who you are as a person,” Norvell added.
Deckerhoff, smiling with Bobby Bowden Field behind him, took in the moment and answered with gratitude.
“What a tremendous honor. Go Noles and thank you very much coach Norvell. God bless you and good luck this season,” Deckerhoff responded.
For Florida State fans, the tribute lands with real meaning. Deckerhoff’s “TOUCHDOWN FSU!”
call became one of the signature sounds of Seminole football, and his run behind the mic stretched across generations. He retired from Florida State broadcasting after the 2022 spring game, closing out 48 years as the voice of men’s basketball and 42 seasons with the football team.
His time in Tallahassee lined up with three national championships and some of the strongest years in program history.
Deckerhoff’s connection to football still isn’t over. He remains the voice of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, a job he has held since 1989, and the upcoming season will be his final one in that booth.
The honor ensures that even after his broadcasting days at Florida State are done, his name will stay attached to the place where so many of those calls echoed.
Saturday, August 29 vs. New Mexico State - Tallahassee - 7:00 p.m. ET on The CW
Monday, September 7 vs. SMU - Tallahassee - 7:30 p.m. ET on ESPN
Saturday, September 19 at Alabama - Tuscaloosa, Ala. - 3:30 p.m. ET on ABC
Saturday, September 26 vs. Central Arkansas - Tallahassee (Family Weekend/Hall of Fame)
Saturday, October 3 vs. Virginia - Tallahassee (Cancer Awareness)
Friday, October 9 at Louisville - Louisville, Ky. - 7:00 p.m. ET on ESPN
Saturday, October 17 at Miami - Miami Gardens, Fla.
Saturday, October 31 vs. Clemson - Tallahassee (Military Appreciation)
Saturday, November 7 at Boston College - Chestnut Hill, Mass.
Saturday, November 13 at Pitt - Pittsburgh, Pa. - 7:00 p.m. ET on ESPN
Saturday, November 21 vs. NC State - Tallahassee (Homecoming/Seminole Heritage/Athlete Alumni Reunion)
Friday, November 27 vs. Florida - Tallahassee - 3:30 p.m. ET on ABC
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Daniels also walks into a roster that looks very different from the one fans remember, with more than half the team new and only two returning offensive starters. Even so, he has sounded encouraged by the culture he found and by the talent around him, especially a group that is still sorting out its identity. For Daniels, the challenge is bigger than simply settling in at quarterback. It is about proving he can meet Florida States standard while helping a new-look offense come together quickly. [Read more 🡒]
The Job Security Bar For Mike Norvell Just Got Very Real
Mike Norvell is heading into his seventh season in Tallahassee with the kind of pressure that tends to follow a coach after back-to-back losing years. Florida States 13-0 regular season in 2023 still stands as the high-water mark of the Norvell era, but the Seminoles were left out of the College Football Playoff after Jordan Travis went down, then dropped the Orange Bowl, and the program has spent the time since trying to regain its footing.
The latest reminder of how sharp the spotlight has become came from CBS Sports analyst Danny Kanell, who put a clear standard on Norvells future. Florida State has a demanding 2026 slate ahead, and the conversation around the season is no longer just about improvement or momentum, but about how many wins it will take before the school feels comfortable keeping the staff in place for another year. [Read more 🡒]