Henry: Hang in there. FSU football will improve under Norvell, but will take time

Hang in there, Florida State fans. 

The winning brand of football that Mike Norvell has promised for FSU will happen. He sees players investing in the program and the new coaching staff.

The staff was put squarely behind the eight-ball when the coronavirus erased spring football and short-circuited the development between players and coaches.

Norvell truly believes there are great days ahead for his program.

Just not today, this week or this season, however.

FSU football is not an easy fix. It is perplexing, frustrating and, at times, embarrassing.

The Seminoles were boat raced 52-10 at Miami Saturday. It was an outcome that Norvell – himself stricken by COVID-19 and quarantined in his Tallahassee home – said remotely was “sickening to have to live through that.”

That it was, coach.

What a mess.

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The Seminoles trailed by its largest halftime deficit (35 points) since 1972 and suffered the second-largest margin of defeat by any team in the series.

FSU looked outmatched, outclassed and nothing much worked.

Despite schematic changes on defense, where it went back to an odd front at times, FSU had no answers for UM and senior quarterback D’Eriq King.

The Seminoles’ poor offense was abysmal, too. The team also lost its composure and was penalized 12 times for 113 yards. Emotional outburst among players and coaches could be seen on the sidelines during the nationally televised contest.  

It’s too much of the same ol’ same.

The Seminoles are talented in spots, but they – at least from this perch – have try-hard issues.

More precisely, Norvell and staff must continue to coach players harder and players must learn to respond. The transfer portal is open for those with tough-love issues.

Four years of mediocrity is four years too many for this proud program. The Seminoles are 0-2 for the second time since 2017 and just the third time since Bobby Bowden's first season in 1976.

Where do we start? 

It was nice to see the team’s young players getting signification action Saturday. They will play an important role in helping turn around this program. Hustle and heart are not skills. Look in the mirror fellas. 

Jump on board, or jump off. 

Despite being a mess themselves last season, the Hurricanes have flipped the switch under second-year coach Manny Diaz and Co.

It was an impressive victory for the former Seminole student and graduate assistant coach who still has family in Tallahassee.

The effort and outcome reflected a change of culture for the Hurricanes, who meet No.1 Clemson in two weeks. When asked if  the final score reflects the gap between the programs,  Diaz took the high road and said, "It went the way that it went. That's for someone else to judge."

Not that we are judging, but FSU is in dire need of help. And a win. 

Even hundreds of miles away, Norvell took responsibility for the loss. Norvell, who should return to the sideline for Saturday's home game against Jacksonville State, reiterated he, staff and players must take ownership of the season's first two weeks. 

"We have to get better, and we've got to get better quickly," he said. 

No kidding.  

Hang in there, Florida State fans. 

Reach Jim Henry at jjhenry@tallahassee.com.

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