Frustration Mounts in Tallahassee as FSU Fans Lose Faith in Norvell Era
It wasn’t long ago that Florida State was riding high, a 13-1 powerhouse finishing off a two-year stretch with 23 wins and a return to national relevance. Now, just two seasons later, the mood in Tallahassee has taken a hard left turn-and it’s not just the fans feeling the weight of disappointment. The program is facing serious questions about its direction, and head coach Mike Norvell is right in the middle of the storm.
College football analyst Josh Pate didn’t mince words in his latest podcast, capturing the growing sentiment among the FSU faithful. According to Pate, the fanbase isn’t just frustrated-they’re resigned.
“The mood at Florida State does not feel like the mood at Ohio State or Michigan or Georgia,” Pate said. “The best way I can describe the mood of the fanbase at Florida State is that they feel like they’re just kind of delaying the inevitable.”
That “inevitable,” in the eyes of many, is another coaching change.
Pate went on to suggest that Norvell’s continued presence at the helm has more to do with financial constraints than faith in his leadership. “Short of a miracle this year,” he said, “the feeling-not from me, but from Florida State fans-is they feel like, ‘Hey, it’s kind of obvious our administration retained Mike Norvell only because they couldn’t afford or didn’t want to pay the amount of money it would take to buy him out.’”
That’s a tough pill to swallow for a fanbase that once watched Norvell orchestrate one of the most impressive turnarounds in recent program history. But after a 3-0 start to the 2025 season-highlighted by a statement win over Alabama-the Seminoles collapsed, dropping seven of their final nine games and failing to win a single contest on the road.
They didn’t even reach bowl eligibility. For a program with FSU’s pedigree, that’s not just disappointing-it’s unacceptable.
The recent retirement of offensive coordinator Gus Malzahn only complicates matters. With Malzahn stepping away, Norvell has taken back control of the offense and promoted Tim Harris Jr. from within the staff. It’s a move born more out of necessity than strategy, and it underscores the challenges Norvell faces in building-and now rebuilding-a competitive staff.
And that’s where the recruiting angle comes in. As Pate pointed out, when a head coach is perceived to be on the hot seat, it becomes increasingly difficult to land top-tier talent-both on the field and on the sidelines. That kind of uncertainty can stall momentum in a hurry, especially in today’s college football landscape, where NIL deals and transfer portal movement have made program stability more important than ever.
The fans have noticed. The energy that once surrounded Norvell’s program has turned into a low simmer of frustration and skepticism.
Athletic director Michael Alford isn’t immune to the criticism either. If the 2026 season doesn’t bring a clear turnaround, both Norvell and Alford could find themselves on the wrong end of a major reset.
It’s a stunning fall from grace, especially considering how recently the Seminoles were making noise on the national stage. But as Pate summed it up, “They beat Alabama to start the year and STILL didn’t make a bowl game, so suffice to say that 2023 season might’ve been a decade ago.”
The question now is whether Norvell can pull off another miracle-or if Florida State is already bracing for the next chapter.