In an age where first impressions often happen online, Florida State University made a memorable—but not for the right reasons—introduction of their newest transfer, former Oklahoma Sooners running back Gavin Sawchuk. Over the weekend, FSU proudly took to social media platform X (formerly Twitter) to announce the arrival of Sawchuk to the Seminoles’ roster. However, what was meant to be a celebratory graphic welcoming the talented back quickly turned into an embarrassing misfire that didn’t go unnoticed—especially by fans of his former school.
FSU’s social media team posted a photoshopped image of what was intended to be Gavin Sawchuk in a Seminoles jersey. The only problem? It wasn’t him. The player in the graphic bore little to no resemblance to the real Sawchuk, leading fans—especially those from Oklahoma—to immediately point out the glaring mistake.
Sooner Nation, always passionate and attentive when it comes to their players, quickly spotted the error and called it out across multiple platforms. Many were baffled as to how such a basic oversight could have occurred, especially when announcing a key roster addition. Some even questioned whether Florida State had properly vetted the image before publishing it.
What made the situation even more puzzling was the lack of response from Florida State. More than 24 hours after the post went live, it remained up, unchanged and unacknowledged. For many, this suggested either the Seminoles were unaware of the mistake—or perhaps even more concerning, they were indifferent to it.
Sawchuk, a promising running back known for his speed and playmaking ability, played a key role for the Sooners in recent seasons. His move to Florida State is a significant pickup for the Seminoles as they continue to retool their offense with high-profile transfers. However, this misstep in his welcome rollout has momentarily shifted the focus away from his athletic potential to an avoidable public relations blunder.
In the ultra-competitive world of college football—where image, branding, and recruiting go hand-in-hand—such a miscue is more than just an internet joke. It’s a moment that reflects on program professionalism and attention to detail, especially in an era when recruits and fans alike scrutinize every move.
While the mix-up won’t affect Sawchuk’s on-field contributions, it has certainly left a dent in FSU’s social media credibility. Whether the Seminoles issue a correction or simply hope the internet forgets, one thing is clear: the fans didn’t miss a beat, even if Florida State did.
In the meantime, both schools will move forward, but the mishap serves as a humorous reminder—especially for FSU—that when it comes to new player introductions, getting the right face is just as important as getting the right name.
