Florida State University
Football Media Conference
Saturday, November 23, 2024
Tallahassee, Florida, USA
Coach Mike Norvell
Press Conference
Florida State 41, Charleston Southern 7
MIKE NORVELL: First off, proud of our guys, been a
tough last couple of weeks, tough season in general, but I
was really proud of them for how they approached this
week and the work that they poured in just from senior to
freshman, there was a lot of investment to push to be
better and obviously it’s been one of those seasons where
we faced plenty of adversity, but like I told them at the
beginning of the week, we do always have choice in how
we respond. What we’re going to be willing to pour in,
what we’re willing to invest in others. The standard of how
we want to play and what we want it to look like, with every
player, I just want them to come out and be their best in the
moment. Definitely pleased for the response we saw even
throughout the course of the game, some good, some bad,
some things that showed up, but I thought our guys were
encouraging to each other. They picked each other up and
then guys, whether it was a good play or bad play, I
thought they maintained focus to go and make the most
out of the next one.
We were able to play a lot of different guys. I thought we
got some good experience for them and obviously that
leads us into this last week. It’s a huge week for us. I
mean, immediately started taking about it in the locker
room and this week means so much for our program. It
means to much for our team and each individual that’s in
there and we want to make sure that we continue to push
forward, to go be the absolute best we can be and, you
know, go put a stamp on the end of this season with
finishing up with the great performance here in a week
from now. But for our guys, definitely proud of them and
thought it was a good response from all the experiences
we have had over the last couple of weeks.
Q. What went into the decision to start Luke tonight
and I guess what did you take away from his
performance?
MIKE NORVELL: I thought he’s done a good job trying to
— you continue to work, whether through practice,
obviously, you go out there and opportunities in the game,
an emphasis of trying to make sure we’re protecting the
ball, make sure we’re creating the explosives and then your
overall operation. It’s been nothing — as you go through it,
it’s not really been clean for either guy that’s been playing
quarterback to the standard of what we’d like but I thought
Luke’s done a good job of taking advantage of
opportunities, some good plays and some bad plays but I
love the mindset he’s brought and I thought he showed a
good response here today. Had a couple miss there early
but really bounced back there before the end of the first
half and obviously starting off the second half with a bang
with a throw down the field to Ja’ Khi and really relax and
fall into the comfort of playing. Every experience is a big
experience, Luke, Brock, both of those guys being as
young as they are, I thought it was a good job for him and
he lead us down to score a touchdown as well.
Q. What did you think about the defense? Obviously
the third teamers gave up a late score but overall what
did you think of it?
MIKE NORVELL: Overall I was pleased, the almost of
triple objection like they do, it comes down to discipline,
focus, communication. I thought our guys did a really solid
job of that. There’s some played you would like to have
back or maybe that wasn’t as good as it needed to be but
to be able to go a majority of the game keeping them out of
the end zone and not allowing points, it was really a good
performance but those guys and I thought all three levels
showed moments where they did really good things.
Q. Coach, you mentioned throughout the year the
team sometimes lacking confidence. Can a game like
today give you guys some of that, take the edge off
going into a big game next week?
MIKE NORVELL: Oh, man, I think you have to take every
experience and grow from it, whether it’s a good result or
sometimes even a challenging result. Sometimes the
challenging results I think could give confidence if you will
respond to them and if you can show the issues that have
shown up, I’m aware of them, I understand how to correct it
and I’m willing to go take that step, it’s the belief in what
you can overcome and obviously it’s good to get out there
and see guys upright, to see guys move with a little bit
different step as we’re starting to have success and so I
think it difficult is something you can build upon, some of
the positive elements we have been working in practice,
showing up on the field, and guys performing in the
moment.
Q. In hindsight you won by five touchdowns but it was
only 3-0 and it’s third and 11 and he hits Ja’ Khi for a
12-yard gain in the middle of the field, kind of stood in
the pocket. Was that when maybe he kind of clicked a
little bit or you thought he kind of click and made some
plays?
MIKE NORVELL: Yeah, that was a big play and there’s no
question. You get in, first start, always going to be nerves,
always going to be things you’re working through but I
thought that was a play for him that kind of sparked take a
deep breath, go play the game. Trust your eyes, trust your
feet, hold it in the pocket. There are times you’re going to
have to move. Ultimately that’s a part of playing that
position but I thought he really did some good things
working through his progressions with his eyes, trusting his
feet, in his drops, but that was definitely a big spark for him
and ultimately kind of got us rolling.
Q. You talked about I guess was it the plan coming in
to kind of not do the back and forth at quarterback but
give Luke time and give extended time to Luke? And I
guess what do you think the success after the weeks
were, like you said, there may not have been a ton of it
can do for him and his confidence going into one more
game and then the offseason?
MIKE NORVELL: Yeah, I think it’s become. You’ll see him
kind of get in a rhythm and we were coming into it still open
to the possibility of how much the quarterbacks would go
back and forth, you know, but as we started getting rolling
and kind of had in my mind I was going to try to get through
three or four drives and just really see Luke as he started
off what that would look like and as he got rolling and we
put together touchdown drives, I thought it was something
to just kind of let him continue to build upon the confidence
he was showing and some of the things that where you
saw him, the game was slowing down a little bit for him,
just a route. Yes, I think all of those things will take a
positive step going into this week and like I said earlier, I
really like the fact that broke came in, even in his one drive
tonight but he was able to go make some throws, lead us
down, and finish in the end zone so it was good just being
ready for his opportunity because there’s been the back
and forth and I thought he capitalized on what he had
today.
Q. You’ve been giving the young skill players action
over the last five, six weeks but it seems like today
they were making tougher catches, blocking a little bit
better. Are you seeing them make that step?
MIKE NORVELL: Yeah, they’re putting a lot of work and
that’s one thing I am pleased with. I still see the continued
investment. Regardless of the record, the feelings,
especially those young guys, they’re hungry to be
difference-makers for this program. They’re all at different
places in their journey continuing to grow, continuing to ma
sure, building confidence in what it is they’re being asked
to do and how they’re being asked to the it but also just the
physical and mental maturity that’s agreeing with each rep
that they get and I was really pleased to see those guys be
able to go out there and execute in the moment and it was
big for us because like I mentioned, a couple of young tight
ends had big catches. Micahi Danzy, and I was so happy
to see — because that was basically the same play — I can’t
remember, whatever Clemson, whatever game that was a
few weeks back, but to see that response on that throw, it
was really big for him. All the young receivers I thought got
in, got some action. Elijah Moore, we’re going to red-shirt
him here so he did not play today and won’t play next week
but for all those guys that were able to get in there and get
the work, I thought it was really positive.
Q. Coach, 175 rushing yards for you guys, six rushes
over ten yards. With this season, when it’s been so
close to breaking out for you guys, just to get that
game under your belt with the rushing yards, how big
it is for them?
MIKE NORVELL: Yeah, even in that there’s still
opportunities that we lift out there, but to be able to have
success to see the backs, I thought we had some really
good track runs where guys were right where they needed
to be and able to create enough space to allow for the
explosive. I thought the quarterbacks did a good job being
able to control the edge for the most part. The offensive
line and tight ends, they were battling. There are still
plenty of things we have to get corrected even from today
but I thought they were definitely fighting to make that to
where we can have the balance and to be able to help us a
little bit with the play action game.
Q. How do you — when you’re playing a over-matched
team, how do you put into perspective the win for your
players? I know you want them to enjoy it because it’s
been two months, really, since a win, but is it on to the
next one? Do you let them enjoy it today? It’s kind of
a unique thing to win a game this week and then have
Florida the next week. I want to celebrate the win.
MIKE NORVELL: Yeah, you enjoy the experience that you
just had and then our focus goes to what’s ahead and it’s a
huge game for us. I absolutely want them to enjoy today.
Winning football games is hard and, yes, there’s still good
and bad that came out of today’s content where we have to
have an opportunity to go get better, but you enjoy the
experience we came to win a game today and we were
able to accomplish that and we’ll enjoy that but just like I
said in that locker room, everything between now and next
Saturday after 7:00, it’s going to be putting us in the best
position to achieve success or, you know, has a potential
to hold us back. I want everything from these players,
coaches, everybody involved in the program to go fight for
this next week and do everything in our power to finish this
season the right way.
Q. Coach, you mentioned a little bit earlier about with
so many moving parts around the coaching staff, how
do you feel that operation was to do?
MIKE NORVELL: I thought the staff did a good job.
Defensively I thought it was a very coordinated approach. I
thought Randy did a nice job. We moved and changed into
some dynamics of where we were, Randy was down on
the field, we moved a couple coaches up in the box. I
thought they communicated well. Everybody has to take
on a little bit bigger role and our coaching staff, grateful for
the work they’re pouring in and just pleased to see that
execute the way that they did, being there for our players.
Q. Ashlynd Barker in particular but guys have had
opportunities to not finish plays. For him to do that
and also you’ve got the fumble recovery on special
teams, too, that’s something this team has really
lacked all year —
MIKE NORVELL: Yeah, that was as big — for us, we have
to have those explosive plays and it’s been something that
we’ve been really good at the last few years and obviously
this year it’s been a challenge for us. On the punt, I
thought it was awesome just seeing a freshman. We
worked the drills, young, wide receiver, obviously God got
great speed, something I’m excited about for what his
future can be but to see him out there on a punt cover and
to take a shot on the ball, get the ball out and for us to be
able to recover it, that was huge. For Ash to be able to
finish the interception, get a big return because those are
things. We’ve had our moments, we’ve had our
opportunities but we haven’t finished. It was good to see
guys step up and be able to make that play and obviously
that was big for today’s outcome and then obviously the
expectation of what we’re trying to do. Thank you, guys.
Have a great day.
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Florida State University
Football Media Conference
Saturday, November 23, 2024
Tallahassee, Florida, USA
QB Luke Kromenhoek
Player Ashlynd Barker
Press Conference
Florida State 41, Charleston Southern 7
Q. Luke, what was it like for you to get a start and then
obviously get the opportunity to continue to play,
something that you really haven’t down in your time
here?
LUKE KROMENHOEK: Yeah, it was unbelievable. It was
a dream come true. Growing up, that’s all I could ever
dream about and for it to happen, it was truly amazing.
Q. Luke, three touchdown passes for you, obviously
the first one to Amaree but that second one to Ja’ Khi.
Just, what were you seeing on the rollout? Did you
just see him down field and had a hope that he could
get by his defender and get down the field and score?
LUKE KROMENHOEK: Yeah, I mean, it was a great play
call coming out of half. It set me up perfectly. All I had to
do was get Ja’ Khi the ball and he was going to make the
rest happen.
Q. Luke, Coach Norvell mentioned before that he
thinks the game is starting to slow down for you. Are
you feeling that as well?
LUKE KROMENHOEK: Yeah, definitely, 100%. The more
snaps I get T more reps that I get, it slows down little by
little, so, you know, I just try to take advantage of every
single one that I get because I know it’s very important.
Q. Ashlynd, you’ve had a couple opportunities to
maybe pick off a pass this year. How good did it feel
to finally get that down and run it back?
ASHLYND BARKER: It felt extremely good. I tried my
hardest to get the touchdown, but, you know, things
happen, so.
Q. For both of you guys Coach Norvell mentioned that
he already started talking about the Florida game. Just
what does a win like today kind of do for you guys
confidence-wise going to next Saturday?
ASHLYND BARKER: It’s always good coming off a win
into next week so we just got to carry the momentum and
just keep what we’re doing to next week.
LUKE KROMENHOEK: Yeah, just piggybacking off of
what he said, you know, I think everyone in that locker
room knows the rivalry game is very important to everyone
and we know it’s a big deal and, you know, just picking
what he said, the momentum of getting a win and being
able to come into next week with that win, it’s a good
momentum booster for us.
Q. Luke, do I think some of the comfort as the game
went on was knowing that you weren’t going in and
coming out from series to series, like staying out there
for a while and getting multiple series?
LUKE KROMENHOEK: I mean definitely, yeah, I was able
to get into a little bit of a groove, get into a rhythm so I
definitely feel like it helped me a lot. They told me they
were going to be cool with me making a couple of mistakes
here and there, which I did and things that I got to clean
up, but, you know, just them having confidence in me that
they’ll leave me in even when I make those mistakes, it
definitely helped me out a ton.
Q. You’re obviously a guy that doesn’t shy away from
contact. Do they get onto you about that? Are they
cool with the way you run when you run the ball?
LUKE KROMENHOEK: You now, it’s — they definitely
don’t like it. (Laughter) They’d like me to slide but, you
know, kind of just growing up, my parents taught me don’t
shy away from anybody. Be the hammer, not the nail, so
that’s kind of stuck with me, especially with my dad. He’s
kind of engrained that in me, so it’s something that I’ve got
to get used to because I know I can’t continue to take these
hits because, you know, my body is going to get hurt, but
it’s definitely something that I have to try to improve on.
Q. Ashlynd, how did you guys on defense handle
these last two weeks, Randy Shannon being now the
voice for the whole defense and how did you guys kind
of practice this week and then how did you feel like
you guys played today?
ASHLYND BARKER: Well, once we found out the news
and the next day, we kind of had a couple of new stuff that
was installed. First day of practice that was full speed, it
was kind of — I felt like it was kind of challenging for me
because I try to pride myself in knowing what I’m doing, but
pretty much after that, it was smooth riding because Coach
Shannon has confidence in us and stuff like that, so.
Q. Luke, how much do you already think about what
next Saturday night will be? You don’t want to flush a
win, you want to enjoy it as much as possible but
that’s coming six days from now. How much are you
already thinking about what that’s going to be like?
LUKE KROMENHOEK: Yeah, I think coming into the
season it was something that I was thinking about, you
know. I understand how important that rivalry game is so
it’s always been in the back of my head and, you know, as
it came closer, it’s coming closer, obviously we want to
cherish this win and celebrate it but tomorrow when we
come ready to work, we know what we’re coming to work
for and it’s to go win that rivalry game.
Q. Kind of along those lines, if you get to start again
next week, it’ll be you going against another true
freshman quarterback, DJ Lagway, I guess, I don’t
know the relationship you have with him but I guess
the excitement about two true freshmen going at each
other in and a guy like his talent, the year he’s had if
that’s how things play out.
LUKE KROMENHOEK: Yeah, it’d be awesome. That was
my Elite 11 roommate when we went out to California.
They put us together, and he’s a great person, a great
quarterback and, you know, he’s had a ton of success and,
you know, just for both of us to be out there on the field I
think that’d be awesome to have two true freshmen out
there.
Q. I was wondering if you could both talk about what
you guys have been through the last couple of weeks.
It’s obviously been a tough season but then have
coaching changes and just who did you guys lean
onto stay together as a team?
ASHLYND BARKER: I mean, nobody likes to lose, so,
obviously, we’ve been upset after, like, pretty much every
game, except for only one, but we just try to stay positive
and try not to think about all the negative stuff that’s going
around like outside of us and stuff like that. So we just try
to lean on the coaches and listen to them and keep on
pushing.
LUKE KROMENHOEK: Yeah, exactly what he said.
Obviously losing sucks. Nobody wants to lose. It’s hard
coming somewhere and experiencing this hard season that
we’ve had and also losing some coordinators. It’s tough,
but, you know, I think we have a tight-knit group here and
we’re allowed to lean on each other as well as the coaches
around us and I feel like with having these guys in the
locker room, they made it easier for us.
MODERATOR: You good? All right. Thanks, guys.
LUKE KROMENHOEK: Thank you, guys. Appreciate y’all.
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