Former FSU QB Danny Kanell states Seminoles closer to success than Miami football

Former Florida State quarterback Danny Kanell told Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald he thinks that the Seminoles are closer to winning than the Miami football program.

In a conversation with Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald, former Florida State quarterback Danny Kanell stated the Seminoles are closer to winning than the Miami Football program. Kanell’s reasoning that Florida State is closer to winning than Miami is because of the Seminoles’ recent hiring of Mike Norvell as head coach.

The Norvell era commences in succession to the disastrous Willie Taggart era that lasted less than two seasons with a 9-12 record. When Taggart was hired the same tropes were emanating from Tallahassee that Florida State was closer to winning than the Miami football program with the supposed revolutionary Gulf Coast offense.

Norvell led Memphis to a 38-15 record in four seasons as the successor to Justin Fuente who is now at Virginia Tech. The Tigers were fourth in the nation in scoring last season. Without Norvell coaching, the Tigers lost their fourth straight bowl game 53-39 to Penn State in the Cotton Bowl. Kanell likes Norvell’s moves.

"“I think Florida State is closer, especially with the change in the head coach position…Some of the initial moves Norvell has made, creating a staff that’s impressive, and getting signature recruits. Miami is in a tough spot this year.There’s a lot of pressure on Manny Diaz or they can find themselves in a similar position to Florida State last year.”"

Norvell and his staff have gotten off to an inauspicious start. Albeit it was an extremely late start in recruiting for Norvell and his staff, the Seminoles finished 22nd in the rankings in 2020. Miami was 16th. While FSU supporters will point to the late start, the fact is Miami secured more talent in the 2020 class.

On more equal footing in the 2021 recruiting classes, Miami has created even more separation between themselves and Florida State. The Hurricanes are ninth in the 2021 cycle and the Seminoles are 21st. Those are facts before even mentioning the offseasons that both programs have had.

While Manny Diaz and the Miami staff have led the way in how to work with their players on the Black Lives Matter movement and Covid-19, Norvell and his staff have had missteps with both. All-American defensive tackle Marvin Wilson disputed Norvell’s claim that he talked to each FSU player following the death of George Floyd.

Last week, Florida State wide receivers D.J. Matthews, Tamorrion Terry and Warren Thompson accused Norvell and his staff of not making the Seminoles players feel safer during the Covid-19 pandemic. Those problems have to be worked out ahead of this season and for the future for Florida State to move forward.

Recruits have to be wondering how they can trust Norvell and his staff. Kanell’s claim that Florida State has signature recruits is questionable. They have quarterback Chubba Purdy, but he is a four-star signee with an easy to remember name more than being a signature recruit. FSU does not have a five-star recruit in 2020 or 2021.

Miami has commits from five-stars, DT

Leonard Taylor

and standout athlete

James Williams

who will play safety or linebacker. Taylor and Williams are far more signature commits than anyone FSU has over the last two classes. Diaz is in a tough spot this year as Kanell claims, but they are in a good position to turn the program around.

The hiring of Rhett Lashlee as offensive coordinator, new offensive line coach Garin Justice and wide receivers coach Rob Likens are equally impressive to the staff that Norvell hired at Florida State. It’s fair to say Miami is in a similar position to where Florida State was last year. This season presents a challenging schedule.

How well Miami does on the field this year will likely influence the future. The Hurricanes cannot have another .500 season if they hope to keep the nation’s ninth-ranked recruiting class, especially Taylor and Williams. With the talent they have on the roster and coming in and trust from the coaching staff, Miami is closer to winning.