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Florida State Seminoles football coach Mike Norvell looked like he was turning things around from a dreadful 2-10 finish last year, but now FSU is 3-3 after three consecutive losses to the Miami Hurricanes, Virginia Cavaliers, and Pitt Panthers.
Florida State’s 34-31 loss to Pitt on Saturday was particularly brutal. The Panthers were coming off a 1-2 stretch with losses to the Louisville Cardinals and West Virginia Mountaineers, the latter of which only had a win over the Robert Morris Colonials.
USA Today’s Dan Rorabaugh believes the idea of firing Norvell should at least be on the table for Michael Alford and Co.
“Florida State football coach Mike Norvell is in deep trouble after a home loss to Pittsburgh,” Rorabaugh prefaced before asking, “Could the team decide it's worth any cost to fire him and start over?
“That would cost a pretty penny, especially considering the recent $265 million renovations to Doak Campbell Stadium, not to mention the $18 million FSU just finished paying Willie Taggart after his firing in 2019. Compared to Taggart, though, Norvell's buyout would amount to chump change.
“Such drastic measures might be called for after the Seminoles' latest debacle. After a 3-0 start kick-started by an exciting win against Alabama, FSU has fallen hard back to earth with three straight losses. Tony White's defense has been overwhelmed by high-powered offenses in Virginia, Miami and most recently Pitt, with Tommy Castellanos and the revamped offense under Gus Malzahn hasn't been able to keep up the pace after being No. 1 in the nation over the first month of 2025.”
FSU has a mostly favorable slate down the stretch. After a 3-3 start, a seven-win campaign seems within grasp. Whether that’s good enough to justify continuing to pay Norvell is another question.
It’s nice to renovate the facilities, but top recruits and swarms of fans won’t fill them unless there’s a product worth believing in.
Norvell had that for a few weeks after a stunning 31-17 upset of the Alabama Crimson Tide in Week 1. The Seminoles may have peaked right then and there, unfortunately.
As for Norvell, that may have happened at the 2023 ACC Championship Game. The time to accept that may be now for FSU’s brain trust.
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