Mike Norvell is resolute in his confidence in Florida State — the players and coaching staff — in what they can achieve together with the Seminoles mired in a four-game slide.
“There's no higher expectation than what I have,” Norvell said after Wednesday’s practice. “And I know it's not been good enough.”
FSU (3-4, 0-4 ACC) is practicing through the bye week after what Norvell called an “inexcusable” 20-13 loss at Stanford on Saturday. The accumulated losses, but also one against a struggling Stanford, prompted athletics director Michael Alford to release a statement that Norvell and the program would be evaluated at the end of the season.
The Seminoles will face Wake Forest on Nov. 1 for homecoming (7:30 p.m. on ACC Network) to start a five-game stretch where they won’t face a ranked opponent. But FSU has also shown it’s capable of losing to any team.
“I take great ownership in our results,” Norvell said. “I hate it for Michael (Alford). I hate it for our players. I hate it for the program. I hate it for the university, Tallahassee in general. ... But that's on me and this staff and this football team to get that right.”
Norvell fielded questions for nearly 23 minutes about Alford’s statement, the loss to Stanford and his confidence in the players. A season that began with a victory over Alabama turned into an avalanche of losses, first at Virginia before defeats to a top-5 Miami, Pittsburgh and Stanford.
It’s easy to say FSU could be 4-3 or 5-2 at this point, and the one-score losses to Virginia, Pittsburgh and Stanford have been narrow with a play or two deciding the outcome. The Miami loss was lopsided throughout before a late FSU rally.
Norvell was asked about FSU player’s leadership within the four-game slide and said “this is a team that does care.” The losses could challenge leadership but Norvell doesn’t think that’s the case.
“These guys, they pour a lot into each other,” Norvell said. “We've had good moments. We've had bad moments. They've stayed steady. Their work and their desire and care for their teammates and working to uphold and get to the standard of what it is to be here at Florida State.”
Of note, Norvell and the coaches will hit the road to recruit the next few days. Players will have a few days off, and the Seminoles are expected to return to the practice field on Sunday (although many will undoubtedly gather to watch Wake Forest play host to SMU on Saturday at noon).
FSU finishes the regular season with Wake (4-2), at Clemson (3-4), Virginia Tech (2-5), at NC State (4-3) and at Florida (3-4). The Seminoles will face two interim head coaches in the Hokies’ Scottie Montgomery and the Gators’ Billy Gonzales.
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