Florida State University
Football Media Conference
Saturday, October 11, 2025
Tallahassee, Florida, USA
Coach Mike Norvell
Press Conference
Pitt 34, Florida State 31
MIKE NORVELL: Unfortunately, you know, coming out of
today, the things that expected to see, you know, coming
off the week of work, coming off the challenge, you know,
not applied well enough.
You know, ultimately, still too many mistakes. You know,
we had our opportunities. We found ourselves in situations
to be able to capitalize and then obviously found ourselves
in some challenging spots throughout the course of the
game.
We didn’t do enough to overcome the negative plays.
Obviously had some missed opportunities and some
self-inflicted mistakes that cost us big in this game.
We did have some injuries, guys that went down, but we
had plenty of opportunities. That’s a team that you would
say it’s a good enough team that if you put yourself in
those situations they can take advantage of it.
There are some things coaching, player-wise, things that
are emphasized, things we have to get fix and applied to
be able to come out victorious.
At the end of the day we got three straight weeks finishing
the game with a one-possession loss, and there is too
many things that have showed up that have kept us from
that.
You know, ultimately, it all falls on my shoulders that we’re
not getting it done. So we need to, as a group, talking to
the guys in the locker room, it’s a pissed off football team.
You can be pissed off, but we got to see application and
execution in the moment from all of us, every one of us, of
what we want it to look like, what we want it to be, and to
get the job done to come out on top.
And so, you know, this team, I believe they will continue to
fight. I believe they you’ll get everything they have and we
will get it right. Obviously everything that’s in front of us,
you know, with this week, and it is a game we got to go on
road, got a long trip ahead, but we’ve got work that needs
to get done and work that needs to get applied.
Like I said, watching the intent of last week’s practice,
that’s one of the things that just probably most
disappointing to me, is there were things I thought guys did
a great job throughout the week and then still we had our
moments in this game. You know, either lack of focus,
some communication issues or just missed opportunities
showed up.
We’ve got to be better than that.
Q. You mentioned having some guys out, but I know
most of that was on offense. How surprised are you
by the defense not being able to get of the field
throughout really the whole game?
MIKE NORVELL: Yeah, absolutely didn’t play very well on
that side of the ball. There are things that I would say as
coaches we got to look at and matchups and positions and
obviously how things are — we’re getting it done throughout
the course of the game. Then obviously some
opportunities where we got to be better with the guys that
are on the field.
But they had multiple fourth down conversions that they
were able to get. The quarterback, we lacked getting
pressure on the quarterback enough, and when we did he
stepped up and had big runs and scrambles, which we got
to be better integrity in our rush lanes.
There were a couple times with communication where we
have to be better in our coverage. You know, even though
we were able to create a couple takeaways, still a couple
missed opportunities that we had that were critical in that
game.
So obviously was not to the standard of how we expect to
play. You give credit to a team that — running back did a
great job. There were some times we were probably in
some unfavorable matchups with him. You know, we have
to be able to get that corrected and then there were still
times where we’re right in position to make the play but you
have to go finish.
You kept hesitate. You can’t wait for somebody else. You
got to go take advantage of those times. Really it’s a
collective effort in all things. I was surprised.
Q. When there are pass rush issues with the Lane
discipline, is that guys trying to do too much? Is it
communication? Is there a general theme?
MIKE NORVELL: Yeah, I mean, there are some moments
whether it’s a game or twist or, you know, there is the
urgency and the overall continued — understanding the
importance of where you have to be. You know, you can’t
— sometimes you have a desire. You got to be relentless
to get there. We have to make sure that — there were
some of those situations that showed up. There were
times maybe a lack of communication or guys that need to
be a little bit cleaner in understanding things that we
worked for that to show up in the course of the game.
There were a couple times where they got us on — did a
good job on their offensive line or quarterback, where he
worked to — that allowed it to extend. Yeah, it’s
unacceptable to have as many just I guess easy yards with
the quarterback stepping up and scrambling the way he
did. We have to be better in our rush lanes.
Q. When it comes to stuff, particularly in the middle of
the field, is that a communication breakdown
defensively between the guys in the secondary, the
linebackers? Is that just the other offense scheming
up things well?
MIKE NORVELL: There were some things that were
schemed today that were good. I mean, we knew the
running back, he can be a challenge for the receiver that
he is out of the backfield. They did some good things in
trying to isolate that. Man, they caught us right in a few
coverages.
In those situations, we did have a couple of times where it
was either a tempo or a motion that we weren’t clean
enough in our communication and there was just a little bit
of hesitation, a step behind or didn’t get the communication
echoed whether it was one or two players that were
operating together.
So it was big — there were susceptible to space and we
allowed way too much space.
Q. I know a lot of guys on staff coached with each
other at different places. This is such a new staff. Is
everybody comfortable enough pushing each other at
practice and in the heat of the game to pull these wins
out?
MIKE NORVELL: You mean you’re talking just within the
staff or…
Q. Yeah, assistants being able to go back to each
other and communicate?
MIKE NORVELL: Yeah, that’s an expectation. We all
have a job to do. I mean, at the end of the day what you
see, it shows up on the field. What shows up on film, that’s
us. You know, it’s not been good enough. It starts with
me. You know, offense, defense, special teams.
Obviously plays in every phase that did not allow us to get
a victory today.
So I know my expectation for the staff and I know my
expectation for the players, everybody that — that’s why I
said a week ago you talk about the application of things
happening at practice. We need to grow up and get it done
in the game. If it’s not happening in your position, take
ownership of it and get it fixed.
That’s part of it. I mean, got to take full ownership to
everything you had to just watch out there and get it fixed.
You know, the work is in front of us. The work is there.
What needs to get done is with the application, and it’s
everybody. So I know what it needs to look like, what it
needs to be, and we got to get it done.
Q. After I guess the first loss this season, the feeling
was everybody we talked to in the program was this
year is different. Not going to let this one loss turn
into two, three. How do you get these guys to turn
things back around?
MIKE NORVELL: You know, I don’t know how much of it is
a carryover. I don’t necessary feel a carryover effect. It’s
about when you play teams that have talent and ability and
guys that are — go out there and execute, and if you do
things that put yourself in competitive disadvantages, you
can get exposed.
We have to make sure that in each week, our focus, our —
being able to translate the week of work into the game and
then be able to deal with the ebbs and the flow of the
game. There will be good and bad moments. I thought
there late in the first half guys did a good job being able to
handle that to be able to go up at halftime.
You know, but then we get into the fourth quarter and
obviously the fumble was huge. I mean, we had some
huge plays and penalties that cost us. You know, when
you sit there and talk about accountability, talk about work,
emphasis, we got to do it in the course of a game. Just
we’re not doing that consistently enough. Each game you
get one shot at it.
So yeah, I don’t think this team has stopped fighting. I
don’t believe there is pull-back in it. Got three one-score
losses and we’ve earned every one of them. Pisses me
off.
Q. Coach, as I was walking over here through the
crowd you heard several fans say, well, we beat
Alabama. What can you say to those fans that think
this team peaked in week one?
MIKE NORVELL: I believe in what these guys can do. I
think we’ve shown flashes, even in some of the losses
we’ve shown flashes of capability. But if you don’t put it
together, it’s still about the one game that you have. Today
we had our opportunity; we came up short.
You know, I don’t doubt this team. I don’t doubt the ability
and capability that they have. Once again, we have to be
able to transition that from week to week so our best shows
up.
You know, obviously that’s what needs to get done.
Q. I know you wouldn’t make excuses for a loss but
how much does the offense change? I know this is
probably a dumb question, when you’re down
essentially three starting wide receivers and a starting
tight end, you guys didn’t pass much at all in the
second half until the last drive. Is there an update an
Deuce? Do we know if he’ll be ready or good to go?
MIKE NORVELL: I don’t have much updates when it
comes to injuries. We had guys who tried to push
throughout the week. Even Randy came out in pre-game
and tried to give it a go; just wasn’t able to be able to do
that.
Yeah, I mean, obviously you have a group that has worked
to go and I mean, I think there are some commendable
performances. Micahi Danzy showed up at really high
level. We’re down two receivers, you know, that are
starters. One of our other guys that started the season that
was out. You mentioned Randy at tight end. Starting right
tackle was out. There were plenty of new faces that were
in there.
But I think they’re guys that are capable. Now as we got
further into the depth, made a little bit more challenging
and those guys got to — when you get your opportunity you
got to show that you’re ready and be able to transition that
into making plays in the moment.
There is guys still even within couple of those rooms that
have talent and ability. We just need the consistency of
where to be, what to do, how to do it at a high level. You
know, we have to continue to coach and develop them.
It’s not in a lack of want-to of our coaching staff or the
players. It’s that application. Yeah, it has its effect but I
still believe there is plenty of capable playmakers within
those groups to be able to get the job done.
Q. There is a segment of fan base that’s frustrated
with the results. I guess what would your messaging
be to them?
MIKE NORVELL: You should be frustrated with the
results. We lost three straight games. I’m frustrated with
the results. Ultimately we got to get it fixed. We got to go
make it better and show the potential of what this team is,
you know, on a consistent basis.
Yeah, every bit of frustration, and no fan out there is more
frustrated than I am. There has been a lot of work and
investment and push with this team, and we got to get the
job done. That’s what it comes down to.
But I understand their frustrations. We’re going get it fix
and going to get it right.
Q. Seems like a pretty common theme in a couple —
maybe all of losses; definitely this one and Virginia —
where you guys had opportunities to maybe push the
lead out or make a stop that could turn the game and
just not coming through in those moments. Is that
something that can be learned or is that something
maybe just not enough ability on this team to do it?
MIKE NORVELL: Well, I mean, it’s not a consistent person
or group in that moment. It comes down to where you get
— if you got an opportunity to make the apply, you got to go
finish it. As coaches we have to put these guys in the best
space to be able to accomplish that, whether it’s
adjustments we make, whether it’s the people that are out
there. I mean, all those things are evaluated.
You know, as things consistently show up because there
are some consistent issues that we’ve had that have to get
better. It’s our job as a coaching staff to be able to
minimize some of the limitations that might have shown up
and to still be able to go out and be productive with each
drive, or some of those critical situations that we’ve got to
go either stretch the lead or respond and get a stop.
And so like I said, I do believe in the playmakers that we
have and I do believe that there is a path of that getting
done immediately and it needs to show up. Everybody is
accountable for it. We have to get the job done. It’s not
just been one issue that’s constantly showed up. We’ve
had our moments.
FastScripts by ASAP Sports
