Saddled with an 0-2 start, with both defeats in the ACC, Florida State coach Mike Norvell admitted on Monday that he « failed in preparing the team to go out and respond » in the Seminoles’ 28-13 loss to the Boston College Eagles at Doak Campbell Stadium.
— Florida State coach Mike Norvell ran off his home field after a 28-13 loss to Boston College on Monday night, his stone-faced expression speaking for him.
Nobody around the Seminoles program expected what has unfolded over two weeks in front of a national television audience: An 0-2 start, with issues across the board — an inability to run the ball, an overmatched and oftentimes flummoxed defensive front and a passing game that has struggled with a completely overhauled roster.
If the 24-21 season-opening loss to Georgia Tech could be explained away because it happened a continent away in Ireland, its loss to Boston College exposed many of the same issues that came up against the Yellow Jackets.
Norvell was hard-pressed to come up with answers in his postgame press conference, simply saying, « I’m sick to how this season started. Tonight, I failed in preparing the team to go out and respond », Norvell said.
Florida State came into the season not only as the defending ACC champions, but as the preseason choice to win the conference — despite losing its best players, from Jordan Travis to Jared Verse, Braden Fiske and Keon Coleman. While they are off preparing for an NFL season, Florida State has been left to fill their spots — not just on the field but in the locker room.
Norvell spoke repeatedly about players having to trust one another more on the field, about pressing, about how the team has to come together now to fix its issues. They have an open date before playing Memphis on Sept. 14 to « go back in the lab », as receiver Kentron Poitier said.
