By james art 
FSU head coach Mike Norvell talks about losing to North Carolina
FSU head coach Mike Norvell talks about losing to North Carolina
Time for Mike Norvell to have some uncomfortable conversations.
Florida State football is 1-8 and looking worse every week, with Saturday’s 35-11 loss to North Carolina the latest chapter in a disastrous season. The Seminoles are being washed into obscurity as this year ranks as one of the worst in program history.
Football is cruel and Norvell knows it. Change is inevitable and he seems to already have an idea of what’s coming.
“I appreciate everything. I have already appreciated many things. I care about these players. I don’t care about this year. I don’t care about this game we have to play today,” Norvell said. “Obviously I care about whoever is here next week. It’s my job to make sure everything I do can help put our players in the best possible position, and if that means making a change, then we’ll make the change.”
Fans are getting restless by the day. While Norvell admitted he didn’t hear the brief boos that echoed around Doak Campbell Stadium before fans headed for the exits early, he said he understood the frustration.
Sports is a business for what you have done for me lately, especially with fans who demand a certain level of performance from their teams. The answer to that question for Seminoles fans recently is that Norvell and staff haven’t done much.
If evaluations have already been made, especially in terms of coaching, it’s time for Norvell to introduce change.
He said he would only have those conversations if he believed a leader was having a “negative effect” on a player. With the ongoing struggles of the Seminoles everywhere, it’s hard to argue that negative effects aren’t being felt.
The Seminoles’ offense, in particular, has regressed in recent weeks, with total yards slowing and mistakes coming far too often.
Against the Tar Heels, FSU recorded a season-low 201 yards of total offense. If not for the incredible 85-yard touchdown run that featured two carries accounting for most of the yardage, FSU would have barely topped 100 yards of offense.
“I feel bad for everybody who has to watch what we put on display because they deserve better and so do these kids, to be honest with you,” Norvell said. “The coaches too.”
That sickness Norvell said he feels won’t just go away with a win next week, or even a win for the rest of the season. There are fundamental issues facing FSU that go beyond what happens on game day.
Recruiting has struggled, especially among the high school classes, as the Seminoles currently have just 11 recruits and seem to be losing more commitments each week.
The ratings on the transfer portal were clearly not up to par this season as these players made little to no impact. Most importantly, there is a lack of player development.
These are questions that go beyond X’s and O’s.
Norvell said he understands that apologies don’t mean much to fans who come to Doak with expectations of success, especially with how well FSU has played the past two seasons.
While Norvell said some evaluations have been made and more are sure to come, it’s time for decisions about what’s best for the future of the program.
He said he knows what it takes to reach the expectations he has for FSU, and it’s time to make sure he has the right personnel around him to reach those heights.
“We’re going to move forward and get this program back to where it needs to be in a very short amount of time,” Norvell said.
Yes, some issues on the field affect the players more than the coaches and even vice versa, but the reality is that FSU is struggling in fundamental areas. This is more than unacceptable at Division 1 level.
Coaching changes may not be immediate, but they are sure to come.
Norvell has earned the right to have more time at the helm of the Seminoles, but he needs to make the right changes to his staff to ensure the future is as bright and long-term as possible.
With three games left in the season, it may be unnecessary to sack or reassign anyone at this stage. But if results continue to suffer, both in terms of records and performance, there is almost an expectation that changes will be made.
Seminoles fans demand the best and expect those demands to be met more often than not. This season fell into the “no” category, and Norvell needs to make sure he has the pieces in place to make sure that doesn’t happen again.
“It’s my job to fix it,” Norvell said.
Liam Rooney covers Florida State athletics for the Tallahassee Democrat. Contact him by email at [email protected] or on Twitter @__liamrooney