Robert Cooper, Kalen DeLoach sum up what winning 10 games means to the program

Florida State is in the midst of their best season under third-year head coach Mike Norvell, as the Seminoles are one bowl game win away from achieving their first 10-wins season since 2016. Some of Florida State’s upperclassmen players spoke about what it would mean to achieve the 10-win mark, starting with senior defensive lineman Robert Cooper.

“That would be special, just because like you said every year I’ve been here we ain’t won over six games like that,” Cooper said. “So leaving here with a 10-win season, the start of something special is definitely going to mean a lot to me.”

The last time the Seminoles achieved 10 wins was at the end of a five-year run of 10-plus win seasons led by head coach Jimbo Fisher. If history repeats itself, than maybe a win over Oklahoma in the Cheez-It Bowl could jumpstart the Seminoles back to their winning ways of the past.

Seminoles’ linebacker Kalen DeLoach also gave his thoughts on Florida State’s potentially historic season.

“We want that tenth win real bad, that’s part of the reason why we come out here and work the way we do. We want to be able to change the sign they’ve got in the locker room to another win, another 10-win season. So I feel like we’ve got the mindset that we gotta come out here and work and we need that 10-win season, it’s gonna help us a lot,” DeLoach said.

DeLoach ranks third on the team in tackles with 55 this season, adding three sacks, and a team-leading seven pass breakups to his stat line from his linebacker spot. He’s been a key to the Seminoles’ success this season, but attributes their overall success and being on the brink of 10 wins to the difference in buy-in.

“Like you said, everyone just wants to play for each other, the buy-in is for each other so if I do something it’s going to be for the man that’s next to me or the man behind me,” DeLoach explained. “I want to be the best me for the team, if I bring the best me that means everybody can bring the best them, and then we’re gonna be the best us.”

Florida State has surely been the best version of themselves this season compared to others in recent history, as they’ll look to reach that 10-win mark on December 29 in Orlando, Florida.