Mike Norvell opens up on intense sideline interaction with Deuce Spann

Florida State and head coach Mike Norvell dismantled heated ACC rival Miami on Saturday night 45-3. In a night filled with emotions for both the coaches and players, the broadcasting team caught what appeared to be a heated exchange between Norvell and Deuce Spann. On Monday, the Seminoles’ head coach opened up on the intense sideline interaction with his young star receiver.

“I mean, I love Deuce. He’s going to be such a great player for us in the future,” said Norvell. “At the time, in the moment, he had an uncharacteristic response to something that happened to him, and we got a 15-yard penalty. I always want our players to be in control of themselves. Because as you go through life, you’re gonna experience things that people do to you, but in that moment, I want them to be in control of that response. And it wasn’t the best response by Deuce. In that moment, I wanted him to understand the importance of what that response was.

“He got frustrated. And when that happens, it’s about me helping to get him back toward where he’s in control. Part of it was, I just told him to breathe. I wanted him to look me in the eyes and breathe.”

With the game all but over early in the fourth quarter, Spann picked up an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty, costing his team 15 yards and ideal field position. Once he made it to the sideline, Norvell gave him an earful, which didn’t go over well. When Spann tried to walk away, Norvell caught up with his young player, getting him to calm down and refocus. The two quickly bounced back from the exchange, and cooler heads prevailed.

“In the moment, after the game, he came up to me and he apologized for his action. And I told him I love him. I love that through that, that was a moment that was critical, whether it was here in on the practice field or whether it’s on a grand stage; those moments that young men go through, they need it because we’ve all been there. We’ve all had those emotional reactions that don’t necessarily speak to who we are, at that time. There’s some circumstance or something comes up that forces an action that maybe we don’t necessarily want to have, and it’s just, how can we grow in those times.”

For Norvell, that was a teachable moment for him, Spann, and everyone else on the Florida State sideline. Emotions happen, and they can take over sometimes, and the Seminoles’ head coach is no exception to that. But for him, it’s important that his players learn how to handle these kinds of emotionally driven circumstances. And if they need help doing that, that is what he is there for.

“Deuce came up to me afterward, and I told him we can all get better from that. He’s got a great future in front of him, and that one just happened to be on that stage. In practice, we get those opportunities throughout, and when young men embrace that, they’re going to be in control of all the things that are ahead. That’s my job, and that’s my responsibility; to help prove to them that they can be in control even in the most emotional situations. And it’s all a part of that process of growth.”