FSU's Norvell focused on fresh start after 'awful year'
Head coach Mike Norvell says he's intent on guiding Florida State to a bounce-back campaign after his program staggered to a 2-10 record in 2024.
"You don't ever want to waste the experience. Last year was an awful year to have to go through and some of those experiences to have to live through," Norvell said on "Josh Pate's College Football Show."
"But you do get to reflect. You do get to apply the lessons that are learned."
The Seminoles fell off a steep cliff last season after posting a 13-1 record and winning the ACC championship in 2023. Last year's two wins marked the fewest in the program's history, dating back to 1974. FSU has compiled a 33-27 record across five seasons under Norvell.
Florida State's sideline boss partially attributed the squad's poor record last year to missing out on several key transfer portal additions. The Seminoles finished 132nd out of 134 FBS teams with 270.3 offensive yards per game while struggling to find consistency. Transfer quarterback DJ Uiagalelei had difficulty leading FSU before a finger injury sidelined him. Brock Glenn and Luke Kromenhoek alternated under center as the club attempted to find a solution on offense.
"We had some guys that came in that I believe had great potential that maybe last year didn't perform at an elite level, but I'm seeing the development," Norvell said.
Florida State prioritized recruiting talent via the transfer portal following last season. Quarterback Tommy Castellanos and receivers Duce Robinson and Squirrel White are among the notable additions to the roster.
Norvell also made changes to the team's coaching staff, hiring Guz Malzahn as his new offensive coordinator. The pair reunite after Norvell was Malzahn's graduate assistant at Tulsa in 2007 when Malzahn was the offensive coordinator.
"There's not many people in the country that I would have had the comfort, the peace, that would have fit the way that this does," Norvell said about working with Malzahn again.
Norvell added that there's a renewed sense of excitement within the program as the Seminoles embrace a "fresh start."
"From December, January, all the things that we've done, it's about this team going to be the best that it can," Norvell said. "I don't want to be a team that hopes for it. I want to be a team that, every step along the way, our actions are pushing toward the desired result. You got to earn that."
Florida State opens its season against Alabama on Aug. 30.