Why Gus Malzahn Nearly Quit Football Before Florida State Pulled Him Back In

Here’s wishing Gus good luck at FSU – and thanking him for knowing when to move on.

Last word: In memory of Hulk Hogan, who passed away Thursday at the age of 71, let us never forget the Hulkster’s famous words: “Whatcha gonna do when Hulkamania runs wild on you?!”In a wide-ranging interview with Ira Schoffel of Warchant.com, Malzahn said he was ready to retire if not for the opportunity to work with Norvell again.
Did you see where WNBA players sent a message to the league for bigger salaries and better benefits by wearing T-shirts before the All-Star game that said, “Pay Us What You Owe Us.” Actually, what the T-shirts should have said was, “Pay Caitlin Clark What You Owe Her.” If you ask me, instead of being jealous and petty about Clark’s popularity, league players should be giddy that someone is finally making fans Google “WNBA standings.” …  A moment of silence please, Ozzy Osbourne has just gone to That Big Bat Cave in the Sky. … Shame on Lionel Messi for choosing not to play in the MLS All-Star Game Wednesday night. The league’s biggest star choosing not to play in the All-Star Game is a slap in the face to all of those MLS fans who bought tickets and all of the MLS fans who subscribe to AppleTV. … Question: How can they be called the “World Golf Rankings” when the second-best tour in the world – LIV Golf – isn’t recognized? Isn’t that like ranking the best restaurants in the world and ignoring anything outside of France? …
I said it at the time and I’ll say it again now: UCF owes Malzahn a debt of gratitude for leaving voluntarily and not stubbornly and selfishly holding on, waiting to get fired and then collecting the brunt of his million in buyout money. By stepping down, Malzahn allowed athletic director Terry Mohajir to rejuvenate the fan base by bringing back Scott Frost, who is certainly one of the major reasons the Knights just announced they achieved a new fundraising record (.8 million in cash and commitments) for the 2024-2025 fiscal year.

“It just wasn’t working there, and it was pretty obvious,” Malzahn said of his decision to leave. “You know, we only had half a share (of Big 12 revenue) for two years. We were playing catch-up. And in the future, I think they’re going to be really good. But it was just time.”
He had made the decision to quit his job as the head coach of the Knights even if his old friend, FSU coach Mike Norvell, hadn’t offered him the job as the Seminoles’ new offensive coordinator.
“This was it,” Malzahn said of the FSU job. “I wasn’t out looking. I mean, I was either going to the beach and retiring or I was coming here. It was one or the other.”
I’ve been told by those inside the UCF program that Malzahn didn’t want to go through the embarrassment of being fired again (like he was at Auburn) and was ultra-sensitive to all the criticism he was getting on social media from UCF’s “Twitter Mafia.”
There comes a time in every coach’s career when the burden of the grind outweighs the thrill of the game—Gus Malzahn’s final season at UCF was just such a moment. You could see it in the weary set of his jaw, the quiet resignation behind his decisions. He was at a crossroads, standing between the fading echoes of his tenure as the Knights’ leader and a new dawn working alongside an old ally, Mike Norvell, at Florida State. Retirement was on the table, sure—but so was a fresh start, one that didn’t demand the uphill battle he faced amid UCF’s financial struggles and the cutthroat scrutiny of the “Twitter Mafia.” It’s a saga not just about a coach stepping down, but about knowing when to walk away with dignity—and how that choice can spark rebirth for a program and, frankly, for Malzahn himself. Let’s dig into what made this departure as much a strategic retreat as it was a personal victory. LEARN MORE.
Running off at the typewriter. …
How miserable was Gus Malzahn at UCF last season?
Malzahn also told Warchant that UCF was simply trending in the wrong direction under his leadership and he was growing frustrated with the limited financial resources compared to other Big 12 teams. It’s no secret the Knights were only getting 50 percent of the Big 12’s annual revenue payout in their first two years in the league and will start receiving a full revenue share this season. In today’s pay-for-play world, Malzahn apparently felt UCF was playing on an uneven financial playing field.
Originally Published: July 24, 2025 at 1:24 PM EDT
Short stuff: Speaking of Florida State, I’m not saying Norvell was full of passion, fury, fire and vinegar during his media address at the ACC Kickoff earlier this week, but as Warchant.com’s Schoffel cracked, “I’m surprised the media didn’t charge out after Norvell’s speech and storm the buffet line.” … Seeing Miami Dolphins offensive lineman Bayron Matos airlifted from practice to a nearby hospital on the opening day of training camp is yet another poignant example why none of us should ever criticize NFL players who hold out for money. Let’s face it, you never hear about baseball or basketball players getting airlifted from practice to a local hospital. NFL players, more than any other athletes (except maybe race car drivers), earn every dollar of their salaries by literally putting their necks – not to mention their shoulders, knees, and brains – on the line every day for our entertainment. …
He not only made the best decision for himself, but ultimately, he made the right call for UCF as well. …

I don’t know about you, but I’m not buying Miami Dolphins wide receiver Tyreek Hill’s vow to become a harder worker and a better teammate. Does anybody really believe The Cheetah can change his spots? … Even though the rest of college football (the SEC, ACC and Big 12) wants the 5+11 future playoff model (5 conference champions and 11 at-large bids), the Big Ten is holding its ground and feeling its oats and saying it wants four automatic bids. SEC snobs, brace yourself for what I am about to say: The Big Ten is the biggest conference with 18 members; it’s the richest conference with the most lucrative TV contract; and has won the last two national titles. The Big Ten – and not the SEC – is now the most powerful conference in college football. … Did you see where former FSU and Texas A&M coach Jimbo Fisher is joining the ACC Network as a TV analyst? So he’s still getting paid million not to coach – and now he’s getting paid to talk about coaching? America really is the land of opportunity. … Can you believe President Trump is threatening to block the construction of a new football stadium in the nation’s capital unless the NFL’s Washington Commanders change their nickname back to Redskins? Because nothing says “I care about the people” more than holding a city hostage over a racially insensitive nickname.  … I’ve watched it about 20 times and still can’t believe the look of sheer panic on the married IT company CEO’s face when he was caught on the arena jumbotron embracing a female employee at a Coldplay concert. I haven’t seen a deer-in-the-headlights moment like that since Chris Webber tried to call a timeout when he didn’t have any. …