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Column: FSU’s inability to respond to adversity is the defining trait of Mike Norvell’s waning years

Florida State’s 44-6 collapse against Louisville on Friday night laid bare a glaring flaw in Mike Norvell’s tenure as head coach: his team’s repeated inability to recover from self-inflicted setbacks. The Seminoles, led by Norvell’s offensive game plan, took a commanding 14-0 lead after two early drives, including a 14-play, 11-run sequence that showcased their pre-snap execution.

Louisville’s conservative fourth-down call on a 54-yard field-goal attempt—later missed—only handed FSU prime scoring opportunities. But a single misstep on a do-or-die play-action pass at the 2-yard line exposed a critical weakness: Norvell’s reliance on high-risk, low-reward passing plays in clutch moments.

The Cardinals capitalized immediately, scoring a 97-yard touchdown and never looking back, turning a 14-point lead into a 35-20 deficit by the fourth quarter. The rout included six rushing touchdowns for Louisville, despite the Seminoles allowing a career-high 397 rushing yards—a stat that underscores FSU’s defensive struggles when trailing.

This marks the second time this season Florida State has blown a 14-point lead by 14 or more points, a statistical rarity not seen since Duke in 2012, raising questions about Norvell’s ability to manage adversity as his coaching career nears its end.

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