Three weeks earlier, Florida State coach Mike Norvell sat alone in your home watching his team lose in embarrassing style to competing Miami in yet another dispiriting loss for a program browsing for a method to turn a corner.
Maybe that is what happened Saturday against North Carolina. Playing with an energy, passion and intensity missing out on recently, the Seminoles upset No. 5 North Carolina 31-28 on Saturday night, holding on for a triumph they desperately needed to construct the kind of self-confidence and momentum any first-year coach wants as he constructs his program.
Florida State went into the video game as a double-digit home underdog, in large part since of its bad efficiency to open the season. Norvell saw improvements in a loss to Notre Dame last week, and that gave him hope there would be more to come against the Tar Heels.
Indeed, Florida State published its first win as an unranked team versus an AP top-5 opponent because 2007 versus No. 2 Boston College. All of that would have been difficult to think of at the end of September, when Norvell missed the Miami video game due to the fact that of a favorable coronavirus test and the Seminoles unwinded in front of a nationwide television audience.
Asked to describe the win Saturday, Norvell said, “Theres really no words for it. Its so special due to the fact that since Dec. 8, the very first time I walked into that conference room with my team and this group, every minute we attempted to enhance and grow, believing in what was coming. I tell our guys, the ultimate goal with every opportunity you get is to attempt to go out and be the best you.
” To see their celebrations, to see the delight, to know, stacked against all chances, not numerous people offered us a possibility tonight, however they didnt stress about what other people thought of them. They simply went out and played their game.
Florida State leapt out to a 31-7 lead, however the Tar Heels battled their way back. When the fourth quarter started, the Tar Heels had actually closed the space and trailed 31-21. Norvell stated he pulled his entire team together with a smile on his face and informed them, ” Guys this is where you count on what you do. I cant inform you what this fourth quarter is going to appear like, but you head out there and you play the next play. You offer whatever you have. You maximize your effort in this opportunity. They did that. We found a method to be one play better tonight. Its going to be huge for us to continue to grow and construct off this example.”
North Carolina had one last shot to win or connect the game on its last drive. When North Carolina quarterback Sam Howells fourth-down pass went insufficient, a massive event taken place.
” It was the best sensation Ive ever felt in my life seeing the defense come up huge like that,” Florida State quarterback Jordan Travis stated.
Added offending lineman Devontay Love-Taylor, “The event, specifically after what weve been through this season, the hard loss at Miami, the tough loss here for Georgia Tech, all the work weve put in, we seemed like it settled tonight. But weve got to keep putting in the work so it can continue to keep paying off.”
Break The Rock Coach! #NoleFamily|#KeepCLIMBing pic.twitter.com/05ic38RHol— FSU Football (@FSUFootball) October 18, 2020
Norvell sees plenty to tidy up, including an inability to score in the 2nd half, and a lot of unrestrained charges that nearly cost them the video game. That will come throughout film study and practice next week and in the weeks to come.
” Were not perfect,” Norvell said. “Were a work in development, however when you get an opportunity to see growth, when you see enhancement, when you see investment– its not for everybody.
” Were still going to push because I understand were capable of a lot more.”
Asked to explain the win Saturday, Norvell stated, “Theres really no words for it.” To see their celebrations, to see the happiness, to know, stacked against all odds, not lots of individuals gave us a possibility tonight, however they didnt worry about what other people believed of them. Norvell stated he pulled his whole group together with a smile on his face and told them, ” Guys this is where you rely on what you do.” Were not perfect,” Norvell stated. “Were a work in development, but when you get a possibility to see development, when you see improvement, when you see financial investment– its not for everyone.
