Mike Norvell opens up on what it means to him to face Memphis in Week 3

Florida State is preparing to kick off for their next dozen games in the fifth season under Mike Norvell. However, this year will feature one game that will mean just a little bit more for the Seminoles’ head coach.

Norvell spoke about the chance to play Memphis, his former program, this season while at ACC Media Days on Monday. He expressed his excitement for the opportunity, especially considering where the Tigers have continue to reach since he left in 2020.

“Memphis has a great program, a very talented team. Coming off another 10-win season there,” said Norvell. “We know it’s going to be a great challenge when we get to that third week of the season.”

“It’s definitely going to be a unique dynamic,” Norvell said. “Coach Silverfield and his staff have continued to push that program forward.”

Norvell coached Memphis for four seasons from 2016 to 2019. In that time, the Tigers went 38-16 (.704) overall. In doing so, they reached four consecutive bowl games as part of a program record of seven under him along with Justin Fuente and now Ryan Silverfield. They also capped off his time there with a 12-2 record for the most wins in school history and a victory in the American Championship, their first in a half centure, after losing the previous two.

After that, Norvell left for Tallahassee to take over at Florida State. Memphis then hired internally with Silverfield, who was deputy head coach and worked with the offensive line under him.

Since then, Memphis has gone 31-18 (.633) under Silverfield. That includes wins in all three bowl appearances. They’re also coming off their best mark yet under him at 10-3 in 2023.

The Tigers gave Norvell his first head coaching job after years as an offensive assistant. Now, with him succeeding at his next stop at Florida State, he is looking forward to August 14th when he’ll get to cross paths with Memphis again as opponents.

“Got a special place in my heart for it. But also going to be excited to compete once that opportunity shows up,” said Norvell.

Norvell responds to Greg Sankey’s comments regarding Florida State, College Football Playoff

Mike Norvell caught wind of Greg Sankey’s comments at SEC Media Days regarding Georgia, Florida State, and the College Football Playoff.

Both schools missed the CFP last season but there was an outcry from Tallahassee. Considering the Seminoles were ACC Champions and were undefeated, they had a case as well

Norvell was asked about Sankey’s words, which included that the SEC “didn’t fly banners over places” after Georgia missed the CFP.

“I don’t disagree that Georgia was one of the top four teams if you’re judging off talent and ability but they also earned their loss,” Norvell said at ACC Media Days. “That was part of the result of what happened on the field. When you look at our team and what it was, we controlled the things we could control. We unfortunately had an injury but we had a team that responded to it.”

“Everybody can have an opinion of what happened. I don’t disagree they were one of the four best teams but what happened on the field kept them out of the playoff.”