Danny Kanell sees a path for Mike Norvell to his way back into the good grace of FSU fans

FSU has five winnable games left on the schedule. It would be surprising, but not completely shocking for the Seminoles to run the table and finish 8-4. That being said, FSU has five games they could easily lose on the schedule, and it would be very disappointing, but not shocking if the Seminoles finished 3-9, 4-8 or 5-7. 

Danny Kanell believes that winning out would give Mike Norvell a path back into the hearts of Seminole fans, but even that comes with a bit of a caveat.

"But I think the best-case scenario for Florida State is that Mike Norvell would run the table and put this abysmal losing streak in the rearview. But I don't know if that would alleviate the concern of Florida State fans," Kanell said. "Some of the numbers that have been coming out under Mike Norvell's tenure are very alarming. When you think about the number of four-game losing streaks, not only this season, but going back to his first few years at Florida State."

And it's not just the losses. It's the repeated losses to average or below-average conference opponents. It doesn't make sense that FSU has been so bad in ACC games under Norvell. That's less of a talent issue (although that is another problem) and more evidence that Norvell simply does not get the most out of his team on a consistent basis.

​How would winning out help Norvell/FSU?

Running off the final five games would obviously get the heat off of Norvell until the next season. And as Kanell explains, wins over Clemson and Florida might even get the boosters back on his side.

"It's going to be really hard for him to win back the Florida State fanbase, but I will say if he wins at Clemson, if he wins at Florida, there is a path to do that. And financially speaking, that's where I think you'd feel much better where maybe you start investing more in the roster, try to get back with Mike Norvell. But I think it's going to be an uphill battle to do that."

Former FSU QB Danny Kanell

The decision makers at FSU love Mike Norvell as a person. They don't want to fire him. He's making it hard for them not to. But there's also a trust issue. Seminole fans don't want this roller coaster. If he is an 8-4 or 9-3 coach, that's what it is, but going 3-6 and 2-10 and then 10-3 and 13-0. Consistency is key and right now it feels like the Norvell experience is all or nothing...and nothing has been the case more times than not.

FSU finishing this stretch with a 2-3 record or 3-2 record feels like it's the most likely. The good news is that it means at least one victory will be in the ACC and snap that losing skid, but the bad news is that 5-7 or 6-6 is just not where the Seminoles should be six years in with this coach.