Florida State head coach Mike Norvell will not allow the media to watch his college football program during the spring practice period. This decision comes just one year after the Seminoles were ruthlessly mocked for running starting quarterback D.J. Uiagalelei through tackle drills.
It was almost as if they were preparing him to throw a lot of interceptions, which is exactly what happened. Uiagalelei was terrible and Florida State finished with a final record of 2-10.
Norvell does not want to make the same mistake twice. However, he claims that his decision to close his college football practices off from the media does not stem from last year’s catastrophe. I genuinely do not believe him, but that’s what he said. The 43-year-old offered the following explanation:
As I evaluated every aspect of our program this offseason, I came to the decision that the majority of this year’s spring practices will not be open to the media.
In my first five seasons here, we provided unmatched access to members of the media to observe practices during the spring, preseason camp and game weeks. I appreciate and respect the media’s role in telling the stories of the people in our program and keeping our fans informed.
In a day and age where so many people have access to our players, I want to create an atmosphere free of outside perspectives during our time of preparation and development. The availability of our program in terms of post-practice media opportunities and individual requests for players, coaches and staff members will remain the same.
This is not a suggestion that I think last season’s record had anything to do with media members observing our practices, especially after we won 19 games in a row in 2022 and 2023 with media at practice. However, this is the best decision for our program at this time.
— Mike Norvell
This latest statement directly goes against his thoughts from 2021. Florida State was coming off of a 3-6 season during the pandemic and Norvell wanted to make sure that members of the media had full access to the program.
I’ve always had a very open approach with media, just because I understand who we are, I understand what we’re about. I get to coach some incredible young men, and for their story to be told for the best illustration of what they go through and do what we do, I believe in the development of it. I’ve always had that mindset. And the job the media does in helping to tell our story is something that can be a great benefit for us in regards to recruiting.
And we want to help them build their brand and build their identity and help share their message. I’ve always thought that’s a critical piece to telling the story, because these guys, they work extremely hard.
Our coaches put in so much time. I think it’s a great opportunity, we’re very open with our assistant coaches in all aspects because one day, there’s quite a few coaches on my staff that I think will be head coaches. To help prepare them for that moment to be able to build those relationships with the media and be able to tell their stories, and who they are, so if a recruit does happen to watch they’ll get a sense of who it is they’re going to play for.
I just think it’s a remarkable opportunity for everybody involved
— Mike Norvell in 2021
Mike Norvell has the right to reverse course. Circumstances change. And to be fair, the media has had more access to the Seminoles than most other programs in recent years. It was commendable.
However, this kind of decision does not typically indicate that things are going well. For a head coach to shut down his practices one year after his quarterback became the butt of the joke on the internet, just months after the worst season in program history since 1974, is a sign of distress. Even if it makes sense.
Maybe Florida State will bounce back in a big way. Nobody is going to remember the media ban if it does. On the flip side of that conversation, everybody is going to remember the media ban if the Seminoles are as terrible as they were last season. To close the door on the media could be a very bad sign.