Florida State University’s football team falls to 1-9 after losing to the University of Notre Dame, 52-3, on Nov. 9. Currently, the Seminoles are on pace for the worst season in program history.
Subsequently, head coach Mike Norvell dismissed offensive coordinator and offensive line coach Alex Atkins, defensive coordinator Adam Fuller, and wide receivers coach Ron Dugans. All three coaches arrived with Norvell in 2019. FSU’s offensive struggles have been a key component in their losing season.
According to Team Rankings, they average a mere 13.3 points per game (No. 134 in the nation) and 258.9 yards per game (No. 132 in the nation). Their defense has given up nearly 30 points per game while currently sitting last in the Atlantic Coastal Conference. After finishing 13-0 during the 2023-2024 regular season and being left out of the College Football Playoff, expectations for the Seminoles were at an all-time high.
In a press conference on Monday, Norvell said, “You don’t make decisions like this without having an idea of what it is you are looking for and what are the areas we can continue to improve and support our players.”
This news has garnered mixed reactions from students at FSU.
“I think clearly something was wrong for us to be able to go from 13-0 to 1-9, and I think something needed to switch. I think it took a while for [Mike] Norvell to do it, but it was a good play,” Trey Simpson, a senior at FSU, said.
Some students are not shocked by the news, while others have completely checked out of support for the football team this year. Ana Peraza, a junior at FSU, said she was not aware of the coaching change. “I think it’s really sad, especially coming in as a freshman in 2022. We played so good, so seeing them play so bad this year, especially after what happened to us last fall, it makes me mad,” Peraza said.
FSU will look to bounce back against Charleston Southern University on Nov. 23, followed by their final game of the season against bitter rival Florida on Nov. 30.
