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Mike Norvell demands Florida State play ‘desperate’ every day

Grant Grubbs Profile Pictureby: Grant Grubbs07/31/25grant_grubbs_

Mike Norvell wants his players to be desperate to succeed. On Tuesday, the Florida State head coach explained the mindset he’s instilling in his players as they head into the 2025 campaign.

“I want every bit of who they are to go be what they can become,” Norvell said. “There’s not going to be a player who stands up and says they want to be mediocre or they want to be average. Everybody’s going to say the same things.

“… But on a daily basis, what shows up? I mean, are you truly willing to give everything? As important of the one play, the one moment, the one day, the one opportunity that you have, are you willing to give all with a sense of desperation to make it happen? It might not look good, might not feel good. The odds might be stacked against you, but are you willing to rise up and overcome?”

The Seminoles have a lot to overcome this fall. After winning the ACC Championship in 2023, Florida State was picked to win the conference again in 2024. However, the team crumbled under the pressure, finishing the year with a mere 2-10 record.

Now, Norvell and Co. must bounce back from the brutal season. Florida State revamped its staff and roster this season in hopes of avoiding another disastrous campaign.

The Seminoles have a new offensive and defensive coordinator this year, as well as 23 fresh faces via the NCAA Transfer Portal. Mike Norvell knows his team can’t underestimate the challenge ahead of them.

“You’ve got to come with a daily focus, a daily edge,” Norvell said. “That competition has got to drive everything that’s within. But you have to eliminate all areas of complacency. You’ve got to eliminate all areas of comfort. You’ve got to be willing to give every bit of it.

“That sense of desperation, that’s what I want for this team. I don’t say it in a negative light or anything else. It’s just being able to get all that we can with the players, the staff, this program that’s in front of us. And I’ve got a lot of belief for what that can be. I don’t want to hold anything back.”

On Aug. 30, Florida State will jumpstart its season with a showdown against Alabama at 3:30 p.m. ET. The game will take place inside Florida State’s Doak Campbell Stadium and air live on ABC.