Could Losing to Alabama Finally End the Norvell Era at FSU?

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For the Florida State fans who chanted “Fire Mike Norvell” a week ago, could a blowout
loss to Alabama be enough to give them their wish?

According to a recent article by On3’s Pete Nakos, it just might be.

“If it’s ugly, I don’t know what’s going to happen,” a source told On3.
“He (Norvell) has to remain competitive to keep his job.”

With the Seminoles heading to Tuscaloosa as 19.5 to 20.5-point
underdogs, the pressure on Norvell has never been higher. Making matters worse,
Alabama enters the game motivated after losing to Florida State a year ago, and
if the Crimson Tide turns that motivation into a blowout, the Seminoles could
be left with little choice but to begin searching for Norvell’s replacement.

“I know there’s a lot of guys, including our staff, that certainly know
what it felt like last year walking off that football field,” Kalen DeBoer
said. “There’s certainly some guys I know remember how it felt.”

The Alabama game is only part of the problem facing Norvell. After AD
Michael Alford was let go, comments from Florida State President Richard
McCullough and Board Chair Peter Collins didn’t suggest Norvell will be leading
the program much longer. McCullough stated the obvious: coaches are in the
winning business. Collins, meanwhile, referred to Alford’s firing as the “first
step.”

With a 22–27 record in ACC play, it’s fair to say Norvell has struggled
to meet expectations when it comes to “winning business”, making moving on from
him the logical next step. And if Alabama covers the bookmakers’ spread, that
next step could come sooner rather than later.

“Three touchdowns. They put a number out there. They’re almost like
begging you to take Florida State. And they usually know something that we
don’t know,” Kirk Herbstreit said.

Norvell, despite the odds being stacked against him and all the negative
outside noise surrounding him and the program, has “all of his focus on the
game” and is approaching Saturday afternoon like his job is in jeopardy.

“All of our focus is going to be on this game. It’s a big game. It’s our
first road game of the season,” Norvell said. “It’s going to be a wonderful
opportunity for our team to go show their growth, coming off a disappointing
result a week ago.”

And despite the disappointing showing in the first two games, Norvell
hasn’t lost belief or confidence in this team and believes they can go on the
road and get the win over Alabama. If they do, it would be their first road win
since November 2023.

“I have a lot of belief, and I have a lot of confidence in what I know
this team can do,” Norvell said. “We get a great opponent and a great stage to
go showcase all of who we are, and the confidence comes through all the things
that you’ve done in your preparation, and I believe in this team.”

That belief will be tested Saturday against an Alabama team that has
looked strong through its first two wins of the season. Dual-threat quarterback
Keelon Russell has showcased his ability to make plays with both his arm and
his legs, something Florida State struggled to contain against SMU, when Kevin
Jennings totaled 430 passing yards and 33 rushing yards.

The strength of the Tide defense is stopping the run, allowing just 65
total rushing yards through its first two games. If Alabama can neutralize the
running game, the strength of the Seminoles’ offense, Norvell will need Ashton
Daniels to prove he can be the playmaker he believes him to be.

By Saturday night, Florida State may have a much clearer answer about
Norvell’s immediate future. If the Seminoles can stay competitive against
Alabama or pull off the upset, Norvell will most likely remain the head coach
for at least a few more weeks. But if Alabama turns the game into a blowout,
the pressure for Florida State to move on from Norvell could become impossible
to ignore.

The question now is whether fans are rooting for a win or for a game
that finally forces Florida State to move on from Norvell.

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