How Mike Norvell has handled Orange Bowl loss, 2024 preparation

After becoming the first undefeated conference champion to ever miss out on the College Football Playoff, Florida State entered the Orange Bowl without 16 starters. The Seminoles took on Georgia in that game with freshman Brock Glenn under center and eventually suffered a 63-3 loss – their first of the year.

In the time since, there have been changes to the roster, including high-profile additions. But for Mike Norvell and the staff, the offseason presented an opportunity to turn the page ahead of the 2024 campaign.

“I don’t think he’s spent anytime focusing on that game,” Warchant’s Jeff Cameron told Andy Staples on Andy Staples On3. “He’s talked about new chapters, yes, he’s talked about every year and every game is unto itself. And he’s talked a lot about forging and getting past things that happened to you in the past. But he’s really wanted this group to be about this group.”

Florida State lost plenty of production on offense after last season as Jordan Travis, Trey Benson and Keon Coleman, among others, headed to the NFL Draft. But the defense still has some key pieces in places with Fentrell Cypress and Patrick Payton leading the charge. All told, 10 letterwinners are coming back.

Those players remember the feeling that day, watching Georgia cruise to victory over the FSU reserves. While Mike Norvell could use that as a motivational tactic for them, Cameron said that’s not the case. His focus is on the task at hand – returning to the top of the ACC and getting a spot in the new-look CFP.

“And I think that even though there are a lot of guys on the team that played in that game, or didn’t play in this game but were on the team last year, it’s interesting. He’s spent a lot of time just saying, ‘Listen, this is another season. We’ve got a chance to etch another chapter in Florida State football lore,'” Cameron said. “His whole motto is work. He wears the shirt every day – ‘work.’ He’s got these guys talking about today, right now, right here, Georgia Tech.

“I don’t know that there’s this revenge in their mind at the idea that the last time the nation saw them, they were getting beat by Georgia 63-3 because I’ll be honest with you, it’s weird. This fan base – and I know other fan bases listening to this will be like, well, great, you can’t ignore it – but really, most of this fan base and most of those players don’t even look at that game as a game. I’m not sure Kirby Smart did, either. And I think we know why that happened. I mean, 16 of the 22 players that start for Florida State didn’t play in the game, either chose to opt out or have surgery and get ready for the NFL Draft. It’s really more about this year, I think.”