Politics
Can the Seminoles bounce back after a dreadful 2024 season?
Three years ago at this time, Mike Norvell was on the hot seat in Tallahassee. After taking over as the head coach at Florida State, Norvell had won eight games and lost 13 in the first two seasons.
Then, the team took a step forward, winning 10 games and reaching a ranking as high as 11th in the AP poll. The season was capped with a win in the Cheez-It Bowl.
FSU followed up the 2022 season with an undefeated regular season in 2023 and an invitation to the Orange Bowl. It appeared that the Seminoles were back.
Until last year’s disastrous season.
The Noles went from ranked in the top 10 to the program’s first 10-loss season since 1974.
Now, can Norvell guide the Seminoles back into postseason contention?
“I’m excited because of the characteristics that I’ve seen from this team,” Norvell said this week at the ACC Football Kickoff. “You don’t come to Florida State unless you’re willing to embrace the greatest of expectations, because there is a standard, and every day that standard has to show up.
“As we’ve sat there coming off a year that was a disappointing season, we had some real conversations. Ultimately, it wasn’t for everybody. The sacrifice, the investment, the work, the challenge, the confidence that had to be developed, because every team and every player that stands in front of you are going to tell you how confident they are. But for that confidence to be real, it has to be earned. There has to be the work. There has to be the truest belief of being able to embrace that in all things that makes up who you are.”
One of the reasons for the Seminoles’ struggles last season was poor quarterback play. After losing Jordan Travis to graduation, D.J. Uiagalelei, Brock Glenn and Luke Kromenhoek combined to throw just 11 touchdowns and 13 interceptions in 2024.
Enter Tommy Castellanos.
The former Boston College quarterback transferred to Florida State after throwing 33 touchdowns over the past two seasons.
“Being a part of Florida State is a dream come true,” Castellanos said. “It’s been my dream school since I was a kid. When they called, and then Coach Gus Malzahn called, I thought it was the right thing to do to be back with him and be a part of Florida State and Coach Norvell.”
Malzahn, the former Auburn and UCF head coach, was brought in as FSU’s offensive coordinator to improve an offense that averaged just 15.4 points per game, 131st nationally.
“Having the opportunity to have Coach Malzahn come and be a part of our staff — it was special,” Norell said.
“It’s somebody that I’ve had a 20-year relationship with. All the respect in the world for the man, just the coach. He’s somebody who infuses confidence in everybody around him because he knows what he wants to do. He knows what he wants it to look like. It’s the belief that he’s able to pour into others, for what it takes on that journey.”
While the offense must improve dramatically, the defense must limit the struggles as well. Florida State allowed 28 points per game and ranked 132nd in turnover margin out of 134 FBS schools last season.
New defensive coordinator Tony White, who served the same role at Nebraska, has changed the defensive alignment to a 3-3-5 look in hopes of turning the unit around.
“What I like most about the scheme, schematically, it allows us to show our versatility, just play with that edge,” said defensive back Earl Little Jr.
“We can hit you from different points on the field. Like I said, we’re going to wreak havoc for opposing offenses, and we’re just going to fly around. That’s something that coach Tony White emphasizes: being physical and playing with dominant contact, playing with relentless effort. That’s something we harp on, and that’s definitely one of our focal points going into the season. We’re going to put emphasis on that.”
If Florida State is going to look more like the 2023 team than the 2024 version, they’ll be able to show it early in the season. The Seminoles open the campaign by hosting Alabama on Aug. 30. Rivalry games against Miami (Oct. 4) and Florida (Nov. 29) fall later in the season.
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The horrific shooting in Australia that claimed at least 16 lives during a Hanukkah celebration has prompted an expression of sympathy from Florida lawmakers.
The Florida Jewish Legislative Caucus issued a statement of condemnation of the violence during the Jewish observance on Sydney’s Bondi Beach. The Caucus published its statement Sunday afternoon.
“The Florida Legislative Jewish Caucus unequivocally condemns the horrific and senseless killing that occurred during Hanukkah in Australia. An act of violence against Jews celebrating their faith is an attack not only on a single community, but on the fundamental values of freedom, religious liberty, and human dignity,” the Florida Legislative Caucus said in a news release.
“We stand in unwavering solidarity with our Jewish brothers and sisters in Australia, with the victims’ families, and with Jewish communities around the world who are once again forced to confront hatred simply for being who they are. The State of Florida’s Jewish legislators join in mourning, remembrance, and resolve.”
The Florida LegislativeJewish Caucus has a dozen members from the House of Representatives and two State Senators.
Hundreds of people had gathered Sunday at the beach for an event to celebrate the first day of Hanukkah, when gunmen opened fire. At least 38 others were injured in the attack.
New South Wales Health Minister Ryan Park said the death toll had risen from 12 to 16 overnight, including a 12-year-old child. Three other children are being treated in hospital, he said.
“This is absolutely horrendous for the community broadly, but particularly the Jewish community. … What we saw last night was the worst of humanity, but at the same time, the very best of humanity,” Park said.
The massacre at one of Australia’s most popular beaches followed a wave of antisemitic attacks that have roiled the country over the past year, although the authorities didn’t suggest those and Sunday’s shooting were connected. It is the deadliest shooting in almost three decades in a country with strict gun control laws.
One gunman was fatally shot by police and the second was arrested and in critical condition, authorities said. Police said one gunman was known to security services, but there was no specific threat.
At least 29 people were confirmed wounded, including two police officers, said Mal Lanyon, police commissioner for New South Wales state, where Sydney is located.
“This attack was designed to target Sydney’s Jewish community,” New South Wales Premier Chris Minns said.
The violence erupted at the end of a summer day when thousands had flocked to Bondi Beach, including hundreds gathered for the Chanukah by the Sea event celebrating the start of the eight-day Hanukkah festival.
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Material from The Associated Press was used in this report with permission.
Behavioral health officials have a list of precautions for Floridians to deal with anxieities heading into Christmas and New Year’s Day.
While the holidays can bring a lot of comfort and joy, the can also be a stressful time and Florida’s health management entities are providing some helpful tips to deal with yuletide anxiety.
There are seven behavioral health managing entities in the state and all of them are aware that stress heading into Christmas and New Year’s Day can seem overwhelming at times. They’re advising balance may be one of the key elements in dealing with the holidays.
“The holidays are a time of joy, but they can also be a time of stress, sadness and triggering situations,” said Natalie Kelly, CEO of the Florida Association of Managing Entities. “Florida’s behavioral health Managing Entities remind Floridians that behavioral health services are available, even to those who are uninsured or underinsured.”
The state’s behavioral health professionals are also providing a list of tips to help come to grips with any holiday tension including:
— Get plenty of exercise. Exercising boosts your mood and combats depression.
— Limit alcohol intake. Alcohol is a depressant that can cause feelings of anxiety, sadness and depression.
— Set healthy boundaries and don’t overextend yourself. Setting realistic expectations can help reduce stress.
— Seek the help of a counselor for mental health needs. If you feel overwhelmed or the need to get help to address your feelings, contact a counselor.
— Call 2-1-1 if needed to connect with resources in your community.
— Call 9-8-8 if you or a loved one is having suicidal thoughts.
A mental-health treatment network has been established in the state for providers who deliver services to residents needing help. Those services extend to parents and children, veterans and the homeless.
Providers serve patients for not only mental health needs, but substance use, housing, transportation and employment help. Those managing entities are often overseen by community organizations and administrators and are accountable to state and federal funds.
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