Norvell’s message to Florida State players: ‘I will be better’

Mike Norvell knows that he’s essentially the CEO of Florida State football. Even if it’s his players who are struggling on the field — and they certainly are — he’s ultimately the person who is going to take the most blame as head coach of the Seminoles.

“I can sit in front of you and tell you I haven’t been good enough,” Norvell told the media in a news conference on Monday (h/t On3).

FSU is currently suffering through one of the most disastrous starts to a season, likely in college football history. The Seminoles are 0-3 with losses to Georgia Tech, Boston College and Memphis.

No offense to those programs, but Florida State was predicted to be a College Football Playoff team this season. It’s not like the Seminoles have lost to Alabama, Georgia and USC. 

Most looked at FSU’s early schedule and saw a 3-0 start. Now, FSU is one of the laughingstocks of college football and there’s a chance Norvell can’t get his team out of this tailspin.

For what it’s worth, Norvell is confident that he can coach his team out of this funk, but as with anything, it all starts with the top down. He needs to be better as a head coach in order for his players to step up as well.

“I can firmly stand in front of our players and say, ‘Look, I will be better,’” Norvell said. “And you know, it’s through the work, it’s through making sure that, you know, the things that we see, that we’re that we’re trying to do … We’ve got to be able to translate that. And so, you know, we’re all in this thing together. But you know, for however it sounds, I know my capabilities as well and, you know, I’m very confident in what that will be.”

Norvell may be confident but FSU is at a point where even the next two games against Cal and SMU aren’t going to be “gimme’s”. That’s not to mention upcoming clashes with Clemson, Miami and Notre Dame.

It’s been a tough start but there are still challenges ahead from FSU. At this point, a 9-3 finish with a berth in the CFP would be miraculous. For now, though, perhaps the Seminoles simply should focus on winning one game.