Mike Norvell recaps the play selection from Florida State's win over LSU and how his team was able to take advantage. There is a time and a place for this.
Florida State football coach Mike Norvell was not ready to proclaim his program back on Monday, a day after a 24-23 upset victory over the LSU in New Orleans.
Norvell said in a phone interview that his team would return to work.
Norvell said that the game did not need to be as close as it was. We made some mistakes that can cost us, so we need to learn from the experience that we had last night. If you want to show you're back, you need to win every game and practice every week. You need to do that. Our guys are excited about what we've done. None of that matters if we don't take steps.
Several players said the victory meant Florida State was back in the interview. It's easy to understand why they were so emotional after the win. In the last two years, Florida State has not started a season with two wins. A down-to-the-wire, season- opening loss against Notre Dame was one of the highlights of last year.
There were many questions about the program turning a corner under Norvell. This team knows how to win close games, even when there is adversity to overcome.
After recovering a Malik Nabers fumbled punt with 2 minutes, 15 seconds remaining at the LSU 8-yard line, it seemed as if the Florida State would be able to close out the win. Florida State called a pitch back to Ward who fumbled. LSU was able to recover with 1:20 left.
Norvell said that it wasn't the best call. The risk reward was not worth it.
LSU scored a touchdown in the final minute of the game. Norvell acknowledged a few mistakes on that series. Norvell gestured to his team all it had to do was make one play after Florida State sent its block team on.
The field goal was blocked by Florida State'sJared Verse.
LSU focused on Verse, allowing Shyheim Brown to have a clear path to block the kick, which was the difference in the game. Even if the game went into overtime, Norvell believed his team would win.
I believed that our guys would rise to the occasion regardless of what happened on the last kick, Norvell said. We had one more play in the extra period. The play that was needed to win was made by us.
The celebration after the game was described as awesome by Norvell. Jackson put Norvell into the air.
Norvell joked that he shook him like a rag doll. To see the happiness. Whatever it takes, let that identity show up.
There is an open date this week for Florida State before the start of the conference season. The last thing Norvell wants is for his team to forget about what got them to a point where they could win a game.
Norvell said that they have been talking since the beginning about how to respond to success. If we don't improve, we won't be able to live out the potential that this team and this program has.
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