FSU coach Mike Norvell passionately defends direction of program after 0-4 start

With Florida State off to its worst start in 47 years, Seminoles coach Mike Norvell spoke vehemently when asked how he’s been able to sell recruits on the direction of the struggling program.

“I’m pissed off that we’re 0-4 and we can bring up how many years it’s been. I can’t control that. I can control this team at this moment,” Norvell said Monday. “We’re going work our butts off to go get better and we’re going to do it the right way.”

It was another disappointing loss for FSU, one in which the Seminoles fell behind by 24 points in the first half and saw a furious second-half rally fall short to Louisville, 31-23. It’s the first time the program started 0-4 since 1974.

“Everybody’s disappointed. It hurts and it’s painful to sit there and be where we are right now,” said Norvell. “We come in as a coaching staff, we come in as players and we see the film. We see the results of our actions. They’re all things that need to be fixed and can be fixed.”

Norvell credits his team for fighting back against the Cardinals, who jumped out to a 17-0 first-quarter lead.

“Guys continued to believe, they continued to fight and they helped put us in a position to have a chance to win the game,” he added.

Critics have used the dismal start to call in question Norvell’s job status. The 39-year-old is off to a 3-10 start, which is worse than his predecessor Willie Taggart, who started 5-8 through the first 13 games. FSU fired Taggart nine games into his second year.

FSU athletics director David Coburn threw his support behind Norvell at a board of trustees meeting on Friday.

“On football, I have just three things to say,” Coburn said, according to the Tallahassee Democrat. “One, we have the right guy. Two, we will improve. And three, we will win. That’s going to happen.”

Norvell continues to preach patience but as losses pile up, there are concerns of the long-term impact on the recruiting trail.

FSU has a top 10 class in the 2022 recruiting cycle and a top-five class set for 2023. The Seminoles haven’t signed a top 10 class since 2017.

“We’re continuing every day to go out there and prove, to put our guys in the best position to be successful,” Norvell said of his message to recruits and their families about the status of the program. “We’re going through the process. It’s not what anybody hoped for and it’s not what anybody wanted to be. But there are areas we’re seeing growth. It’s just not showing up for three-and-a-half hours of consistent play, and we’ve not done the things necessary to win those games.”

But when pressed how he can sell progress on an 0-4 team, Norvell took exception.

“They watch the games, too. They see the opportunities for themselves and I have a belief in who they are,” he said. “I’ve been a part of teams that have been on a losing streak. They didn’t get caught up with all the crap on the outside. Everybody telling you what you can’t do. It’s easy to point at that, but who wants to be a part of the solution? Those are the guys we’re going after.

“We’re setting the foundation and we’re doing it the right way. I’m excited about the guys that we’re recruiting because I’m excited about the guys that say yes.”

Norvell went on to add that he feels there are plenty of those types of players already on the roster.

“As a fan, I would be pissed off at 31-7. Some of them stayed and some of them didn’t. Those [fans] didn’t get to see a team that came back and responded and played their butts off until the end,” he said. “We came up short, but they did not stop. … That’s what I want. Because if you have that then you might get your butt knocked down but you’re going to get up and you’re going to respond the right way.”

FSU hosts Syracuse at Doak Campbell Stadium Saturday with kickoff set for 3:30 p.m. on ACC Network.