New Mike Norvell comments highlight how lucky Miami is to have Mario Cristobal

In an interview, Florida State coach Mike Norvell said he has "put my head down and gone to work" this offseason and pointed to a "big picture" evaluation of what Florida State needs to do better to get back to "competing at a championship level."

""I've put my head down and gone to work. That's what I've done. I've done that regardless in years past when there have been talks of other opportunities... We were able to take some big picture perspectives of areas that we need, that every person needs to do better at and continue to improve upon, to get Florida State back to competing at a championship level in this football program. I believe wholeheartedly that we are going to achieve that." "

Mike Norvell

The problem is that Florida State's last two seasons have trained people to roll their eyes at anything that sounds like a reset. The Seminoles went 2-10 in 2024, their worst record in roughly 50 years, then "improved" to 5-7 in 2025.

The part where Norvell says, “I’ve gone to work” is not moving many people. Of course the staff is grinding in February. Will they be able to show up when it really matters during the season?

Norvell can say all the right things — which he usually does — but after 7 wins across the last two seasons, Florida State is past the point of offseason buzz words. The only thing that changes the conversation is winning again.

It truly is comments like these that should make Miami Hurricanes fans so happy — and relieved — that Mario Cristobal is their head coach.

Norvell signed a massive extension that runs through 2031, and his buyout is tied to 85% of his remaining salary. Norvell and Florida State also reworked his deal so he would contribute $4.5 million to the school's "Vision of Excellence" initiative.