Norvell on staying at FSU: ‘Just getting started’

Andrea Adelson, ESPN Senior WriterJan 12, 2024, 05:13 PM ET

Close

• ACC reporter.
• Joined ESPN.com in 2010.
• Graduate of the University of Florida.Mike Norvell informed ESPN on Friday

that his decision to stay at Florida State boiled down to “the heart and chance of what we have here and what we’re going to build upon.”In a phone interview while on the recruiting trail in Jacksonville, Florida, Norvell explained the past 24 hr as “wild” and “chaotic” as he considered his options.Though he declined to

get into particular information about his conversations with Alabama, Norvell stated:”You respect the place, you respect the position. At the end of the day, it still boils down to the ideal fit. It still comes down to the place where you want to be, and what puts you in a position that you can put everything you have into it.Editor’s Picks

2 Associated “We have actually been

able to do that over the last four years here at Florida State. There’s a great deal of excitement around our program. I’m just delighted to continue to build upon the foundation that’s been laid.”Washington coach Kalen DeBoer consented to replace Nick Saban as Alabama’s coach Friday, sources informed ESPN, after Saban retired earlier this week following six championship games with the Crimson Tide.Florida State revealed earlier Friday it had actually agreed to an improved agreement with Norvell.

Sources informed ESPN that it’s an eight-year handle approximately more than $10 million per season.In addition, the school also made a dedication to Norvell to increase financing for additional resources for football, including increasing the recruiting budget. Norvell particularly indicated the positioning that currently exists between athletic director Michael Alford, school president Richard McCullough and board of trustees chair Peter Collins.” The continued push to get our program back to the top of college football is quite special,”Norvell said.Norvell’s name surfaced as a possible replacement quickly after Saban stepped down, largely based off what he has done over the past four seasons at Florida State.

Norvell acquired a program in chaos in 2020, going 3-6 in his very first year– played throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.Then in 2021, Florida State started 0-4, consisting of a loss to FCS Jacksonville State, fueling concerns about his long-term future with the Seminoles. But neither Norvell nor Alford ever fluctuated in their belief in what needed to be done to get the program headed in the ideal direction.Florida State won 10 games in 2022, and this previous season, it went 13-1 and won its first championship game because 2014. Regardless of finishing 13-0 after the ACC national championship, Florida State was excluded of the College Football Playoff after a season-ending injury to starting quarterback Jordan Travis, a decision that still hurts Norvell and those around the program.A couple of weeks after that playoff snub, Florida State filed suit versus the ACC, attempting to leave its grant of rights. Asked just how much the snub and its long-lasting future in the ACC contributed in his decision to listen to Alabama, Norvell said:”I think in what we’re doing, I

believe in the opportunities that are in front of us. With the expanded playoff coming and what’s ahead for college football, I’m excited and I believe that the competitiveness of the ACC and the teams that we need to go and have the ability to work to beat to put ourselves in a position to be a conference champion or even in the leading tier of teams in college football, there’s a lot of regard for what it takes.”Clearly, this last year was a special year and situation, due to injury, due to things outside of our control that option was made, but it certainly does not take away from what was done out on the field.”In 1990, famous Florida State coach Bobby Bowden was approached about the uninhabited Alabama

task, but he decided to stick with the Seminoles. That reality was not lost among numerous longtime Seminoles advocates.” There’s certain places where you hear or talk to or whatever that chance may be, but ultimately it boiled down to what we’re doing here,”Norvell said.”There’s been so much work and investment. We put our heart into everything we do here. To the players that have actually pressed so hard and to the guys that have come in, the excitement about what’s ahead, it’s been a terrific location for me and my household. After four years, I’ve genuinely fallen for what it is to be a Seminole, and I’m grateful for the opportunity to continue to lead this program.”We’re just beginning on our journey.”