Florida State football's (1-8, 1-7) season has been a disaster, if not beyond Mike Norvell' s repair after going 13-1 a year ago.
It's FSU's worst start since it went 1-11 in 1974. The Seminoles ' 1-7 record in the ACC is also their worst mark since they joined the league.
Norvell has oft-repeated during his press conferences that he has been evaluating all aspects of his program. The fans are growing impatient, especially after being demolished by North Carolina on Saturday.
After Omarion Hampton scored the fourth of his five touchdowns in the game at the start of the third quarter, the sellout crowd at Doak Campbell Stadium grew thin. When the fourth quarter began, the stadium was practically empty.
FSU has three more games remaining, starting at Notre Dame Saturday. The final two games against Charleston Southern and state rival Florida will be at Doak Campbell Stadium. Don't expect a capacity crowd against Charleston Southern and it will be interesting to see the turnout against Florida .
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Winning one game and not living up to the standards can take a toll on players. Critics could say they've quit and mentally checked out.
After the game, Norvell was asked if players quit on him.
"I don't think that they quit," Norvell said. "I do think that because I have the privilege of being the leader of this program."
Senior wide receiver Ja'Khi Douglas said the locker room was quiet after the game. Douglas, who has played his entire career at FSU, still hopes Norvell will turn his program around when he officially departs.
"I have unbelievable confidence in Mike Norvell, " Douglas said.
While Norvell and the players who spoke about this subject said all the right things, the level of play seems to be the opposite.
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Here is a positive spin that can't be taken for granted: Special teams. The two players who have been the most consistent at an elite level are kicker Ryan Fitzgerald and punter Alex Mastromanno.
After hitting a 56-yard field goal, Fitzgerald is now a perfect 10 for 10, tied for first in the country in field goal percentage, and 5 for 5 when kicking 50-plus yards, which tied a single-season record. It also ranks the senior third nationally.
Fitzgerald is the first kicker in program history to kick three field goals in 54-plus yards this season.
His career-best was back in Dublin against Georgia Tech when he launched a 59-yard field goal, the second longest in program history.
Mastromanno has also continued to make a case as the best punter in the country. The senior punted five times, with three netted for 50-plus yards, including a 57-yarder that put UNC inside the 20.
Mastromanno is ranked second in the country with a 49.3 average and fourth with 46.4.
His longest punt was in Week 1 against Boston College when he booted a 65-yard punt, and 15 of Mastromanno's punt would land inside the 20.
The Australian punter was projected to be an All-American going into this season.
It is plausible that FSU could see both specialists in New York by the end of the season as they are worthy enough to be finalists for the Lou Groza and the Ray Guy awards.
Saturday, Aug. 24:vs. Georgia Tech * (Aer Lingus College Football Classic) Lost 24-21
Monday, Sept. 2:vs. Boston College * | 7:30 p.m. | ESPN ( Fubo ) Lost 28-13
Saturday, Sept. 7:Bye
Saturday, Sept. 14:vs. Memphis | Noon | ESPN ( Fubo ) Lost 20-12
Saturday, Oct. 12:Bye
Saturday, Nov. 2:vs. North Carolina * | 3:30 p.m.| ESPN ( Fubo ) Lost 35-11
Saturday, Nov. 9:at No. 9 Notre Dame | 7:30 p.m. | NBC ( Fubo , Peacock )
Saturday, Nov. 16:Bye
Saturday, Nov. 23:vs. Charleston Southern
Saturday, Nov. 30:vs. Florida
Saturday, Dec. 6:ACC championship game (Charlotte, N.C)
All times Eastern
* = ACC
Peter Holland Jr. covers Florida State athletics for Tallahassee Democrat. Contact him via email at PHolland@Gannett.com or on X @_Da_pistol.
This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: Overreaction: FSU football program is broken. Players quit on Mike Norvell
