Danny Kanell isn’t far removed from Florida State’s golden years, and that’s part of why the current stretch feels so jarring to him.
Three decades after leaving Tallahassee with a national championship, four ACC titles and four 10-win seasons, the former FSU quarterback says the mood around the program is as bleak as he can remember. With the Seminoles mired in back-to-back losing seasons, Kanell says he can feel the frustration from afar through social media, through his media work and through the reaction he hears from fans.
“I have described it as some of the worst vibes since I’ve been here as a player,” said Kanell, a Fort Lauderdale native who played at FSU from 1992-95. “It is as bad as I can feel as somebody who’s on the outside.
I don’t live in Tallahassee, but I am online. I can feel the negativity.”
Kanell spoke Tuesday night to the Tallahassee Quarterback Club and didn’t hide how much the situation has worn on him. He said he tried to gauge how fans feel about the direction of the program and about Mike Norvell, and came away believing some supporters have reached the point of wanting losses if they might speed up a coaching change.
“The most upset people are often the loudest, right? They’re the most vocal in their complaints,” Kanell said.
“I think it impacts the players on that field. I think it impacts the coaches in that room, and I think you can see it with Coach Norvell.
Watch him. Look at how much it is taking a toll on him to feel the pressure, the weight of the world.
“That every single week, if I don’t win this game, I’m gonna get fired. That is what I see from the outside.”
Florida State enters Saturday’s matchup against Virginia at 3:30 p.m. on ESPN2 with a 2-2 record. The Seminoles have not won a road game since 2023 and have dropped four straight against Power Four opponents, a run that includes losses to ranked teams SMU and Alabama this fall.
Even with that backdrop, Kanell is not writing off the season. He said he viewed the schedule as a difficult one before the year began and still sees a path to a respectable finish. In his view, an 8-4 record is realistic.
He also believes Florida State has the financial resources to stay competitive in the ACC. Kanell discussed how expensive roster building has become, but said FSU’s estimated $30 million budget should place it ahead of most league opponents. Because of that, he thinks the Seminoles ought to be winning more often.
“I still think eight wins should be the expectation, and I think nine wins is within reason,” Kanell said. “And then if it is short of that, I do think if you lose to some of these programs that are around us in spending (a team’s player acquisition budget), then I think it’s a reason to get upset. There’s some serious decisions that have to be made.”
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Florida States Latest Injury Report Could Change Everything Against Virginia
Florida State and Virginia both trimmed and trimmed again on the eve of their ACC matchup, and the availability report now looks more like a depth chart stress test than a routine pregame update. The Seminoles added linebacker Noah LaVallee to the injured list, bringing their total to 11 players out, even as several others were upgraded to probable and cleared from the report.
Virginias side of the equation is just as fluid, with running back Peyton Lewis and offensive lineman Grant Ellinger moved to out, while defensive end Devon Baxter is listed as doubtful. With a combined 25 players ruled out, the game now carries a different kind of edge, because these late changes could reshape how both teams manage the line of scrimmage and handle the physical demands of a conference night. [Read more 🡒]
Florida State Faces A Road Test That Will Reveal A Lot
Virginia arrives as a far more established road challenge than a casual glance at the schedule might suggest. Under Tony Elliott in his fifth year, the Cavaliers have shown steady improvement, and last seasons 11-win finish gave this matchup a different kind of edge. Florida State is getting a look at a team that can lean on an experienced offensive line, protect the football with efficiency, and keep drives moving with a quarterback who can beat defenses both through the air and on the ground.
Beau Pribulas dual-threat ability gives Virginia a layer of flexibility that has become hard to ignore, while the defense has matched that progress by holding opponents to just 14 points per game. Trey Kelleher of Streaking the Lawn frames the Cavaliers as a group with real strengths and a few areas where change could still come, which is exactly why this trip matters for Florida State. It is the kind of road test that can tell you plenty about where a team stands before the season gets much deeper. [Read more 🡒]
Mike Norvell Just Entered A Florida State Debate Fans Dread
Mike Norvells situation at Florida State has slid into the same uncomfortable neighborhood occupied by a few other high-profile coaches around the country, where recent results matter just as much as reputation. USCs Lincoln Riley is dealing with scrutiny after the loss to Oregon and a daunting stretch ahead, while South Carolinas Shane Beamer is trying to stop a losing streak with Kentucky up next. Norvell, meanwhile, is staring at the kind of October slate that can quickly change the tone around a season, and a 2-2 start has left little room for error.
For Florida State fans, the concern is less about one bad afternoon and more about where the conversation goes if the Seminoles do not turn things around soon. The pressure around Norvell is part of a broader coaching carousel mood, with big names facing questions and fan bases bracing for what comes next. In Tallahassee, though, the focus is much narrower: whether this team can steady itself before the schedule gets even less forgiving. [Read more 🡒]