Florida State (3-3, 1-2 ACC) turns its attention to No. 3 Miami (5-0, 3-0 ACC) after a 44-20 loss at Louisville in which the Seminoles led 14-0 before being outscored 44-6. Mike Norvell, offensive coordinator Tim Harris Jr., and defensive coordinator Tony White met with reporters Monday. Miami is a 21.5-point favorite for Saturday’s 7 p.m. game at Hard Rock Stadium.
Norvell opened by addressing the language he used in postgame availability, dropping an f-bomb:
“I do want to take a minute to apologize.
I was obviously frustrated there in postgame, and I had some words that I’d definitely like to have back.”
He noted the fast start before the collapse.
“I thought our guys came out as we’ve done on the road and started really fast. I thought the guys were prepared, ready to play.”
The turning point was Seminoles’ failed red-zone trip up 14-0 immediately followed by Isaac Brown’s 97-yard touchdown. Louisville finished with 397 rushing yards (Brown had 235) and 537 total yards to FSU’s 370.
“The red zone miss … you had four opportunities, didn’t get in. And then subsequently the 97-yard touchdown … that was a gut punch. Did not like how we responded.”
“That’s where you got to be able to trust all elements of who you are, what you’re doing, the importance of the details and discipline in those situations. And we didn’t do a good enough job of handling that.”
“Those three quarters were just extremely poor of our response. … We have to go out there and we have to get the job done.”
On the sideline and leadership after the swing:
“None of us were good enough when it came to what was needed because we didn’t apply it.”
“You’re going to get punched in the face. … You got to maintain your control. You got to maintain your focus.”
He still expects a better response this week.
“I fully do expect this team to rise up and to go perform at a very high level. It’s not a motivational issue. Right now, it’s handling the emotional swings.”
Norvell on the defense overall:
“We want to be a defense that sets the edge. … We’re not doing that good enough. (Run defense is) 11 guys playing as one. … My expectation is to see extreme growth and extreme improvement.”
On Miami quarterback Darian Mensah:
“He’s playing as good as any quarterback in the country. Extremely accurate, gets the ball out of his hands, tough to pressure. He’s really good against the blitz. He’s as good as what they’ve had.”
Norvell on Duce Robinson:
“We need Duce Robinson to be a major impact for this team, and I feel like he is and he will continue to be. We do want more production with opportunities.”
White on FSU’s rivalry with Miami:
“This is the game. This is a personal one. This is rivalry. This is history. This is tradition. We don’t like them. They don’t like us. I get it.”
White on the momentum-shifting 97-yard touchdown run:
“I know it all starts with me, and I know that first long touchdown run … that was 100% me.”
Harris on the big game versus Miami:
“I tell our players all the time, these are the games why you come to Florida State. These are the ones you think about.”
