Florida State University
Football Media Conference
Sunday, September 10, 2023
Tallahassee, Florida, USA
Mike Norvell
Press Conference
Florida State 66, Southern Miss 13
MIKE NORVELL: First off, just proud of our team. Coming
off a short week, off of a very emotional game Sunday
night. We talked a lot about our response. I know that’s a
word we say a lot around this program. I truly believe that
indicates the identity of who you are, what you’re about,
what you want to accomplish.
I thought our guys came out tonight. There were some
plays we left out there, no question. There will be a lot of
things we’re going to get to do to continue to work, be more
efficient, to be able to execute better. But our guys came
out, they played with passion, they played with effort, they
played with physicality.
I thought to be able to do that, I think Southern Miss
football team is going to have a good year. They’re very
well-coached. They did some good things. But I like our
guys’ mindset. This was a really good week of work for
what they invested.
Ultimately you got to go do it. I thought they did a great job
tonight. Some big plays on both sides of the ball. It’s good
to see even not on the cleanest night that we had, some
situations, especially like throwing the football, had some
missed opportunities, some dropped passes, things that
we got to get cleaned up, but I thought our guys responded
really well. Just proud of what they did.
It was a great atmosphere tonight. So good to be back at
home. Last week in Orlando was truly special, but there’s
nothing like playing Saturday night in Doak Campbell
Stadium. It’s remarkable.
You felt it throughout the course of the game. Just thank
you to our students for coming out. Sold-out student
section. You felt them. Grateful for our entire fan base,
just how they showed up and showed out. It was really a
great atmosphere for our home opener.
THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.
Q. What does it say about the explosiveness and also
depth of your team that you could look a little not as
efficient in the first half but still put up 66 points?
MIKE NORVELL: What we did a good job of is we owned
the ball. We didn’t turn the football over. That was big. I
tell our guys all the time, Just give yourself one more play.
You look at our cash down conversions, I think we’re close
to 50%. You can look at the third downs. We were four of
- But the fourth downs, we were four of five. Those are
still conversions. That’s where our guys believed that.
There’s some things we didn’t force or some things we had
to respond to. Jordan made a couple remarkable plays on
a few of ’em. They played the next play. I think that’s
great evidence for our team that if you continue to do that,
if we can own want football, we got great play-makers. I
think we know that.
It was great to see a variety of different guys to show up.
Darion Williamson with the big touchdown catch. He’s
been battling injury. He’s shown flashes throughout his
career of what he can be. That was a big play, a big play
for him.
Obviously the guys, deuce span had a big play. Keon, that
was a remarkable performance, unbelievable athletic play.
But it’s great to see the guys that are surrounding him that
have continued to grow, continuing to develop.
Johnny, he had to come out a little bit there early in the
game. Some rough opportunities there. He’s going to
continue to respond and continue to grow. He’s a special
player.
Same thing in the run game. We were able to stay after it,
really kind of put the game away there in the second half,
being able to establish the run, have some big plays and
some big runs.
Q. Some of those fourth down decisions weren’t
automatic decisions. That has to go to the confidence
you have in that offense, probably that quarterback?
MIKE NORVELL: Absolutely. It’s confidence I have in our
defense, too. I mean, this is a team. I tell the team all the
time there’s going to be times that we’re going to have to
have each other’s backs. Obviously I’ve got a lot of
confidence or I wouldn’t do it going for it in those fourth
down situations. We were able to convert 80% of them.
If you don’t, defense has to have the back of the offense.
Those are opportunities in our response that are
necessary. I think this team, something we talk very
openly about, we start in fall camp, we train those
situations. I think our guys are growing in their confidence
and what we can do just throughout that.
Q. You were able to get a bunch of true freshmen on
the field. How important is it to get that?
MIKE NORVELL: Absolutely. It’s great to be able to have
the opportunity to do that, to see guys in the moment, with
what their responsibility is, what their assignment is, how
comfortable they are, communication, and overall the
execution.
We’ve got a really talented young group. I’m excited about
where their future is. But those games, it points out the
good and it also at times can point out areas that need to
be improved upon as we go through the season.
I am fully expecting that a bunch of our true freshmen are
going to be great contributors throughout the course of this
year.
Be able to have some opportunities there for them to see it
and learn from it I think is huge. It definitely played out as
good as it could when it came to that. We tried to play just
about everybody at some point tonight, which is great
experience.
Those guys, they work their butts off in practice. Some
guys got on the field for the first time. It was pretty special
to see.
Q. Jarrian Jones had the pick-six in the third quarter.
How big was that?
MIKE NORVELL: I mean, it’s huge. Jarrian has really
developed so well in this program. His growth mentally,
physically, emotionally, all things. He’s played a lot of
football for us. There’s no doubt he’s playing his best ball
now. He was dealing with an injury there in fall camp,
missed a little bit of time. Was a little bit limited last week
in the LSU game, but still did some good things.
To see him be able to execute in that moment, to get the
pick-six, it was huge. He actually broke the rock there for
us after the game because I thought that was a special
play and a great moment for him, kind of was the finish we
wanted with that first group.
Q. I’m sure in situations like this you hopefully see a
complete defensive performance. Some of the skill
position guys they have on that team, especially the
first-time guys on defense, what they did tonight?
MIKE NORVELL: Yeah, I thought they played exceptional.
We talked about stopping the run. That’s a big offensive
line. Running back is a really talented young man. We
knew we had to get to him early. We had to try to stop him
before he could get started. I thought we executed at a
really good plan with Coach Fuller and the defensive staff.
Guys went out and they committed to it.
We were what I was hopeful that we would be. Our guys
played at a very high level. I thought they were great on
the cash downs, third and fourth downs. They were
remarkable. First defense, I don’t know if they gave up a
conversion. Really impressive performance.
Q. For the guys to come out the way they did tonight,
after a short week, what does it take about the maturity
of this team?
MIKE NORVELL: That’s what we have to be. We talked
about it. You can have age and experience, but maturity is
a choice that you have to make. What do you want it to
look like, what do you want to be, what do you want to
invest?
We were tired. Early in the week, coaching staff, all of us,
it was a fast turnaround. When it came out to Tuesday’s
practice, Wednesday’s practice, the output was there. It
wasn’t always the cleanest, as I told you guys on
Wednesday, but it wasn’t for a lack of want to.
To see guys invest in that work just to get better, because
that is the objective here. Every day we got to come out
and be better than what we’ve been. I thought that there
were some definite strides we took throughout this week. It
does show the maturity, the want to, the belief and
willingness to sacrifice to go get better.
Q. Obviously the opponent is different, but did you
see anything from Trey different tonight and this week
compared to last week?
MIKE NORVELL: No, I mean, Trey is a great back. I’m
glad he’s got a little bit of space tonight. Last week,
especially in the second half, I thought he had some really
good runs. It was something we were hopeful to see. He’s
a great player. Definitely ran with a purpose.
I thought even last week, even though the numbers weren’t
maybe as good, I thought he ran hard. Especially in the
second half had a couple really big runs for us last week,
but tonight I don’t know what he ended up going for, but
almost nine yards a carry. It was a good night for him.
Q. With the on-side kick in the second quarter, a little
bit unexpected, was that something you were planning
all week or a feel thing?
MIKE NORVELL: I mean, we’re going to be aggressive. If
we see something that we think we have an opportunity to
capitalize on, I told the staff kind of the circumstances of
the situation we were going to do it this morning. I told the
team. We got what we knew we could potentially could.
We went out there and executed the plan.
I thought that was a great job by our guys. Had an
opportunity to recover it, but great kick by Ryan. I thought
that was a big part of it. Two long drives, even though I
don’t think in that drive I don’t believe we scored, but the
time of possession, the plays, really getting a chance to
wear them down a little bit. I thought it set up well.
Q. Obviously it’s early in the season, do you think this
is the most talented team you’ve ever coached?
MIKE NORVELL: I mean, we’re a very talented team.
Talent will take you so far. It’s got to go, and I want to be
the most disciplined, best team in being able to utilize their
fundamentals, execution, their response. We’re two weeks
into it. I’m very proud of what I’ve seen in two weeks.
I like this team. I liked this team in fall camp from the work
they did in the summer. I liked the investment they put into
the relationships.
It’s a long journey ahead. All that we can control is today.
I thought they handled today. But I’m excited about the
talent and ability we have. We just got to continue to grow
and get better, overall operation. I believe they’ll do that.
Q. Brock Glenn’s first career play, what does it say
about him to come in and not force a ball?
MIKE NORVELL: I mean, I told him to just trust his eyes.
Same thing I tell all of our quarterbacks. Trust your eyes,
trust your feet. He went through his progression. Had a
little bit of a mistake by one of the other positions that were
out there. He trusted his feet. Pretty good seeing him get
out there and scamper down the field.
I really like being able to get that experience for Brock.
A.J. was able to get in. Obviously Tate had two really good
drives. Markeston Douglas made a couple guys miss. It’s
pretty impressive seeing 280 pounds run that fast down the
field. Markeston is a guy that’s continuing to grow,
continuing to work. You see the talent in that tight end
room. Kyle had a real good play. A lot of competition in
that room and definitely a bright future.
Thank you, guys.
Florida State University
Football Media Conference
Sunday, September 10, 2023
Tallahassee, Florida, USA
Trey Benson
Press Conference
Florida State 66, Southern Miss 13
THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.
Q. Shorter week, how did you get ready for this week
to make sure there was no letdown and you would
have a performance like this?
TREY BENSON: Yeah, we had the short week for sure.
We came to work every single day still. Nothing changed
just because of the shorter week. We still come, prepare,
work every single day.
Q. What does it say about this team that it wasn’t the
cleanest game at times and you’re still able to win?
TREY BENSON: That’s scary because this team is going
to be scary because we still haven’t had our best game yet.
We still left a lot of points out there on the field.
Q. You talked about towards the end of fall camp
building up your leadership in the running back room,
then confidence as well. What did that do for
developing your game in general?
TREY BENSON: I mean, tonight meant a lot to me
because my first game, we didn’t get the running going
how I wanted it to go. But we responded as a group
tonight, got the running game going.
I’m proud of the offensive line, I’m proud of the running
back room for showing up today.
Q. Rodney got some carries. How big is it to watch
C.J. also get the experience in this game?
TREY BENSON: It was big. I love those guys. They
come to work every single day. They deserve everything
come their way.
All the hard work is paying off. I was happy to see those
guys on the field today ’cause they waited they turn, they
waited they time. They playing they role. They just being
patient. They help me be a leader. They always helping
me out. If I’m down, they’ll uplift me. I appreciate them.
Q. What is it like seeing those guys block on the
outside for your wide receivers, tight ends?
TREY BENSON: It just shows how unselfish this team is,
how unselfish the tight ends, the receivers are. On my last
touchdown run, Keon, I went right behind Keon. I just
knew he was going to make the block.
That’s the faith I have in those receivers because they
always come through. I appreciate them.
Q. Were you on the field for Keon’s leap? What was
your view of it?
TREY BENSON: I think I was on the field actually. I was
just looking. I’m looking on the sideline. I’m like, Dang, I
don’t think he going to go down. I seen him jumping up.
What he doing? No, this man is an athlete, he’s unreal.
He’s different. He different, for real.
Q. Do you like it when Coach Norvell is aggressive on
fourth downs going for it?
TREY BENSON: For sure. That just shows that he trusts
us. He trusts the training in practice every single day. We
go through that in practice every single day, so why won’t
you do it in the game? He trusts us. That shows that he
trusts us. I appreciate Coach Norvell for trusting us, going
for it on fourth downs, being aggressive.
Q. Trey, down two starting offensive linemen tonight,
what does it say about the rush?
TREY BENSON: The O-line, they be in the trenches every
single day. Even though we was down two offensive
linemen, they still played they best. It don’t matter who
starts on the offensive line, effort one of those guys can
start. They’re all elite.
Q. I think you guys probably knew that Rodney was
that fast. Did you know that Caziah was that fast?
TREY BENSON: Oh, yeah, we argue every single day
about who faster. I think he got me just by a little bit. He’s
one of my closest RBs on the team. I’m always talking to
him every single day. We hang out outside of football.
Just seeing him out there today, I almost cried for him
because I know what he been through these past two
years. I’m just excited to see the future for him.
Florida State University
Football Media Conference
Sunday, September 10, 2023
Tallahassee, Florida, USA
Jarrian Jones
Kalen DeLoach
Press Conference
Florida State 66, Southern Miss 13
THE MODERATOR: Questions.
Q. Jarrian, can you walk us through the interception,
how you saw the play develop.
JARRIAN JONES: Actually we were in two-man. He ran a
slant. He ran right into me. I looked at the quarterback.
Already threw the ball. I guess he anticipated him to be
open. Hit my chest, nobody in front of me, I just took off
(smiling).
Q. Coach Norvell talked about the short week, thrilling
win last week against LSU. What was it like this week
to prepare on a short week?
KALEN DeLOACH: I say we didn’t want to take the week
for granted. We wanted to go out there and put our best
foot forward. Although it was a short week, we knew what
we had to do. We knew we had to come out here on
Saturday and handle it.
Just keep the main thing the main thing. Stay focused.
Although the score was what it was, focus on us. We know
our biggest challenge is us. We got to keep focus on us as
we continue.
Q. Jarrian, was that your first chance to break the
rock? How did you do with it?
JARRIAN JONES: I think I broke the rock last year or the
year before that. I think this is my second time.
It’s always fun breaking the rock. It’s way heavier than I
thought, like way heavier than I thought. I think I did a
good job. I broke it like four times.
Q. What did it mean to you, to be honored like that?
JARRIAN JONES: That was big. I mean, ain’t nothing in the world I wouldn’t do for my guys. I wear my emotions on
my sleeves. Just being able to do stuff like that, being
together, doing stuff like that, I really appreciate stuff like
that.
Q. You were able to play a lot of true freshmen. How
important are those reps?
KALEN DeLOACH: It prepares you for when your time
comes. I want all our young guys to get reps so when it is
time, they play full speed with no hesitation.
I say it was a good thing to get our young guys to get they
feet wet, understand the speed of the game, go out and
communicate, make sure communicate on all cylinders.
Game is faster compared to high school. I feel like they did
a good job of getting they opportunity to go out there and
compete.
Q. What was this week like in terms of having a short
week and playing a team that’s not as high profile, but
how serious you took practice this week?
JARRIAN JONES: I think not to say weeks like this,
because every week is the same.
I mean, the message this week was to be our best. So no
matter who we were playing, our opponent is nameless,
face less. As long as we go out and prepare to be our
best, go out capitalize, execute, be our best, feel like
nobody ever beat us. The message this week was just
being our best.
Q. Seemed like the coaches from the two days we
were out there in practice were harder on you. Did you
get that impression? What does that say about them?
KALEN DeLOACH: They didn’t want us to take no game
for granted. They know what type of week this was. Just
wanted to continue to push us to be our best, don’t slack
off. Although it is a short week, we still got work that needs
to be done.
The coaches, they were high tempo in practice just ’cause
they didn’t want us to take no slack-off.
Q. Can you talk about the atmosphere tonight, the new
LED sites. What was it like, the energy in the building?
JARRIAN JONES: I’m not going to lie. I did not know that
the lights were going to do that. I did not know they were
going to do that. So when they did, I was like, Whoa, this
is different.
I don’t feel like there’s no fans in the country like Florida
State fans. They definitely did their thing tonight. It was
big having the atmosphere it was, for the young guys.
Instill in them we don’t lose in Doak. I felt like that was big.
Q. Coach said the reason he feels confident going for
it on fourth down is ’cause he knows you guys will
take care of business if they don’t get the first down.
What does that mean to you?
KALEN DeLOACH: We build confidence on both sides.
We trust in our offense. If they want to go for it on fourth
down, they’re going to go for it because they believe in
what we can do and we believe in what they can do.
Coach definitely has the confidence in us, our defense, to
where if they do go it, our defense going to step upped and
make a stop or just make a play.
Q. Kalen, two weeks ago Coach Fuller said he thinks
this defense could be one of the best that’s out there.
Do you agree with that? Was there a point in this
off-season that made you believe you could be?
KALEN DeLOACH: Of course, I agree. I’m with these
guys all day every day. I see the work that’s put in, I see
the buy-in. I see these guys are willing to work.
Coach Fuller, he’s not saying that for no reason. He see
us putting in work from where we started to where we’re at
now. I don’t blame him for saying that. That’s the reason
he said that.
JARRIAN JONES: I see guys every day putting they
blood, sweat, tears into this. This is people’s lives we’re
talking about. People giving everything they got.
When I see that, ain’t nothing I won’t do for you. I’m willing
to run through a wall for you. Me seeing this every day,
seeing how the offense work, seeing how the defense
work. You see the offense we got. I mean, we see them
every day. I definitely feel like we got one of the best in the
country defense-wise. So yeah.
Q. If you look at the stats for defense, tackles mixed
all over. What does that say about the defense?
