Florida State (3-1, 0-1 ACC) dropped its first game of the season on Friday, opening up ACC play with a 46-38 double overtime loss to the Virginia Cavaliers (4-1, 2-0 ACC).
“We knew this would be a highly emotional game. We knew that we were going to get their best shot throughout it,” head coach Mike Norvell said. “Got to give credit to Virginia. They made the plays that were necessary throughout the course of the game.”
Florida State dug itself into a hole early, coughing up two turnovers to give
Virginia a 14-0 lead in the first quarter. From there, FSU managed to tie things up and stay in the game, but failed to score on its second overtime possesion to hand Virginia the win.
“They started fast, took advantage of some of the mistakes we had early,” Norvell said. “We turned the ball over, had some big penalties that set us behind the chains. Just did not get off to the start that we needed to have. But I was pleased with the way our guys responded, to be able to come back, to be able to take a lead, and then unfortunately give the touchdown right there before half. Got to give credit to the back — he ran through a big collision — but obviously areas where we’ve got to be better.”
“Defensively, we’ve got to continue to take advantage of opportunities to be able to get off the field. Just too many drives that were extended on third and fourth downs. I was pleased with the takeaways. I thought guys did rise up and make plays throughout. Obviously we’ve got to continue to impact the quarterback. They were able to do a good job in the run game against us. They made one more play than what we did.”
Norvell acknowledged the tightness of the matchup, one that FSU outgained Virginia in but still lost, hoping that his team takes lessons from the loss as it preps for a showdown vs. Miami next weekend.
“There’s multiple opportunities throughout that contest — any different result on probably 20 or 30 plays, it’s going to be a different outcome at the end. But that’s football. When you come on the road, Friday night, big game for all of us, being our conference opener — they had plenty of passion and the crowd was impactful. For us, we’ve got to focus on the things that we can control and start better.“
“I am pleased with the response I saw from our guys, but obviously it wasn’t enough at the end. We’ve got to go back to work. We lost our first conference game. We have nothing but an opportunity in front of us this next week in a huge game for us, for our program, for our university, getting back home against a very talented team. There are some big steps we need to take as a football team — in how we handle the environment, the emotions, and make sure our execution and discipline are what they need to be throughout a 60-plus minute game. I know our guys will respond, and we’ve got to put everything we have into this week that’s ahead.“
Opening Statement
All right. Obviously extremely disappointed with the outcome of tonight. We knew this would be a highly emotional game. We knew that we were going to get their best shot throughout it. Got to give credit to Virginia. They made the plays that were necessary throughout the course of the game.
They started fast, took advantage of some of the mistakes we had early. We turned the ball over, had some big penalties that set us behind the chains. Just did not get off to the start that we needed to have. But I was pleased with the way our guys responded, to be able to come back, to be able to take a lead, and then unfortunately give the touchdown right there before half. Got to give credit to the back — he ran through a big collision — but obviously areas where we’ve got to be better.
Defensively, we’ve got to continue to take advantage of opportunities to be able to get off the field. Just too many drives that were extended on third and fourth downs. I was pleased with the takeaways. I thought guys did rise up and make plays throughout. Obviously we’ve got to continue to impact the quarterback. They were able to do a good job in the run game against us. They made one more play than what we did.
There’s multiple opportunities throughout that contest — any different result on probably 20 or 30 plays, it’s going to be a different outcome at the end. But that’s football. When you come on the road, Friday night, big game for all of us, being our conference opener — they had plenty of passion and the crowd was impactful. For us, we’ve got to focus on the things that we can control and start better.
I am pleased with the response I saw from our guys, but obviously it wasn’t enough at the end. We’ve got to go back to work. We lost our first conference game. We have nothing but an opportunity in front of us this next week in a huge game for us, for our program, for our university, getting back home against a very talented team. There are some big steps we need to take as a football team — in how we handle the environment, the emotions, and make sure our execution and discipline are what they need to be throughout a 60-plus minute game. I know our guys will respond, and we’ve got to put everything we have into this week that’s ahead.
During the review of Deuce’s catch, were you able to see a replay?
I tried to. Looking up at the board, you couldn’t really see the feet and just how everything timed with it. I thought there was possession and a couple steps, but it was hard for me to see exactly where the feet were.
What do you attribute the defensive line struggles to in the game and Virginia’s success?
I thought Virginia did a good job of staying multiple in what they did with the different run schemes. Obviously it’s a good offense. They’ve been averaging a lot of yards and points. We have to be better. They were able to create some seams. There were some times where we weren’t all on the same page of where we needed to be, and that has to get corrected. Those are some of the things we’ve talked about the last few weeks. You play a team that can expose that. It creates plenty of challenges throughout a game, and that showed up. We’ve got to be better.
What did you learn from Tommy today?
I thought he responded throughout. We had the early interception off the tip. Those are things we’ll continue to work on. But he’s a competitor. He did what he needed to do to help lead the team back when we were down and put us in a good position late with some big plays — some with his feet, some with his arm. I’ve got a lot of confidence in what he’ll do and where we’ll go from this because of the examples that were put out there tonight. I love coaching him. You feel his passion and desire. He has areas of growth in front of him, but I believe he’ll do what’s necessary to take that step.
Are you concerned with pass rush at this point?
I thought there were times where Virginia did a good job mixing it up, getting the ball out quick. We were able to create some pressure, but just not finishing. When they tried more of their intermediate passing game, we were there, but they did a good job getting the ball out. Yes, we’ve got to do a better job of creating a pass rush and make sure we’re finishing on the quarterback when we get those opportunities. That’s going to be a big focus moving forward.
In the run game, edge control — trying to contain that running?
There were definitely some issues that showed up where we’ve got to be better. Credit to Virginia. They did some good things formationally and with the different ways they attacked, trying to create leverage on the edge. But obviously we have to be better.
Did you feel there was a lack of focus or readiness at the start?
You come on the road, you’ve got to play disciplined football. We had some self-inflicted issues early in the game that you can’t have. I don’t think it was looking past anybody. I knew what the environment would be. I don’t think it was lack of preparation, but we did not execute like we needed to at the start of this game.
You talked last year about not responding well to adversity. What have you seen this year?
I think we’ve seen it early in the season. In the first game, you saw guys respond when things didn’t go exactly how we wanted. You saw that tonight. We did not finish with the outcome we desired, but you saw a response. We’ve got to find a way to play a cleaner football game and be better in our execution. When you’re playing against a talented group, it magnifies the self-inflicted things. We’ve got to get better from that. But I believe in how this team works and what they’ll do. Even tonight, they showed a response. It just wasn’t good enough at the end.
On Virginia’s physicality finishing runs:
Some of it was technique. Their running back — that’s his MO. He’s done that in every game. You better drive your feet through him, wrap up, and get a lot of jerseys on him. He’s a talented, tough runner. I didn’t think we weren’t physical, but there were missed opportunities. We’ve got to be the enforcer, knock people back on contact, and get more people to the ball.
On the fourth-down attempt late in regulation:
It was defended well. Play-action with multiple options. We didn’t get quite the release we wanted with one of the receivers, and they covered it well. Credit to them.
Did you think at all about going for it in overtime instead of the field goal?
If it was maybe a couple yards — a one- or two-yard situation — but I felt good about Jake in that situation. The play before was very close. Ultimately Jake answered the call. We forced the next overtime. It was close, but I trusted him.
On the field-storming:
It happened pretty fast, but I’m not sure of any issues. We got everybody in the locker room.
With so many players in their first big road game, what did you learn?
It’s twofold. We’ve got a good number of guys who’ve been in challenging atmospheres and played in big games. But this was the first time with a lot of guys together here. On a short week, playing a talented team, when negative plays show up, you can’t let one negative become another. I thought our guys responded throughout the course of the game. For some younger guys, this was their most extensive opportunity.
It’s extremely disappointing. This team has done a really good job in the way they’ve gone about their business in work and preparation. But whether it’s atmosphere, the game, offense, defense — you can’t get distracted by circumstances. You’ve got to make sure we’re getting the call, executing our job, and putting our best on display. There were plays tonight where that didn’t happen. We all have to take ownership — coaches, players, everybody involved. We’ll watch the film, fix what needs fixing, and continue to improve. It just wasn’t good enough to get the win.
