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It was two years and two months ago.
That’s when Jacksonville State beat Florida State 20-17 at Doak Campbell Stadium on the game’s final play, a 59-yard Hail Mary pass that left FSU’s football program shattered 11 games into coach Mike Norvell’s rebuild.
It was FSU’s first loss to a non-FBS program since losing to William & Mary in 1959.
“Nobody really knew what to say or do,” said former FSU player Marshall Hilaman, a graduate assistant in sports performance at Boise State. ” I don’t remember much from that game. Just that play. You almost couldn’t process it.
“It almost felt like it wasn’t real.”
It was real. It was painful. It was embarrassing.
It was rock bottom for Norvell’s Seminoles.
Norvell, Florida State football responds to the worst defeat in program history
Thankfully – and here’s a respectful tip of the cap to resilience, faith, leadership and staying on course during turbulent times – Norvell and FSU refused to stay down.
Instead, the Seminoles responded and have returned to national prominence in whirlwind fashion.
Fourth-ranked FSU is 12-0 for the fourth time in school history and headed to the ACC championship game Saturday against Louisville in Charlotte, North Carolina. The Seminoles, who care coming off their first win at Florida since 2017, also remain in the College Football Playoff equation.
Norvell’s C.L.I.M.B. acronym – the foundation of his program rebuild – stands for commitment, little things, intensity, mental toughness and brotherhood. What I like best? He repeatedly pays tribute to FSU’s storied tradition, respects his position within the university and community, stresses “it’s always about the work,” and points to maximizing every opportunity.
Norvell went 3-10 in his first 13 games with the Seminoles, including the defeat to Jacksonville State. He is 27-6 since then – and 22-3 the past two…
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Author : Tallahassee Democrat
Publish date : 2023-11-28 03:54:05
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