Three reasons to trust head coach Mike Norvell to revive FSU football are his proven leadership, strong recruiting, and track record of program improvement.
I understand that some fans may strongly disagree with my perspective on head coach Mike Norvell. However, there’s no way to soften the reality that Florida State’s 2-10 record in 2024 was unacceptable, as the program should be competing for conference and national titles.
After the season opener in Dublin against Georgia Tech, fans likely sensed that things might not go as planned. The 2024 season was a disaster and should be forgotten. Even Norvell acknowledged it fell below the program’s standards, hinting at major changes ahead. Still, I’ll outline three reasons why he should be trusted to turn Florida State around.
23 PROVED SUCCESS IS POSSIBLE
I’m not the type to dwell on the past like Miami Hurricanes fans who claim they’re “back” every year despite not winning a national title since 2001.
However, Florida State was at the top of college football in 2023, thanks to stars like Jordan Travis, Trey Benson, Johnny Wilson, Keon Coleman, and Jaheim Bell. That all changed on November 18th when Travis suffered a season-ending injury against North Alabama, forcing the Seminoles to rely on backups Tate Rodemaker and Brock Glenn.
Despite finishing the regular season undefeated and winning the ACC, the College Football Playoff committee snubbed them in favor of a one-loss Alabama team, citing Travis’s injury.
Still, I believe 2024 was just an outlier. Norvell has a winning mentality, and the Seminoles are poised to get back on track.
TRUSTING MALZAHN TO FIX THE OFFENSE
Florida State had one of the worst offensive units in the country in 2024, a stark contrast to its “Built for Playmakers” motto. The offense struggled across the board—quarterbacks couldn’t push the ball downfield, running backs lacked rushing lanes, receivers were inconsistent, and the offensive line failed in both pass protection and run blocking.
Despite hiring offensive coordinators in the past, Mike Norvell has always had the final say on offense, earning a reputation as one of college football’s top playcallers. However, after last season’s disaster, he made the bold decision to hand over offensive control to former UCF head coach Gus Malzahn—a respected offensive mind and a product of Norvell’s coaching tree.
It takes humility for a head coach to relinquish playcalling duties for the team’s success, and Norvell made that tough but necessary move.
NORVELL’S LAST CHANCE TO PROVE HIMSELF
After Alabama showed interest in Mike Norvell following Nick Saban’s retirement, Florida State responded by giving him a $10 million contract extension, making him one of the highest-paid coaches in college football. While it’s unclear if Norvell was Alabama’s top choice, the possibility of losing him forced FSU into a major financial commitment.
Norvell has invested in the program, including a $4.5 million donation to the Vision of Excellence campaign, but a 2-10 season is simply unacceptable. This raises the question—without that extension, would he still be in Tallahassee after last season’s collapse?
FSU has money tied up in stadium renovations, a new football facility, and its effort to leave the ACC, making it crucial for Norvell to quiet the hot seat talk in 2025. The school is giving him every resource to succeed, from hiring six new assistants to adding talent through recruiting and the transfer portal.
Now, with his back against the wall, Norvell must prove he can turn things around—something Seminole fans are banking on.
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