Florida State’s football future has become part of a wider campus conversation, and Mike Norvell said Wednesday he’s fully aware of where President Richard McCullough stands.
McCullough sent a letter Tuesday to Seminole fans after a season that has dropped Florida State to 3-4 and 1-3 in the ACC. In that message, he said the school is “methodically working on a plan,” noted that defining the role of the next athletics director is “nearing completion,” and said a search will begin “soon.” He also urged fans to fill Doak Campbell Stadium the rest of the way.
“We are not asking you to believe that everything is fine. We know it isn't,” McCullough wrote.
Asked about that message on Wednesday, Norvell said the two have been in contact.
“Definitely grateful for the leadership of President McCullough,” Norvell said. “We definitely stay in touch. We talked last week for a good amount of time and just to appreciate him, appreciate his vision for Florida State, his passion for Florida State.”
Norvell has spent much of the fall being asked about how his performance is being measured, and he didn’t cite any specific benchmark when talking Wednesday about the pressure that comes with results.
“We all have a job to do,” Norvell said. “At the end of the day, my job is to make sure that this football team is continuing to grow, to get better, to perform and to go out there and get the desired results. That's what we all aspire for on a daily basis, and that's what we're working towards.”
He also acknowledged the reality that evaluation follows the record.
“We've lost some close games here in the early part of the season, to some talented teams. There's areas we all get to continue to get better in.
I know that there's an evaluation process to this. President McCullough said big picture it goes to all of it,” Norvell said.
Even with the scrutiny around the program, Norvell made sure to emphasize his respect for McCullough.
“A lot of respect for him and the thoroughness of how he does the things that he does and decisions that he makes. A lot of success around his career, as well as his support team around him,” Norvell said. “I was aware of it, the statement, and like I said, I appreciate him.”
In Other News...
Florida State Clemson Week Just Got Bigger Than The Game
Florida States Halloween home date with Clemson is shaping up to be more than just a rivalry game. The school is planning themed events around the matchup, including a drone show and a Trunk or Treat, giving the night a little extra pageantry before the Seminoles even take the field. On top of the holiday atmosphere, the program will also honor Peter Warrick with an NFF College Football Hall of Fame On-Campus Salute during the game, adding a nod to one of the programs most recognizable former stars.
The bigger off-field storyline, though, may be what comes next for the athletic department. Florida State president Richard McCullough said the search for a new athletic director will begin soon, an important step as the school looks to steady its leadership picture while the football program keeps moving through a pivotal stretch. With Clemson coming to town on a night packed with events and recognition, it is the kind of weekend that blends celebration, tradition and a little uncertainty in Tallahassee. [Read more 🡒]
Florida State Fans Just Turned On Mike Norvell In Public
Frustration around Florida States football program has spilled beyond social media and into a public campaign aimed directly at Mike Norvell. Ahead of the upcoming game against Clemson, fans have started a GoFundMe to hire an aircraft to fly a banner over campus reading FIRE MIKE NORVELL, a stark sign of how quickly patience has worn thin as the Seminoles have struggled under the current regime.
The move also speaks to a broader sense that university leadership has not done enough to answer the programs slide, even with Norvells contract extension and buyout factors in the background. Whether the banner ever flies or not, the message is clear: a vocal segment of the fan base wants a much faster response to the on-field problems, and they are now making sure everyone inside and outside the stadium knows it. [Read more 🡒]
FSU Line Faces A Brutal Test With Ashton Daniels At Risk
Florida States offensive line has become the obvious pressure point as the Seminoles head into a matchup that will ask a lot more of Ashton Daniels than simply extending plays with his legs. Coach Hand has been clear that the group has to do a better job in pass protection if Daniels is going to work from a cleaner pocket, and the stakes are easy to see. Daniels has been one of Florida States most dangerous threats with 354 rushing yards and 11 touchdowns, but the protection issues have also helped contribute to eight interceptions under pressure.
Clemson is hardly the kind of defense that lets an offensive line ease into anything. The Tigers have piled up 20 sacks this season and have recently been smothering opponents on the ground, holding them to low rushing totals and keeping them out of the end zone. For Florida State, the challenge is bigger than just surviving a pass rush, because Daniels best traits and the Seminoles overall rhythm may depend on whether the pocket holds long enough for the offense to function the way it wants to. [Read more 🡒]