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In the high-stakes world of college football, a single play can alter the course of a game, a season, and even a coach's career. On Friday night in Louisville, Florida State's Mike Norvell may have experienced all three with one baffling decision.
The final score read Louisville 44, Florida State 20, but the turning point came when the Seminoles held a 14-0 lead and seemed poised to blow the game open. Facing fourth-and-goal at the Louisville 2-yard line, Norvell opted for a swing pass to true freshman Jasen Lopez instead of relying on a rushing attack that had been dominant. Lopez lost a yard, and on the very next play, Louisville's Isaac Brown ripped off a 97-yard touchdown run. What could have been a 21-0 advantage suddenly became 14-7, and the Cardinals never looked back, scoring 35 unanswered points.
Brown's touchdown run was the longest in college football this season and the longest ever allowed by Florida State's defense. He finished with 235 rushing yards on 17 carries, including another 68-yard score, as Louisville amassed 397 rushing yards and averaged 9.2 yards per attempt. The Seminoles' defense, once synonymous with speed and intimidation, was thoroughly embarrassed.
Key Analysis
The decision evoked memories of Pete Carroll's infamous Super Bowl blunder, where he chose a pass over Marshawn Lynch at the 1-yard line, resulting in an interception. Norvell's call wasn't made on football's biggest stage, but it may have been made with his job on the line. While one play didn't single-handedly cause the defensive meltdown, it exposed a lack of composure and leadership. Florida State has now lost 13 consecutive road games, a stark indicator of the program's inability to handle adversity.
Just a week earlier, a dominant win over Virginia suggested Norvell might have found an identity behind quarterback Ashton Daniels, who had rushed for a school-record five touchdowns. But the Louisville loss dropped the Seminoles to 3-3, with a daunting trip to No. 4 Miami next. Another blowout could leave them at 3-4 and Norvell's future in serious jeopardy. His reported $49 million buyout complicates matters, but an increasingly frustrated fan base demands results, not excuses.
Every loss now serves as an indictment, every questionable decision as evidence. Friday night, Florida State had a chance to build momentum and prove last week was no fluke. Instead, they squandered a 14-point lead and watched their season spiral toward another familiar disaster. For Norvell, it may be remembered as two yards and a cloud of doom.
Originally reported by yahoo.