We wrote about a long-shot scenario involving Memphis head coach Ryan Silverfield getting the Arkansas Razorback job. He was one of the four names being thrown around about a week ago, and Arkansas announced they hired him as their next head coach earlier on Sunday after Alex Golesh took the Auburn job.
Now, the Memphis Tigers have an opening, and FSU football fans can’t think of anyone better for the Tigers to hire than Mike Norvell:
Fire Mike Norvellcand let him go back to Memphis and let them offset the buyout
— Fleetwood Nole (@primetimejets21) November 30, 2025
MEMPHIS I BEG YOU TO FREE ME FROM THE PAIN OF MIKE NORVELL https://t.co/s83yJuEg7X
— Delaware Chicken Farmer (@Brycearoni8) November 30, 2025
If I’m @FSUFootball I’d be talking with Mike Norvell about a potential split! He just doesn’t look like the same guy since our 13-0 season. Looks completely defeated mentally! Maybe he can go back to Memphis
— Tyler Wharton (@TylerWharton_10) November 30, 2025
Mike Norvell please go back to Memphis! It’s where you’re loved and needed https://t.co/9jAeWKsAId
— Douglas J (@RedSoxDoug) November 30, 2025
Memphis Tigers head coach Mike Norvell
— Allen Kenney (@BlatantHomerism) November 30, 2025
Mike Norvell has a clause in his FSU contract that would offset some of his buyout if he were to take another job. The $50 million-plus buyout is the only reason he wasn’t fired after last season or during the 2025 season. Norvell has the same agent as James Franklin, who got fired from Penn State and took the Virginia Tech job. Franklin’s buyout was $49 million, and Penn State negotiated the buyout down to only $9 million.
Related Story: FSU fans would have more respect for Mike Norvell if he just quit after the UF loss
Talk about saving a ton of money? Mike Norvell seems locked in to trying to rebuild FSU AGAIN, after allowing it to rot to its core the past two seasons. However, I can’t fathom why he would want to subject himself to the toxicity surrounding the program. It has to be rough for him, his wife, and his young daughter.
Memphis fans loved Mike Norvell and were happy for him when he took the FSU job. He did a great job at Memphis and took them to heights they hadn’t seen before. He spoke about his love for Memphis when he took the FSU job. Would he be willing to go back to his old stomping grounds? I doubt it, but if there were any scenario that would be perfect for FSU? This would be it.