Mike Norvell Takes Miami: A Night With Seminole Boosters
Florida State Athletics had one of the most successful weeks this writer has ever seen across all sports. The weekend was highlighted by a miraculous buzzer beater from Matthew Cleveland to defeat the top-15 ranked Miami Hurricanes down in Coral Gables. However, the festivities down in Miami began a few nights before when Mike Norvell and the “Seminole Boosters On Tour” made a stop in the 305.
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On Wednesday, the Seminole Boosters descended upon Miami-Dade County and brought with them the likes of AD Michael Alford, Head Coach Mike Norvell, the Voice of the Seminoles, Jeff Culhane, Seminole legend Snoop Minnis, and current Florida State football stars such as linebacker Tatum Bethune and offensive lineman Maurice Smith to name a few. Hosted in the Dadeland Towers Marriott, just a few blocks south from the University of Miami campus, Boosters were invited to a series of events planned throughout the night. Depending on their donor level, Boosters had the opportunity to begin their experience with a private soiree around 6 pm before the main event opened to members of all levels at 6:30 featuring photo ops, a full bar and buffet, and an opportunity to hear from Mike Norvell firsthand.
Fortunately, I bore witness to the night’s full itinerary of events. What follows is a breakdown of the night from beginning to end, highlighting key moments, topics of conversation, and notes from Mike Norvell’s keynote speech.
Private Boosters Meet-and-Greet
Excited for what the night had in store, our party arrived well before 6 pm and waited in the hotel lobby. Upon arrival, it was apparent to us that Miami’s Seminole Boosters would be arriving in droves. The main hotel bar was littered with garnet and gold and one fan would not pass by the other without sharing the customary “Go ‘Noles.” Of course, I arrived donning the Straw Hat, because what better opportunity to assume the Straw Hat Guy persona than in the presence of fellow ‘Noles (Growing up as a Florida State fan in Miami, you relish the moments when you can proudly display your allegiance without fear of persecution). As the time for the private meet and greet drew near, we worked our way up a flight of stairs and arrived at the Boosters’ check-in desk.
After checking our party’s names off of the list and receiving our “private” wristbands, we were directed to a small ballroom, adjacent to the main event space, wherein we received customized name tags upon entry and were then free to explore the space and mingle with fellow attendees. Out of respect for the private nature of this part of the event, I won’t divulge in detail what was discussed while in the room, but it’s important to note that AD Michael Alford made a few remarks with regard to the importance of Booster donations, the increased efforts to enhance facilities at Florida State (specifically noting the football-only facility), and the exciting future ahead for all athletics at the university.
Meanwhile, current student-athletes Tatum Bethune and Maurice Smith (and Miami central alumni) mingled with guests, myself included. Bethune spent a considerable amount of time conversing with our group about a myriad of subjects, most of which were about football, studies, and transferring from UCF. Before long, Coach Norvell was making his way around the room, taking pictures and talking football with each passing booster. Eventually, I was able to pull him aside, talk some football, and take a picture (the first opportunity I’ve ever had to meet Coach Norvell in person). Thirty minutes came and went in the blink of an eye, and it was time for our group of boosters to join the main event in the ballroom next door.
The Main Event
By the time our group emptied into the hallway, a multitude of boosters had arrived and filled the ballroom in anxious anticipation. The ballroom was adorned with Seminole Booster signage and iconography. A stage had been set up against the back wall; two chairs stood before a backdrop. A line had formed on the left side of the room, the front of which led to yet another backdrop and a photo opportunity with Mike Norvell. Rows upon rows of chairs filled the center of the room, facing directly at the stage. The right side of the room played host to the buffet line, which was accented by spring rolls, cuban sandwiches, and a myriad of finger foods. Outside in the hallway, more and more booster members accumulated. They caught up with old friends, forged new acquaintances, and — primarily — stood in line for the bar.
The atmosphere was light and joyful. People were excited to have their moment to stand next to the head coach of the Florida State Seminoles and take home a keepsake of the night's experience. Most of the first half hour was focused on getting as many people through the photo-op line as possible while the rest of us ate, drank, and conversed. During that time, I had a pleasant conversation with our very own Director of Athletics, Michael Alford. I watched as Seminole legend Snoop Minnis lit up the room and put a smile on each and every person’s face. Tatum Bethune and Maurice Smith did the same. Eventually, it was time for everyone to take their seats for the main presentation, and the Voice of the Seminoles, Jeff Culhane, took to the stage.
President & CEO of Seminole Boosters, Inc. Takes the Stage
The Warchant rang out over the speaker system as Mr. Culhane electrified the crowd in attendance. He praised the Seminoles’ recent accomplishments across all sports, poked fun at some rivals (specifically the one located in the same city), and asked trivia questions before introducing a promotional video for the Seminole Boosters followed by President and CEO of Seminole Boosters Inc., Stephen Ponder.
Ponder opened by clarifying that, much to his dismay, he had no relationship to former Florida State quarterback Christian Ponder, although he did mention his intentions to try and bring Christian back into the fold somehow. He started off his brief speech by thanking the members in attendance, highlighting the current and former Seminole Booster board members. In line with Seminole Booster’s recent initiatives, he brought specific attention to the success of all 20 teams across FSU Athletics and the role booster donations (and the annual fund) play in that success. According to Ponder, Florida State possesses the largest alumni base in the ACC and urged Boosters to spread the word in an attempt to capitalize on that status. Shortly thereafter, Ponder wrapped up his speech, but not before highlighting the importance of the Football facility, which was accompanied by images of concept art projected on the screen behind him (this drew a considerable amount of applause from the crowd).
Following the conclusion of Mr. Ponder’s speech, another promotional video played on the screen; this time spotlighting the words of AD Alford and the continuous efforts being made behind the scenes and the successes taking place across the program. Once again, the crowd in attendance was energized by the inspirational video, but the energy was elevated to another level when the guest of honor finally took the stage.
Head Coach Mike Norvell
Exhilarating Entrance…
In true Mike Norvell fashion, his entrance was boisterous and energetic. You wouldn’t have even guessed that this was a man who had been on his feet talking and taking pictures for over an hour at this point. He commented on how amped he was to see this much garnet and gold in Miami, and brought the crowd to life when he mentioned just how much he enjoyed the trip to Miami last fall. He reminisced on the 2022 season, calling it a “rewarding” one and said that the team did indeed “take a step” this year. Norvell chalked that success up to the vision and the goals they set long before and seeing those promises through even amidst a tumultuous first two seasons. “It’s the people that make the place,” said Norvell when describing why this team was able to take such a big step. Put simply, he believes that it was because they were a team that loved to compete with each other.
On 2022 Successes…
Mike Norvell listed the football team’s accomplishments throughout 2022, each one causing the audience to grow progressively louder: Wins over LSU, Oklahoma, and “the two state schools”; Top-10 ranking by season’s end; the 25th 10-win season in program history. He then transitioned into looking ahead; into what the future held for the Seminoles. He knows that expectations have been raised following such a successful year, but he pointed to their handling of expectations prior to 2022 in an effort to showcase the team’s mindset. Put simply, he stated how the team didn’t listen to outside expectations last year. Norvell said, “Doesn’t do anything for us. [Those expectations] didn’t matter a year ago, and they don’t matter now.”
On the Culture and the Standard…
The culture within the Florida State football program is strikingly different compared to the culture Norvell inherited, and he drew special attention to just how important the culture and mindset are to accomplishing their goals: “There’s no limits to what we can accomplish because the focus of the program is just about getting better.” He believes in pushing his players to be “better than what [they] think their best is” and has seen more and more of his guys embracing that challenge. Mike Norvell talked about how culture played a role in certain players’ decision to forego the NFL Draft and return for another season: “[They] chose to return because of who they get to do it with; what they represent.” he mentioned how they started their “Tour of Duty” the following morning at 6 am and how his staff intends for it to be the “hardest, most miserable hour of their life,” but it's their ability to embrace the challenge, buy into the culture, and do the work that helps these young men succeed both in football and in life. The most striking thing Norvell said with regard to the culture, in my opinion, was the following: “It’s no longer just a coaches’ standard. It’s a player standard.”
On what FSU returns and what they’ve acquired…
According to Mike Norvell, Florida State stands to return 90% of its production from last year. That’s production from a team that ranked Top 15 in offense and Top 15 in defense; something, As Norvell pointed out, this was only accomplished by FSU, Alabama, and Georgia in 2022. In addition to a host of talent returning to the roster in 2023, Coach Norvell pointed out the addition of 19 total newcomers from both the recruiting trail and transfer portal. “Not everyone’s a fit for what we’re doing,” said Norvell, but he emphasized that the current players are the ones selling the program, valuing the work, valuing the relationships, and helping the newcomers along. After seeing the last few years play out and witnessing the step forward and the establishment of a proper culture and player-led standard, Mike Norvell was pretty confident in saying that Florida State possesses the proper blueprint, and it’s a “hard earned” confidence. He believes that this is a tremendous group of guys putting in the work, and is excited that people are finally talking good about the program because, as he put it, “These guys deserve that recognition.”
Mike Norvell paused to finally take a breath, admitting that he got a little carried away with such overwhelming excitement. He turned to Jeff Culhane, with a smile on both of their faces, and said it was finally time to open the floor to questions.
Crowd Q&A
When asked about the addition of Patrick Surtain…
Mike Norvell, without hesitation, immediately expressed his excitement about Surtain’s joining the program. He admitted to being excited just by the possibility of adding him to the staff well before it became a reality. He emphasized that the process of adding Surtain was a result of relationships, specifically one he had with the DB coach prior — albeit small. Norvell commented on Surtain’s humility, his care for the student-athletes and the folks he gets to work with. According to Mike Norvell, Mr. Surtain was excited by the opportunity to join the college ranks within the first minute of their initial conversation. Norvell believes that Surtain was intrigued by the opportunity to make a daily impact on young athletes in their football journey, something Surtain believed was drastically different at the professional level. Since adding him to the staff and having his presence on campus, Coach Norvell noted that players have responded positively, excited by his presence and knowing the caliber of coach (and former player) Surtain is. He called it, “[A] perfect combination.”
When asked about the emerging importance of the Transfer Portal and the addition of Darrick Yray…
Coach Norvell immediately commented on the changing landscape of college football and just how much roster management and advanced planning have played an increased role. He noted that it takes an army, from the top down, to find the “right fit” for Florida State’s roster. Norvell pointed to Tatum Bethune across the room and remarked just how integral he was in raising the linebacker room with the infusion of his talent, leadership, and experience, calling Bethune “exactly what we needed.” Norvell went on to mention how the emphasis is always on finding the right fit for the program and personnel like Darrick Yray are key to keeping Florida State on the cutting edge of talent and roster management.
When asked about Jordan Travis…
Mike Norvell frequently talks about just how special Jordan Travis’ development has been, but it’s something else to see just how passionate he is in person when talking about Jordan. He stated that watching Jordan Travis grow has been “something special.” He highlighted that Jordan has grown in both confidence and leadership, both of which were hard earned. Norvell mentioned how he’s often told by fans and boosters alike that they “don’t count” his first year with Florida State. He rebuttals by saying that the first year did indeed count because, “We had to go through challenges and adversity, but we had to go through it to show what we can overcome.” In his eyes, Jordan Travis, through the highs and lows of his career, exemplifies that sentiment. “He believes. He continues. He develops. [Jordan Travis] is a moving example of fighting through adversity,” said Norvell. He stated that being part of Jordan’s growth has been special, and it’s a spirit that bleeds into the rest of the football team.
When asked about the role he played in players electing to return…
Norvell started out by stating that he tried to take a hands-off approach to players’ decisions and allow them to come to their own conclusions. Rather, he emphasized just how critical a role the culture played in that decision-making process. Norvell said that he remains as transparent with the guys with regard to how each one can grow and develop. He pointed out how the team consists of “like minded individuals who care about what they represent.” Mike stated that some of the players elected to tell the media they were returning to play in the bowl game before informing him, and he believes it to be a testament to the buy-in and culture. “They care,” Norvell said, and he himself works every day to be an example of that standard of caring.
When asked about uniform choices…
Now, take this with a grain of salt, but this is the first instance where I believe Mike Norvell played coy, as if he knows more than he’s letting on. Nonetheless, he emphasized the value and respect he and the program have for the tradition and air of regard that surrounds the uniform. Yet, he is a firm believer in adding new wrinkles to the uniform, pointing to the addition of the white helmet (something he’s a big fan of). He said it’s a constant effort by himself and the equipment staff to maintain “class” while exploring different uniform combinations.
Run Through a Wall
Before asking the next question, an audience member took a moment to express that Norvell’s enthusiasm had inspired him and he was ready to “run through a wall.”
Mike quipped and pointed, “There’s one right there.”
When asked about NIL in College Football…
Mike expressed that he understands just how much College Football is changing and how much of that is due to NIL. He mentioned the recent visit to Capitol Hill in Tallahassee to witness Governor Ron Desantis’ signing of the new bill. Norvell believes that the bill removes restrictions and opens doorways that serve to further benefit and protect student-athletes. He’s proud that Florida has been at the forefront of NIL policy.
The audience member asks specifically about The Battle’s End Collective to which Norvell responded with, “Go Noles.”
With that final question, the event came to an abrupt end and Boosters were left with much to feed on in anticipation of the 2023 football season. It was a night of celebration, information, and libations, and booster members in attendance were dazzled by the display of energy, emotion, and enthusiasm showcased by all of those involved.
On a more personal note (which I know is a journalistic sin, but what the heck) it was a wonderful opportunity to get a peek into “how the other half lives,” so to speak. Listening to Mike Norvell describe in great detail the progress made and the potential future of the program while feeling the exuberant energy with which he delivered his message was intoxicating; interacting with and meeting some of the Seminole Boosters that support the program was wonderful; and, of course, talking with the likes of AD Alford, Snoop Minnis, and Tatum Bethune was a rewarding experience in its own right.
Of course, neither my visit nor this article were directly sponsored by Seminole Boosters, Inc., but if you are interested in attending one of these events yourself, Seminole Boosters, Inc. has plenty of tour dates listed for Booster members to attend through 2025.
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