FSU football: Mike Norvell schools Dabo Swinney on being a class act
By Kelvin Hunt
FSU football head coach responds to questions about the Clemson game.
FSU football continues to be under the microscope. ESPN wrote about the fall of the Noles from 2014 through the present.
The game against Clemson Saturday was postponed because they had concerns with how Clemson handled a symptomatic player that ultimately tested positive the day before the game.
Afterward, the Clemson coach went on record and said the positive test was an excuse to not play the game. The Clemson administration also implied they didn’t want to play the game in December, as suggested by FSU.
Mike Norvell spoke with the media Monday afternoon concerning the postponement of the game and comments made by Dabo Swinney. Here are some of his responses:
For the record, #FSU HC Mike Norvell says the reason the game against Clemson was not played was a COVID issue despite what Dabo Swinney said. Norvell said the FSU medical advisors were the ones to made the decision to postpone the game.
— Antwan V. Staley (@antwanstaley) November 23, 2020
#FSU Mike Norvell says he will not put his guys in jeopardy with COVID: "We're not going to have somebody who is showing symptoms in our facility until they stop showing symptoms."
— Antwan V. Staley (@antwanstaley) November 23, 2020
Mike Norvell says he hates to have anyone have a positive test. Says he hopes the Clemson player will have a speedy recovery.
— Antwan V. Staley (@antwanstaley) November 23, 2020
Mike Norvell says he isn't concerned about what any coach says or thinks. Norvell again emphasized this was a medical decision by their medical team.
— Antwan V. Staley (@antwanstaley) November 23, 2020
Norvell also said: “If contributions need to be made, I’ll sign up to make one.” https://t.co/UQpmqnmtu0
— Antwan V. Staley (@antwanstaley) November 23, 2020
Norvell: "Football coaches are not doctors. Some of us might think we are." https://t.co/rYurlLR8t7
— Antwan V. Staley (@antwanstaley) November 23, 2020
Norvell says he tried to get in touch with Dabo Swiney Saturday morning after the cancellation, but couldn't.
— Curt Weiler (@CurtMWeiler) November 23, 2020
Adds it was a decision made by FSU's medical personnel based on the information Clemson provided.
Thoughts
I was hoping Mike Norvell would address these questions head-on going into the press conference. I thought he did a great job of being direct with his answers, but also full of class compared with the way Dabo Swinney has handled himself over the past few days.
Norvell articulated in detail how they have handled situations with players showing symptoms, and the stark contrast to how Clemson handles those situations.
Any implications of FSU football being scared to play were put to rest, with Norvell repeatedly emphasizing they want to play the game in December. He even offered to help pay their cost to come back to Tallahassee(because Clemson does not want to come back).
I thought it was telling and classy of Mike Norvell to call Dabo Swinney, and Swinney didn’t answer or return the call. It would have been easy for Mike Norvell to come into the press conference and aggressively try to defend himself and the team. He was direct but full of class at the same time.
The way he did it shows compassion for his players and sympathy for the Clemson player that tested positive. How many times did Dabo speak about hoping his sick player got better or what they were doing to make sure he had all the support he needed?
How FSU Administration Should Respond To Dabo Swinney Comments. dark. Next
That’s the difference between someone that’s not tone-deaf and understands what’s important in life. We’ll see if Clemson wants to play the game in December. It not, I suppose they didn’t want to play FSU after all unless it benefitted them somehow. I can’t say I’d be surprised with a head coach as selfish as Dabo Swinney.