Kirk Herbstreit: Florida State loss was cemented well before kickoff

While discussing the shocking upset of Florida State by Jacksonville State, ESPN’s Kirk Herbstreit felt the loss was set to happen well before kickoff. On an episode of The ESPN College Football Podcast, Herbstreit discussed why he felt Florida State was set up to lose after their impressive season opener against Notre Dame.

Kirk Herbstreit on Florida State

During the show, the topic of conversation inevitably drifted to Florida State’s surprising loss to JSU on a last second hail mary attempt for the win. Herbstreit was asked about how quickly the national conversation about Florida State shifted after their close game against Notre Dame to losing against JSU.

“That was a tough one man,” Herbstreit explained. “I was probably as loud on Florida State as anybody — I know they lost [against Notre Dame] — I just love that brand. I grew up in an era where Florida State took the field [and] it was must-see TV.”

Herbstreit then focused on the preparation that went into the game instead of the mistakes made on game day.

“I’m not going to react to — the play itself. You work on things in camp. I don’t know, maybe they didn’t work on the hail mary [and] how to defend it. It was not well defended obviously. I think it’s more about — and another example for fans — to realize when you’re taking a program that is rock bottom and you take two steps forward up the hill, when you’re still teaching how to win and how to be a professional and the way you prepare. — You’re going to have a step back. You’re going to take two steps forward and you’re going to have a step back.”

“And that was an embarrassing step back — but it was an example of the team not being able to handle all the [praise] they received after the Notre Dame game,” Herbstreit continued. “They lost that game [and] it didn’t matter who they played, based on how they handled the national reaction to [their game against Notre Dame].”

Herbstreit finished his point by stating that Florida State didn’t focus on the task at hand, learning a valuable lesson at the expense of their national standing.

“They lost that game Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday in practice, not taking their opponent serious. And unfortunately they get embarrassed.”