Following Florida State’s loss to Stanford last month, FSU’s administration issued a statement on head coach Mike Norvell’s future, saying that after the season, the program’s “high expectations” would
play a factor in the eventual decision on retaining him.
Asked point blank by local media on Friday after another Florida State road loss if the Seminoles were living up to those expectations, Norvell said “hell no.”
“We’re not even close to living up to expectations…we’re a fully capable football team and that’s not good enough, it’s not been good enough for the six losses we have. It’s extremely frustrating — It’s extremely frustrating, however many yards, differentials, improvements, all the crap, you’ve got to make plays to win the game.”
Florida State once again fell behind early in its loss to NC State, failing to score a touchdown until the fourth quarter in hopes of finally pulling off a fourth-quarter comeback. Those efforts were dashed not by one, but two punt return fumbles that eventually led to a 24-11 final score.
“Just too many missed opportunities,” he said in his opening statement. “Not good enough offensively. We were able to move the ball, but either a dropped pass, missed opportunity, just for you to be able to continue a drive. We did have a turnover there on the positive side of the field. You miss field goals. Tou’ve got to put points on the board. And we’ve been on the road, and we failed to do that numerous times.”
Florida State’s hopes of going to a bowl — and potentially Norvell’s hopes of keeping his job — now rest on winning next week in Gainesville.
“I’ve got faith that everything does happen for a reason,” he said to conclude his postgame availability. “And I’m not alone on this journey. I understand the importance of the work, of what needs to be done, of owning what you see, and we all have responsibility in that. As a head coach, I’ve got responsibility for everything that we see. There are some things that are unexplainable of how and why. But we have to live with it.
“I’m not pulling back. I’m going to continue to push forward with everything that I have to get it fixed, to get it right. Every opportunity and every day I have — that’s what it’s going to be. I can’t answer the question of how or why but hell yeah, it’s frustrating. I do believe there will be a lesson to be told and a story to be told throughout this. And I do have faith that it happens for a reason. But it is frustrating to have to go through it all.“
His full availability can be seen below:
