When Will FSU Finally Get Serious About Winning Again?

Clemson and Florida State kicked off in prime time, with a small plane flying over Doak Campbell Stadium before the game, carrying a “Fire Mike Norvell + Peter Collins” banner.

Despite the fans displaying their opinion on what direction the program should head in, Norvell still believed there was a bright future ahead for Florida State.

“Our best days are in front of us, and it starts tonight,” Norvell said.

Well, the Seminoles’ best days didn't begin Saturday night, as Florida State fell 36-24 to Clemson. Instead, it was déjà vu for fans who headed to Doak Campbell Stadium to support the “student-athletes,” as Florida State President Richard McCullough asked, only to witness another disappointing loss.

And while the fans showed up, McCullough’s letter did little to change their opinion, as boos rang out throughout the game.

Their reaction showed the frustration with the football program and the man leading the program.

The good news for Norvell is that he won't have to worry about seeing another banner flying over the stadium calling for his firing, with Florida State heading on the road for its next two games.

The bad news for Norvell is that he hasn't found a way to win a road game since beating Florida on Nov. 25, 2023. His last road win against a conference opponent came on Nov. 4, 2023, against Pitt.

He also once again failed to meet the expectations outlined in the job description he laid out before the Clemson game.

“My job is to make sure that this football team is continuing to grow, to get better, to perform, and to go out there and to get the desired results,” Norvell said.

Making matters worse for Norvell, regardless of what happens over the next two games, it likely won't be enough to even start changing the minds of the majority that wants to see the program move in a different direction.

Florida State once again failed to take advantage of the extra preparation time coming out of a bye week, following another disappointing performance after its Week 3 loss to Alabama, 50-36.

Heading into the game with extra time to prepare and Clemson coming off a hard-fought loss to West Virginia the previous week, Norvell’s team appeared to be in a good position to get back to .500 and move one step closer to bowl eligibility.

Instead, Florida State's performance left many questioning what they did in the two weeks before the game.  

Florida State finished with 350 passing yards and two touchdowns, but 195 of those yards came in the fourth quarter, when the outcome was seemingly already decided. Ashton Daniels threw two touchdown passes but had an even more costly outing, tossing three interceptions.

Norvell also had two weeks to find answers for replacing the production of Ousmane Kromah, the Seminoles’ leading rusher, after he suffered an ankle injury against Miami. With Florida State managing just 65 rushing yards, Norvell clearly failed to provide the answers the running game needed.

While it’s easy to spend someone else’s money, an estimated $51 million buyout for Norvell, combined with the cost of buying out the remaining staff and hiring a new one, makes moving on an expensive proposition.

However, Florida State is approaching a breaking point where the administration can't ignore the cries for change any longer. Eventually, it will have to listen to its fans and consider moving on from Norvell, regardless of the massive financial consequences.

Especially after the president decided to put pen to paper and tell fans he understands their frustration and shares their expectations.

“I hear you. I understand your frustration. And I share your expectations for Florida State football,” President McCullough wrote. “We are not asking you to ignore the results. We are committed to changing them. And we are not asking you to believe that everything is fine. We know it isn't.”

Norvell can continue talking about a bright future and program growth, but at some point, that talk must translate into wins. After another disappointing loss, it's becoming increasingly difficult to find anyone who believes Norvell can turn those promises into results.

If the season continues to fall apart, Florida State's administration will eventually have to decide what will cost the program more: moving on from Norvell or continuing down the same path until finding donors and fans willing to contribute becomes nearly impossible.