“I’m willing to do what’s necessary to make sure that we don’t ever have a season anywhere near what we put on display here this year.”
That was Mike Norvell’s promise after Florida State’s loss to Florida last November — the Seminoles’ 10th of the year. It was a lofty promise, especially after every press conference last fall became an echo chamber of the previous one, and one that can’t be fully lived up to until FSU takes the field in just over four months.
While the results are still pending, the actions to procure said changes have been in full swing since the winter. Norvell evaluated every aspect of the program, recognizing flaws in his approach and the team. The most immediate changes were bringing in an offensive-minded coach to take over playcalling and, instead of continually reverting to his coaching tree, hiring Tony White to coach the defense and allowing him to introduce a new staff and system to Tallahassee. The player evaluations have changed in the portal, and although I don’t like it, he has made a 180-degree turn in his policy with the media.
Will any of this translate to an exceptional turnaround?
That’s the goal, but really, truly, at this point in the year, who knows? I was not at practice and only attended one scrimmage, which was defensively favored, so I am flying blind.
But, after three months and being around the program, something feels different, and that is because it is.
No. 1: Mike Norvell’s most extensive evaluation was on himself
Besides the word “response,” Norvell uttered “evaluation” more than any other word throughout the 2024 season. He constantly mentioned that he was monitoring the program and that after the year ended, all aspects would be evaluated.
As mentioned earlier, the most significant change he made to the program was himself.
Change is hard, especially for a man making $10 million a year and who has won a conference championship. However, Norvell recognized his flaws and sought to correct them.
He noticed that he did not have a pulse of the team a season ago, and that players warrant an individualized approach in this day and age of college football. So, he transitioned into a CEO role, which many coaches in CFB are adopting, to help mentor and connect with his team more effectively. Instead of relying on his staff to mold players in the portal, he brought in veteran experience and proven leaders to take command of the locker room. Norvell spoke more honestly in the spring than in years past, openly sharing when his team did not meet expectations, rather than repeating the same words. After practice on April 8th, Norvell told reporters in Tallahassee, “There were times in practice where I just didn’t feel the edge that’s necessary. You know, we got challenged, held accountable, and we’re going to be better than what we were today.”
A new tone for a new season.
Again, does Norvell’s course correction lead to Florida State looking competitive against Alabama? I do not think anyone knows that answer. However, credit where credit is due, Norvell did not double down; he pivoted, which gives FSU a chance to rectify its mistakes.
No. 2: Don’t let the door hit you on the way out
Two quotes from Norvell stand out when sifting through the players who hit the portal in the spring.
After the Florida game: “It’s the coach’s responsibility; player’s choice. When it comes to the accountability of the actions that show up on the field, obviously did not do a good enough job as a coaching staff, and there is joint accountability in all of that.”
After early signing day: “If I haven’t seen it in any action or I don’t believe it, then they’re not going to be here…You’ll know through spring because thank God there’s another opportunity at the end of it for those that change their mind or can’t live up to that, they’ll have a path to do something else.”
Eight players entered their names into the portal, and at least half are surprising to me that they lasted with the program through spring. Jalen Brown was dismissed from the team, but even if he had not been arrested, how many receptions did he make past October 1st (zero), and how was his hustle after his role declined? Terrance Ferguson and Jaylen Early might be unfortunate from an offensive line depth perspective, but did they live up to expectations or take advantage of their opportunity? Aaron Hester and D’Nas White have potential, but that suggests the Desir brothers and Kevin Wynn are ahead of schedule.
The one loss that most upset the FSU public was Hykeem Williams’ departure, but take the emotions and recruiting rankings out of it; he did not produce. FSU has already expressed its thoughts on Williams by taking multiple big-bodied receivers from the portal, and On3 reported that he lined up visits to Syracuse, Pittsburgh, and Colorado (where he is going to sign), which sheds light on how the college football world views him.
None of these portal entries will affect the wins and losses on the field, but they do display Norvell and the coaching staff continuing to trim the weight from last season.
Happy portaling.
No. 3: Coaching matters
Gus Malzahn said that his offense and Norvell’s were siblings and there would be collaboration. Norvell and Malzahn may discuss offensive philosophy, but from attending the scrimmage, it appears that this is Malzahn’s offense, or at least Malzahn’s child, to maintain the family relationship, with Norvell serving as a distant uncle.
That is by design.
Norvell handed the keys to his mentor, and it will be up to the former Auburn head coach to extract all the juice from the ingredients given to him. If nothing else, Malzahn’s experience should revert Florida State to a more traditional style of football, rather than the random play-call generator a season ago. With head coaching experience, Malzahn’s influence rubbed off on Norvell in multiple ways, both on and off the field — a welcome sight, given Norvell’s youth as a coach. So far, the offense may not be where it needs to be, but Malzahn seems to be the right man for the job and is embracing the role of being “an old ball coach,” in his words.
Defensively, Florida State may have backdoored its way into a star.
Without knowing anything about FSU football, some might think Tony White is the head coach based on the way he carries himself, his attitude, and most of all, his personality. At every press conference, he is engaging, bright, and understands that defense and coaching are prone to errors; however, he emphasizes that the next play is most important.
“We’re trying to create a mindset where you give up a play, ‘so what?’ Play football.”
“You have to have guys that are just like water, calm out there.”
Most importantly, White seems to be an excellent teacher. The 3-3-5 scheme he implemented can be tricky for new players to learn, mainly because they have never played it before. However, during the scrimmage, the patented coverage busts from 2024 did not occur because the players communicated at a high level, understood their assignments, and reacted quickly off the ball — simple concepts for sure, but ones that were rarely displayed last year. Florida State will most likely need to rely on its defense for a winning season, and White seems up to the challenge.