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The Florida State football program is in a state of disarray according to recent reports. The team is riding a four-game ACC losing skid. Players have lost faith in the coaching staff.
This comes as speculation surrounding Mike Norvell’s future in Tallahassee grows. Will he be the Seminoles‘ head coach next year?
That is a question that’s yet to be determined. We do know, however, that Norvell is safe for now.
Florida State will not fire its football coach… yet.
Athletic director Michael Alford had the following to say about Norvell’s outlook following a loss to Stanford.
“We rightfully have high expectations… We embrace those expectations while also sharing the deep disappointment when results on the field are short of that standard.
“As we continue to move forward this season, our comprehensive assessment of the football program will be completed at season’s end. Meanwhile, we are fully committed to helping Coach Norvell and the 2025 Seminoles strongly rebound in the coming weeks.“
-Michael Alford
Mike Norvell led Florida State to a 13-0 regular season in 2023. Since, he’s just 5-15 with a 1-11 mark in ACC play.
Frustrations have grown this year. A Week 1 upset of Alabama has long been forgotten. The Seminoles are winless in league action. The most recent setback was believed to be the final straw.
Florida State lost in an empty stadium to a 2-4 Stanford team. Boosters reportedly discussed their options on the flight back home.
It’s a long flight from Palo Alto to Tallahassee. Many boosters, per sources, spent those trips back commiserating and planning…
[Norvell’s] buyout of around $55 million, per Noles247, no longer seems like a major roadblock to making a change many around the program view as necessary.
Mike Norvell has lost the fanbase… and his team.
Hummer’s report expressed the concerns amongst boosters. It also unveiled potential locker room issues.
Florida State football players are said to have mocked Norvell after the upset loss to the Cardinal. They would not take his pep talk about bouncing back seriously.
Some believe Norvell’s message is getting lost on his team. After the loss to Stanford, a source told CBS Sports that players were cracking jokes in the locker room about having to “respond” yet again.
“Respond” is a common phrase for Norvell to his team as losses mount. CBS Sports’ Brandon Marcello, who spent Saturday in the ACC replay center, said on the College Football Insiders that he could see Florida State’s sideline in the All-22 camera view and was struck by the lack of player engagement.
Effort is not there. Respect has been lost. It seems the Seminoles have given up on their head coach.
Administration, however, has not. That could be due to his massive buyout.
Should the school fire Norvell this season, it would be forced to pay between $55-60 million. When adding in the buyouts of assistants like Gus Malzahn, and the cost of bringing in the next staff, that total grows to nearly $100 million.
For now, the ‘Noles are delaying that decision. They’ll reassess at season’s end.