Mike Norvell was passionate and defiant about his job and performance, what he’s done as a coach and his vision for Florida State’s future.
More than 1,100 words later, FSU’s coach delivered an epic and unfiltered view of the players, the current team and where the program is going in 2026 in Monday’s weekly press conference. Here are some highlights of what he said as well as thoughts from the Osceola.
Elite level of confidence for what’s ahead
“I've got an elite level of confidence for what's ahead for this program,” Norvell said, beginning to state his case. “I believe in it. I believe in the guys. When I look at our roster, I see the guys. As I mentioned earlier, we've won championships here. We've done that.”
Bob Ferrante: Norvell hasn’t wavered in his convictions, a belief in who he has recruited from the high school level as well as transfers. He’s loathe to critique specific players in front of the media. And FSU has indeed won an ACC title in 2023. If he’s referencing a state title, combined wins over Miami and Florida, that’s possible in confirming “won championships” here.
Nick Carlisle: The interesting point in this quote to me is the inferring by Norvell that he believes that he has a roster beneath him that can win another ACC title. I do believe that there is the individual talent to be competitive on the football field but I don’t think that this roster (nor the one that would be coming back next year) has the depth to compete at that level. If Norvell truly believed he was on the cusp of a championship-quality roster, I don’t think he would be ‘portalling’ over it every year.
Lifting a trophy one year, failing the next
“To be a part of a staff that fixed it from when we first got in here to achieve that at an elite level as one of the best times that this program has seen through a stretch of 19 straight games … That's good, but we did it. We lifted a trophy. We were able to have success. '24 was an absolute — it was a complete failure. And like I said, there was reasons of things of why we got to that point. We lived it. We did it. We made changes.”
Bob Ferrante: All of his points are fair. Norvell is arguing that he fixed a mess that he and the staff inherited from Willie Taggart, a roster that was low on experience and light on talent or depth. FSU had a 19-game win streak from the middle of 2022 through the 2023 season, capturing the ACC title. After the 2-10 season in 2024, the “changes” Norvell is referencing include bringing in coordinators Gus Malzahn, Tony White, four more assistants and nearly 50 new players.
Nick Carlisle: Norvell’s argument here is justified. But if this is supposed to be advocating for why Norvell is the guy to continue to try and fix the mess that he has created, I don’t know how much weight it holds. It’s very different coming in fresh with an outside perspective, analyzing a situation and putting a plan into motion as opposed to finding fixes within an echo chamber. That’s not to say that Norvell doesn’t know internally what’s wrong with his program but it’s certainly a challenge to make sweeping changes from within. You could argue that this year was the opportunity that he is advocating he should receive and it’s not going swimmingly.
FSU’s improvement (from 2024) but inconsistency in 2025
“This year, I think we are improved. When you look on both sides of the ball, I think we have taken positive steps, but there's been some transitional elements of it that we needed to be better. I say that we've shown the capabilities on both sides. We played as good as anybody in the United States of America at points in this year, and we've played as bad as probably anybody at times this year.
“But this team is full of what I believe is very talented playmakers. I think it's full of very capable and talented coaches, and it's about our growth. The results, they matter. They absolutely matter. Every play, every game, all that we do, but for us it's about progression. It's about going out there and getting better, going out there and continuing to grow as a program.”
Bob Ferrante: FSU is considerably improved statistically, especially in total offense (from No. 132 in 2024 to No. 3 through nine games). There’s been some improvement at various position groups, notably the development of Duce Robinson (who has more catches and receiving yards than in two full seasons at USC) as well as the emergence of redshirt freshman Micahi Danzy. There are clear flaws on both sides of the ball, and the lack of a pass rush or consistent linebacker play is glaring. But the defense played well enough against Clemson (allowing 24 points) and Stanford (giving up 20 points), but those were the FSU offense’s worst point totals.
Nick Carlisle: This team has great playmakers offensively and, if anything, that is what is exciting about Florida State’s future. Defensively, it’s been a tougher road to hoe with some painful performances at certain position groups. The progression comment is interesting. It is about progressing along a younger football team on the micro level. On the macro level, talking about week-to-week progression while in Year 6 of your tenure after promising a lightning quick turn-around last season will fall on deaf ears.
Developing contributors from 2024, ‘25 classes
“We've got double-digit guys that are high school signees within their second year that are significant contributors for us. Those guys are going to continue to grow and ascend, and I see that. We've got some guys that are upperclassmen that I think have a chance to be some of the better players in all of college football.”
Bob Ferrante: Norvell is using the word “contributors” and loosely speaking he can make this argument. But the 2024 class has only yielded Danzy and Lawayne McCoy as significant contributors on offense this fall. Amaree Williams has played both sides of the ball and could make a big impact as a defensive end or jack in 2026. Landen Thomas has contributed. Jake Weinberg is FSU’s kicker. But they haven’t gotten much mileage from the defensive signees, aside from Williams. Linemen like D’Nas White and DD Holmes transferred after a year. Charles Lester, Jamari Howard and Cai Bates haven’t seen the field that much. One of the top signees, quarterback Luke Kromenhoek, transferred. From the 2025 class, the coaches hit on defensive linemen Mandrell and Darryll Desir. Kevin Wynn and Ousmane Kromah were the prized signees. Those four have earned playing time and shown their promise for the future. FSU lost Chase Loftin to injury early. Norvell said he expects Jayvan Boggs back soon.
Nick Carlisle: If you’ve read the Osceola this football season, I’ve stomped up and down about recruiting under Norvell and more specifically how poor the evaluations have been leading up to the last two classes. He does have a case here though — even if the description of ‘significant contributor’ is not the most forthcoming. I think that he is leaning more on the 2025 class in the statement. The 2024 class has produced some yields but it’s becoming a Jekyll and Hyde class. Ricky Knight is indefinitely suspended (and probable to transfer). The rest of that heralded defensive back class struggles with maturity and that’s why they’ve been leapfrogged, I’ve been told. Kam Davis has plummeted to the bottom of the depth chart for multiple reasons. BJ Gibson is now focusing on primarily baseball. This is on top of those that have transferred out already.
“I've got elite expectations, and we're going to win a championship here in the very near future. That's not going to be this year.”
Bob Ferrante: This was the most stunning comment from Norvell. FSU doesn’t have nearly enough talent to win ACC games on the regular in 2025 (or 2024). But Norvell (unprompted) talks of titles in 2026 or 2027, depending on how we should define “near future.” But the way rosters flip annually, it shows Norvell’s confidence in what he and the staff can do this offseason.
Nick Carlisle: If the term ‘trying to speak it into existence’ had a banner, it might have that statement written on it.
“We still have three regular-season games left. I'm fully expecting to see our team go ascend and be better and to go get the job done in these opportunities we have, but I've got a lot of confidence in where the program is heading and what's going to be the result of these games, of these experiences for what the future holds.”
Bob Ferrante: FSU has played far better at home than on the road. Virginia Tech is the last game at Doak, and the Seminoles are nearly a 14-point favorite on Saturday. But it’s tough to see the Seminoles “ascend” on the road and “get the job done.” The opponents, NC State and Florida, aren’t insurmountable — but FSU’s inability to win on the road in two years has been inexplicable and Norvell hasn’t explained or rationalized why the players have struggled.
Nick Carlisle: Florida State plays two out of the final three games of the season on the road and hasn’t won a game on the road in close to two years. The cherry is going to have to pop eventually, I guess. It feels like if there was a game to ‘ascend’ on the road, it was against a Clemson team that was very easily beatable.
“Everywhere I've been, I've won a championship. Except the one year at Pitt, we did not. But everywhere else I've been, as a player and as a coach. I know what it looks like, and I have actually done it. I can sit here and say it with confidence. We're going to get this back.”
Bob Ferrante: Norvell won an ACC title in 2023 with FSU and an AAC with Memphis in 2019. He was Arizona State’s offensive coordinator from 2012-15, but the Sun Devils didn’t play for the Pac-12 title. They won bowl games.
“Fixed it once. We're going to fix it again. We're in the process of that fix now. What we've done is not to the standard of Florida State this year. I understand that. I fully am aware that we've got to win the close games. We've got to be able to play our best every opportunity that we step on that field.
“And the work, that's happening. All right. The belief is there. I'm not saying that just from a coach that's standing in front of you, I'm saying it -- I see these players. I see their heart, their investment.”
Bob Ferrante: FSU lost four games by one possession or less, although the Miami game was 28-3 and out of hand before the rally. So many “close games” that seemingly have all resulted in losses.
Nick Carlisle: The FSU is losing close games argument irritates me. Maybe I’m being too much of a pessimist these days but those one-possession loses to me were more like ‘games that FSU lost’ than they were ‘games that FSU almost won.’ You know what I mean?
“I'm fully aware of the outside narrative around our team is not good. Around me is probably not good. That's fine. That will not affect the job that I'm going to show up and do. The job I'm going to show up and do is I'm going to pour everything I have in this team with a championship expectation for us to grow and be better. Why can I say that? I've actually won a championship. I've done that. We're going to do it again. We're going to do it here.
“That might piss people off. So be it. They'll be celebrating when we are hoisting a trophy. It will be the belief I see from our players, the belief I see from our coaches, the talent that I know our players have and the guys that are coming to be a part of this. I've got elite level confidence for what's ahead of us.
“I know not everybody wants to hear that. I don't care. I know what it's going to be. And I'm grateful for the opportunity that I have. I also understand that it has not been good enough. And the results, they matter. But we're going to take that step and we're going to get the job done.”
Bob Ferrante: Norvell appears defiant, trying to acknowledge but also block the outside criticism from fans and media. Without going into details, he seems to suggest a vision for the future to fulfill the expectations of titles. There are changes that need to be made for 2026, potentially shaking up FSU’s front office.
Nick Carlisle: I have and always will respect Norvell for the amount of confidence that he has and the energy that he consistently brings to this program. The amount of times that I have been around him when the cameras aren’t on - well it’s not an act. And personally, I do hope that he can turn everything around. But he needs a lot to go his way. Virginia Tech is a must win game for Norvell. They all have been recently but this team needs a chance at bowl eligibility with two road games to try and cash in.
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