Mike Norvell speaks to national doubt around Florida State without Jordan Travis
The devastating injury to Florida State QB Jordan Travis had an immediate impact on how many viewed the Seminoles’ chances as a contender. Even following an 11-0 start, some saw that as the moment where their hopes for winning any titles or making the College Football Playoff were shattered.
However, Mike Norvell says not so fast. During his press conference on Monday, he addressed the national doubt that’s beginning to swirl around his team. To him, they can’t do anything to control who does and doesn’t get hurt or who says anything about them. With that in mind, he just wants the ‘Noles to continue to show who they are on the field while blocking out everything else.
“It’s always about us. And through challenge, through adversity, through whatever the perspective is on the outside of people that think that know our team? I live with them every day. I watch them every day, I watch their work, I watch their heart, the ability – all the things that are important to winning football games and being able to sustain success,” said Norvell. “You never want to see anybody go down. But I can’t control what anybody on the outside says about our team.”
“We can make our impression by how we play and how we do the things that we do,” Norvell continued. “I can’t go through the season and say, ‘Well, don’t worry about those things’ and then, ‘Oh, this week? Now it’s going to be important’. That’s not real. We are going to be true to who we are.”
Norvell underlined his point by recalling the ever-changing opinion of their program just in the last year or so. They’ve gone from zero to hero and and have heard every take from others in between that time. That’s why, with them now seemingly down on Florida State again, he’s thankful that they don’t get to say or decide anything that actually matters to his team.
“These guys – to say that they don’t hear it? That’s not real either,” Norvell said. “I’m sure they hear it. But thank god that the opinions of others don’t dictate what our actions are going to be.”
“This team a year ago? Nobody thought we were worth a crap. They proved them wrong. Big expectations coming into this season and people are waiting for us to slip and fall? They’re continuing to get better. Quarterback goes down? ‘Oh, well that must be it’,” said Norvell as he looked back. “That’s why we get to play the game, that’s why we get to go to work. That’s why we get to continue to push, build, and go be all that I know this team can be. We’ll take care of the rest out there on the field in what we do.”
Travis was in the midst of a special season – both as the Seminoles’ quarterback and their leader. He was well on his way to another career year, especially with Florida State already set to go to the ACC Championship and right there in the race for the playoff.
Still, even without him now, Norvell isn’t going to take anything away from the players. He’s going to leave it up them, including Tate Rodemaker in his new role, to decide what they can still do and where they can still reach this season. After that, he hopes all those that are giving up on them now will start to trust in them again like those who currently aren’t wavering on FSU.
“If we take care of our business and continue to grow and get better? I’ll put no limits to what this team can accomplish,” said Norvell. “I believe in them. If we can put that on display? Then, maybe, a few more will believe in what they can do.”