Florida State Head Coach Mike Norvell Opens Up About Struggles of Dealing with CFP Snub

Florida State is slated to face No. 6 Georgia in the 2023 Orange Bowl on December 30, and it has been bittersweet for a lot of fans following the program. FSU was historically snubbed by the College Football Playoff Committee, sparking outrage and confusion across the country.

Florida State Head Coach Mike Norvell and the Seminoles had a perfect 13-0 season, ending with a 16-6 win over Louisville in the ACC Championship Game.

The team's celebration was cut short as they found out the next day of being excluded. Norvell met with the media after Tuesday's practice in preparation for the Orange Bowl and opened up about how the team is handling being left out.

"It's been challenging. I mean, for all the things that, you know, how the season ended, you basically got 12 hours to celebrate what was an unbelievable accomplishment for this team," Norvell said about winning the ACC. "Then you had to learn how to work through disappointment, hurt, frustration, anger, all of it. Every bit of it. 18 to 22-year-old kids and your 42-year-old coach. So, it's hard."

Florida State toppled every opponent in front of them, winning in every way imaginable, defensively, offensively, special teams, and won the ACC, so it's no surprise they would be upset. Norvell said that the decision was out of their hands and they're still focusing on improving.

"At the end of the day, you control the things you control. We did everything that we needed to do to win 13 games this season. Now we get an opportunity to go get better. It can't just be good when it sounds good," Norvell continued. "But for a group of young men that are having to work through that, it's probably been the most challenging couple weeks of coaching I've ever had, but, it is our reality. So, you work through it and go push and get better."

Getting snubbed from potentially one of the most significant accomplishments in college football can certainly be angering. Norvell said he will always have feelings about what happened but is ultimately proud of their season.

"I will always have the feelings of what happened. But at the end of the day, I wasn't in that room, and it wasn't my choice. So, my beliefs of what it is, I mean, that's that. But, ultimately, I'm really proud...I'm so proud of what and who this team is and what they represented for 13 weeks of the season."

Norvell goes into more depth about how the team has handled the situation as they prepare for Georgia in his full interview below.