FSU coach Mike Norvell reacts to being linked to Texas A&M opening
The last time Texas A&M had to hire a football coach, it went to Florida State and landed Jimbo Fisher. There is speculation that Texas A&M could once again go to Tallahassee and try to bring Mike Norvell to College Station.
Norvell was asked about being linked to the Texas A&M job during his press conference on Monday.
“There’s not really any point to talk about it,” Norvell said. “It’s funny how sometimes those things get out there and people want to try to use that, especially in recruiting and things like that.
“I told recruits two years ago, and a lot of these guys we’re recruiting now, I said, ‘Well, it’s funny. Two years ago, everybody was talking about how — long’s he going to be there? They better win some games or he’s not.’ But I told them then, I said, ‘Watch, in two years, everybody’s going to be trying to use the other thing.’ But I can’t control any of that. Obviously we’re so excited about what we’re building here, where we’re going. The opportunity that’s ahead. It’s a special play, and I think that speaks for itself, so I’m grateful for the opportunity, but I can’t control all those things.”
Mike Norvell has been the head coach at Florida State since 2020. He came to Tallahassee from Memphis, after leading the Tigers to a 12-1 season and the Cotton Bowl in 2019.
Norvell got off to a bit of a slow start as the head coach of the Seminoles, going 3-6 and 5-7 his first two seasons. However, he now has Florida State rolling.
FSU went 10-3 last season and is currently 10-0, with two regular season games remaining. Florida State has already clinched a spot in the ACC Championship game and is in a good position to reach the College Football Playoff for the first time since 2014.
As for Texas A&M, the Aggies fired head coach Jimbo Fisher over the weekend.
Fisher was in his sixth season at Texas A&M, before being let go on Sunday. He led Florida State to a national title, before being hired in College Station.
The Aggies will have to pay out a record $75 million buyout to Fisher on the way out after starting the season 6-4. Previously, Gus Malzahn held the record buyout paid to a college coach at $21.45 million by Auburn. For reference, last season 15 schools paid a collective $72 million to buy out their coaches’ respective contracts.
It’s clear that Texas A&M doesn’t mind paying big money to land who it feels is the best option. It remains to be seen if Mike Norvell is a coach the Aggies do in fact go after.