Florida State head coach Mike Norvell may not have taken his team to the College Football Playoff, but it's clear just how much he cares about his program.
The Florida State Seminoles have had a tough month or so. They went undefeated and won the Atlantic Coast Conference Championship but then were left out of the College Football Playoff. And players then opted out of the Orange Bowl for a plethora of reasons, leading up to FSU's 63-3 loss to Georgia. However, coach Mike Norvell didn't let all that take away from the team's accomplishments this season.
Mike Norvell delivers one hell of a speech after Orange Bowl loss to Georgia
? via @FSUFootball pic.twitter.com/uablGnO3Ng
— Zach Blostein (@ZBlostein247) January 2, 2024
It was the first time in the College Football Playoff era that a Power 5 team went undefeated, won their conference title and missed the playoff.
But with no hopes of a national title, players began opting out. They included backup quarterback Tate Rodemaker, who transferred; and wide receivers Keon Coleman and Johnny Wilson, who are headed to the NFL.
In the Orange Bowl slaughter by the Bulldogs, quarterback Brock Glenn — who had started for FSU in its ACC Championship Game victory — completed nine of 26 passes for 139 yards and two picks.
Regardless, Norvell didn't let that get to him. Instead, he delivered a passionate speech to his team after the loss:
"Whatever the reason, why things happen, I don't know all the time. And neither will you. Because in life there's going to be a lot of things you can not explain, you can not put your finger on, but ultimately you're going to always have a choice. You're going to have a choice about what you want to do, how you want to do it, what you want it to look like. I've told you since the very first day that I came here, hard work does not guarantee success. It doesn't. And it never will. But it absolutely will put you in the best position to be able to achieve it. I think that's one thing that we've seen throughout the course of this season. We have some remarkable men that are sitting here in front of me. The work you put in, the decision you made, just to say 'yes.' Because it's really easy when things don't go well, and you hurt, and you're angry, and you're sad, the easiest thing is to pull back and stop. That's what the world wants you to do. Because there's only a select few people that are willing to freaking fight. And I am grateful for you. I'm grateful for what you've done. I'm grateful for what you are. You deserve better than that. So I apologize to you. For you guys who are playing your last game, you had a season that'll be remembered forever. And I respect the hell out of who you are for being in here today, for stepping on that field and going and giving it everything. Forever, you have my respect. I love this football team. I love each and every one of you. And I just want you to go get all of it of what this world has for you, because you are a special group."
The catalyst for Florida State being omitted from the College Football Playoff was quarterback Jordan Travis suffering a horrific leg injury toward the end of the season.
Now, Norvell and the Seminoles look for revenge in 2024. They'll do so without Travis, but are bringing in a new quarterback from the transfer portal in DJ Uiagalelei from Oregon State. The veteran quarterback has started for both Oregon State and Clemson, bringing plenty of experience to a Florida State team hoping to make the 12-team College Football Playoff in 2024.
