Mike Norvell challenges his FSU football team after "average" portions of practice

The pads were on for Florida State football for the first time in preseason camp, and while that normally leads to an intense, physical practice, Seminoles head coach Mike Norvell lamented what he called an "average" middle part of the day.

The intensity Norvell wanted was present to start practice, but his team went into a lull, and he challenged them to improve their output.

While he was frustrated with the "average" intensity and physicality of the middle periods of practice, Norvell did say he was pleased with the response and close to the day.

"There is a couple of periods that we're putting into practice, and it's all on us. You've got to go out there and do it. You've got to be it. No music, nothing to bring any other emotion other than what you're willing to put on each snap,'" Norvell said. "I thought it was just average in the middle part of practice."

"Disappointed with what that was, but I thought the guys did a good job in their response as we came back to finish up with the team there at the end. As we came back to finish up with the team, there at the end, I felt we got some good work, some really good film to be able to go from."

It's not the first time Norvell has been miffed by his newly constructed team's energy and intensity, as he challenged his team to step it up after a stretch of poor spring practices. They responded then, and how the team responds for the remainder of camp could be very telling about the mentality of Norvell's 2025 team.

Preseason camp is typically a roller coaster ride of high intensity, smashmouth practices that drop into tired, at times, disjointed ones, especially in the college ranks.

It's natural, but the best teams limit the drops. If the Seminoles' new-look roster and coaching staff are truly going to change the mindset and culture of the program, taking ownership and responding with more intensity is a must.

Norvell spent the offseason preaching that he wants "desperation" from his players to be their best, and he'll want that belief in the message to show up as the Seminoles continue preseason.

That ownership is something that Nebraska transfer James Williams showcased when discussing practice with the media.

"I kind of take personal ownership of that as someone who's a leader in the D-line room. And I felt like as a group, the D-Line didn't go out and hit it right away, like even in the middle of practice," Williams said.

"I thought once we changed our intensity and we regrouped and got back together, it got way better at the end. And I think as long as we're moving fast, and especially even the o-line for the offense, that's what dictates everything."

Norvell said it will be a "continued push" to ensure consistent physicality and intensity show up for the duration of practice.

While an early camp lull isn't ideal, Norvell feels the group has the right mindset to respond to his demands for more.

"I like the mentality of what I see with this group. I think we have guys that are willing to push that, work to uphold that," Norvell said.

"I want the example at the front end of it, before we have to have the response. Let's jump out in front of it. Let's establish that standard of what it's going to be. Then, when we have to correct, inspire and celebrate, we are going to be there to do that."

FSU football 2025 schedule

• Aug. 30, Alabama, 3:30 p.m.
• Sept. 6, East Texas A&M, Noon
• Sept. 20, Kent State, TBA
• Sept. 26, at Virginia (Friday), 7 p.m.
• Oct. 4, Miami, TBA
• Oct. 11, Pittsburgh, TBA
• Oct. 18, at Stanford, 10:30 p.m.
• Nov. 1 Wake Forest, TBA
• Nov. 8 at Clemson, TBA
• Nov. 15 Virginia Tech, TBA
• Nov. 21 North Carolina State (Fri.), 8 p.m.
• Nov. 29, Florida, TBA

Liam Rooney covers Florida State athletics for the Tallahassee Democrat. Contact him via email at [email protected] or on Twitter @__liamrooney

This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: FSU football fall camp: Mike Norvell wants more after "average" moments