Scott Polacek@@ScottPolacek
Featured Columnist IVSeptember 3, 2024
Chris Leduc/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
It would have been difficult to script a worse start to the season than the one Florida State has experienced, and head coach Mike Norvell isn’t happy about it.
“I’m sick to how the season started,” head coach Mike Norvell told reporters following Monday’s 28-13 home loss to Boston College. “… I apologize to the fans, I apologize to everybody associated with the program. That was extremely disappointing.
“All phases, we just weren’t good.”
Monday figured to be a bounce-back game for the Seminoles after they started the season with a 24-21 loss to Georgia Tech in Ireland. After all, it marked a return home against a Boston College team that hasn’t won more than seven games since the 2009 campaign.
The Eagles had other plans.
Boston College jumped out to a lead with a statement drive on its second possession that went for 71 yards across 14 plays and more than nine minutes of game action. Florida State had no answers up front as the visitors’ offensive line created massive holes for the rushing attack.
That continued on their next drive, which put Florida State behind 14-0 and set the tone for the rest of the game.
While the Seminoles closed the gap to 21-13 in the third quarter, Boston College responded with another touchdown drive and made sure there was no doubt by the end.
“We need leaders to rise up,” Norvell said. “We need to continue to push in all areas of what we’re doing, and we need to do it together. There is going to be plenty of negativity around this program. I understand that. … But as a football team, you have to stand together.”
Florida State’s defense allowed 263 rushing yards, 73 of which came from quarterback Thomas Castellanos. Castellanos ran for a touchdown and threw for two more while outplaying his counterpart, DJ Uiagalelei.
Uiagalelei went 21-of-42 for 272 yards, one touchdown and one interception in a performance that drew boos from some Florida State fans. There were even some “We want Brock” chants from the crowd that was looking for backup quarterback Brock Glenn.
Norvell was noncommittal when it came to a potential quarterback change after the game:
Jordan Silversmith @jsilversmith24
I asked Mike Norvell about whether or not he considered making a QB change, and he gave a non-answer and did not address whether he considered making a change or if there will be a quarterback competition coming out of the bye week.
While the expansion of the College Football Playoff to 12 teams provides more room for error for top programs, overcoming two conference losses to start the season will be a daunting task for the Seminoles. They still face Clemson, Miami and Notre Dame and have looked nothing like a contender through two contests.
They at least have some time to figure things out before next taking the field for a Sept. 14 game against Memphis.
