Imagine cruising down the highway in a sleek sports car, wind in your hair, tunes blasting, feeling unstoppable, and then—bam!—you hit a pothole the size of Texas. That’s exactly how Florida State fans felt watching their beloved Seminoles crumble from a pristine 13-0 season in 2023 to a straight-up disaster with a 2-10 record in 2024. Like, how do you go from dancing on top of the world to face-planting into the dirt that hard? The fall was brutal, and fans aren’t just mad, they’re straight-up embarrassed. And as the dust settled, all eyes turned to head coach Mike Norvell. How did this happen? What went so horribly wrong?
HC Norvell didn’t shy away from addressing the train wreck. In a candid chat with J.D. PicKell from On3, he laid it all out: “You know, last year was an extreme disappointment… the challenges that we faced, some that were in our control, some things that happened that were out of our control.” He was practically talking through gritted teeth, admitting they got outplayed and out-coached on all fronts. For an HC whose team was riding high the year before, the fall was nothing short of tragic.
Now, let’s keep it real: FSU’s offense in 2024 was about as effective as a broken vending machine. You keep pounding the buttons, but nothing good’s coming out. The much-hyped transfer quarterback, DJ Uiagalelei, came in from Oregon State with high expectations. And boy—he was a bust. Accuracy? Mid. Decision-making? Slower than molasses. Mobility? The man was literally a statue in the pocket.
It got so bad they had to try Brock Glenn and Luke Kromenhoek under center. But it was like throwing paint on rust and calling it a new car. And don’t even get started on the offensive line—they were about as sturdy as wet cardboard, letting defenses rip through like kids in a candy store. At one point, FSU’s running game was averaging a pitiful 1.3 yards per carry. Yeah, you read that right.
The fanbase was fed up. And Norvell’s decision-making wasn’t helping. Questionable fourth-down calls, terrible clock management, and outdated schemes had folks calling for his head. The pressure got so bad, that both offensive coordinator Alex Atkins and defensive coordinator Adam Fuller were handed pink slips. But then, outta nowhere, Mike Norvell pulled a wildcard—he brought in Tony White as the new DC and then made the boldest move of the offseason: Gus Malzahn as offensive coordinator. And that’s where things get interesting.
Mike Norvell gives big-time props to Gus Malzahn
Now, you don’t just snatch an offensive guru like Gus Malzahn and expect folks not to lose their minds. The man’s got a track record that reads like a rap sheet of greatness. Natty as an OC at Auburn, another title game as head coach. The man’s a mad scientist when it comes to offenses, cooking up schemes that’ll leave defenses spinning like they just stepped off a rollercoaster.
Norvell couldn’t hide his excitement talking about the hire. “We have a 20-year relationship, and I actually got my start in Division One football, you know, as—as his GA years back at Tulsa… He’s been a great friend throughout my career, and he’s somebody I’ve got so much respect for.” Norvell doubled down, “And, you know, with the—the head coaching position. There’s a lot of different hats that you have to wear, and, as we got into conversation, his desire to be able to make that impact… to be hands-on and in helping build an offense and to be able to inspire… That is his passion. And it really worked out just incredibly for us and the fact that we had an opportunity that really worked for both sides.”
Malzahn’s arrival at FSU? It’s like tossing a lifejacket to a drowning man. The man’s been successful everywhere he’s been, and now he’s bringing his creative, fast-paced, trick-play-heavy offense to Tallahassee. If anyone can drag this sorry excuse of an offense out of the mud, it’s Gus ‘freakin’ Malzahn. His entire career’s been built on squeezing gold out of busted pipelines.
What makes Malzahn different is his ability to work with what he’s got. Quarterbacks? The guy can turn an average Joe into a game-winner. Playbooks? He’s got a damn library of tricks. And Norvell knows that better than anyone. “He’s been pouring into our players… Having him on this staff, with our other coaches, has been a tremendous resource for me and for our players and coaches alike.”
Here’s the deal: 2025 is do-or-die for Mike Norvell. FSU’s program is at rock bottom, and if Malzahn can’t flip the script, Norvell might be packing his bags before Thanksgiving. But if you’re putting your chips on someone, betting on the dude who’s spent his whole career pulling rabbits out of hats isn’t the worst idea. Buckle up, ‘Nole Nation, because this rollercoaster ride’s just getting started (Hopefully!).
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