Florida State football head coach Mike Norvell sets high expectations at ACC Kickoff

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Florida State football head coach Mike Norvell sets high expectations at ACC Kickoff

Liam Rooney, Tallahassee Democrat · Tallahassee Democrat

Mon, Jul 22, 2024 ·

9 min read

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The 2024 ACC Kickoff is underway at the Hilton Charlotte Uptown in Charlotte, North Carolina as the countdown to the start of the college football season heats up.

Over the next four days, the 17 ACC football programs will speak to the media about the coming season, with Florida State head coach Mike Norvell scheduled to speak at 3 p.m. on Monday afternoon. The players joining Norvell in Charlotte include defensive linemen Jousha Farmer and Patrick Payton and offensive lineman Darius Washington .

ACC commissioner Jim Phillips will open the ACC Kickoff event at 1 p.m. on Monday with comments about the current state of the league and new teams Southern Methodist University (SMU), California (Cal) and Stanford.

He could also speak, in part, on the status of the Florida State and Clemson lawsuits. Both schools have been locked in months-long legal battles with the conference in a dispute over media rights and to exit to another conference and retain media rights.

The Seminoles' trip to North Carolina will be quick, as fall practice begins for the team on Wednesday, July 24, ahead of the season-opening trip to Dublin, Ireland to face Georgia Tech on Aug. 24 in the Aer Lingus College Football Classic .

Tallahassee Democrat sports reporter Liam Rooney will provide live updates throughout day one of ACC Kickoff.

Patrick Payton , Joshua Farmer ready to showcase growth of Seminoles' defense

Both Patrick Payton and Joshua Farmer were part of FSU's stout defense last season and in a similar fashion to head coach Mike Norvell, the duo feel they can be better than last year's team.

Farmer said that he and Payton have been implementing the standards that Coach Norvell demands out of them and are helping bring both the transfers and high school recruits up to speed on what the expectations are.

"The standard is the best. Like being our best every day," Farmer said. "Even when things get hard, hiding them and putting your feelings to the side, getting the job done, just trying to be your best."

On last seasons college football playoff snub, Farmer was blunt in his response.

"Yeah, we are pretty pissed off. I think we deserved to be there last year," Farmer said. "That's in the past and everything happens for a reason. I'm just happy to be here today and do it again, show the world why we should be there."

Mike Norvell wants his Florida State team to be "even better" than last season's 13-0 squad

While it's hard to best a perfect regular season, Norvell is expecting more from his group this season as the season kickoff in Dublin, Ireland nears.

"Our objective this year is to go get better. Coming off what was a 13-0 regular season and championship game was something that was really a special experience for our entire program," Norvell said. "It sets the stage and opportunity for us to continue to push and continue to elevate this program to ultimately where it deserves to be. That's among the nation's elite when you look across the course of college football."

Norvell said he's excited about what his team is going to show the nation this season, and he feels like the spring and summer workouts have set the team up for a strong fall seaosn.

"Our defense is as deep as it's ever been" FSU head coach Mike Novell excited about the Seminoles' defense

FSU head coach Mike Norvell is excited about the prospect of this year's Seminoles defense, and during his press conference at ACC Kickoff, he called the defense a strong group.

"Our defense is as deep as it's ever been," Norvell said.

He said returning guys like Patrick Payton and Joshua Farmer have taken leadership seriously, and transfer players like Marvin Jones Jr., Earl Little and Cam Riely are exciting additions alongside the recruiting class that came in.

He said he's excited about his team embracing challenges and how they respond to them and he can't wait to show the progress on the field.

"It hasn't changed my working relationship with them at all" Phillips on relationship with FSU, Clemson

When asked about the current litigation between the ACC, FSU and Clemson and if that has impacted his relationship with the schools.

Phillips gave a lengthy answer describing how he hasn't changed his views on the schools and how he holds the school's leadership in high regard.

"I think very highly of Richard McCullough [FSU President], I think very highly of Jim Clements [Clemson President], I'd say we are friends," Phillips said at ACC Kickoff. "I think very highly of Michael Alford [FSU AD], I think very highly of Graham Neff [Clemson AD]. It hasn't changed my working relationship with them at all because of how I've tried to address it and how I've asked the staff to address it."

ACC Commissioner Jim Phillips talks ACC lawsuits with FSU, Clemson, "It's an important time for the conference"

During his press conference at ACC Kickoff, conference commissioner Jim Phillips spoke about the ongoing litigation between FSU, Clemson and the ACC.

"We've had six months of disruption and I think we've handled it incredibly well," Phillips said. "It's important for me to lead our group in particular, not only our staff, but more importantly our schools to compartmentalize the legal piece of what's happening and not let it distract us or take us away from what we are all trying to do."

Phillips said the lawsuits have become a part of his daily schedule and he said that the conference needs to keep "moving forward" despite the distractions provided by the lawsuits. He called this a really important time for the conference.

"You either believe in what was signed or you don't," Phillips said on the litigation. "We are going to do everything we can to protect and to fight for the league."

Former FSU quarterback EJ Manuel has high praise for Seminoles wide receiver Ja'Khi Douglas

Former Seminole EJ Manuel said he's got high hopes for wide receiver Ja'Khi Douglas this season. He said while Johnny Wilson and Keon Coleman aren't coming back, they've got a lot of talent at wideout and Douglas is one he thinks is "special."

The ACC Network panel also compared the transition from quarterback Jordan Travis to DJ Uiagalelei to the years that FSU went from former quarterback Chris Weinke to Charlie Ward.

Mike Norvell joins the ACC Network broadcast desk, talks new-look FSU offense, DJ Uiagalelei

FSU head coach Mike Norvell spoke to the ACC Network broadcast team. He spoke about the coming season and the journey he's had as FSU head coach.

"It's been an incredible ride," Norvell said on the broadcast. "For the ups, the downs, and all the things we've had to experience, it all goes back to the players... it's really special."

Speaking on the loss of FSU's offensive firepower in Jordan Travis, Keon Coleman, Johnny Wilson, Jaheim Bell and more, Norvell said he's excited for everyone to see the new-look offense this season.

He singled out the experience on the offensive line as something that excites him, especially with the runningbacks they have running behind them.

"They were great players and stars from last year's team. But as one steps out, the door opens for the next," Norvell said. "I like the talent on that side of the ball, it's now about who is going to show up in that moment."

Talking about quarterback DJ Uiagalelei and what he brings to the program, Norvell talked about how Uiagalelei reminds him of Jordan Travis as a leader.

"It's always about putting our players in the best position to showcase what they can do," Norvell said. "DJ is coming in and he's someone I'm really excited about. Much like Jordan [Travis], he's had the highs and he's had the lows... he's been an incredible young man in that locker room."

Georgia Tech head coach Brent Key on Ireland game vs. FSU "We aren't going on vacation"

Speaking on the ACC Network's broadcast desk of the ACC Kickoff event, Georgia Tech head football coach Brent Key was asked about the Yellow Jackets season opener against FSU in Dublin, Ireland.

While the coach didn't say much about his opponent in FSU, he did, however, express excitement for the game overseas.

Key did say he doesn't want his team to lose sight of what they are there to do, despite the extra fanfare that comes with playing in Ireland.

Play a football game.

"We aren't going on vacation, we are there to play a football game," Key told the ACC Network.

Ahead of ACC kickoff, ESPN's Pete Thamel reports FSU, Clemson not expecting to announce ACC departure anytime soon

On the morning of the start of the ACC Kickoff, ESPN senior college football writer Pete Thamel reported that FSU and Clemson are not likely to announce a departure from the ACC before the Aug. 15 deadline, which is the last day for the schools to leave the conference after the 2024-25 season and ahead of the 2025-26 season.

Both schools have been locked in long litigation that has surrounded the ownership of media rights should either program leave the ACC. The lawsuit is currently spread out over three states, including Florida, North Carolina and South Carolina.

What to know about ACC Kickoff

Television Day 1:ACC Network, coverage starting at noon.

Television Day 2-4:Acc Network, coverage starting at 9 a.m.

Where:Hilton Charlotte Uptown in Charlotte, North Carolina

Team schedule, when do FSU, Clemson, other ACC programs speak?

Day 1
1 p.m.: ACC Commissioner Jim Phillips
2:15 p.m.: Georgia Tech head coach Brent Key
3 p.m.: FSU head coach Mike Norvell
3:30 p.m.: Southern Methodist University head coach Rhett Lashlee
Day 2
10 a.m.: Pittsburgh head coach Pat Narduzzi
11: a.m.: Virginia Tech head coach Brent Pry
12:45 p.m.: California head coach Justin Wilcox
1:15 p.m.: Stanford head coach Troy Taylor
2:45 p.m.: Virginia head coach Tony Elliot
Day 3
10 a.m.: Miami head coach Mario Cristobal
11 a.m.: Louisville head coach Jeff Brohm
12:45 p.m.: Boston College head coach Bill O'Brien
1:15 p.m.: Duke head coach Manny Diaz
2:45 p.m.: Wake Forest head coach Dave Clawson
Day 4
10 a.m.: North Carolina State head coach Dave Doeren
11:00 a.m.: Syracuse head coach Fran Brown
12 p.m.: Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney
1 p.m.: North Carolina head coach Mack Brown

Liam Rooney covers preps sports for the Tallahassee Democrat. Contact him via email at LRooney@gannett.com or on Twitter @__liamroone y

This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: Florida State football's Mike Norvell talks 2024 season at ACC Kickoff

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