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Florida State suffered a 43-35 double-overtime defeat to top-ranked Miami last weekend, but the aftermath has centered on a disputed officiating decision that head coach Mike Norvell did not mince words about during his weekly press conference on Monday.
Norvell used the platform to preview the team's bye week but quickly addressed the controversial conclusion of the game. "You have the holding call; it was an absolute joke," Norvell said. "We had to go convert the 2-point play but for those kids not to be able to finish the game on the field in that moment is really disappointing. A lot of judgment calls, that was bad."
Trailing in the second overtime, the Seminoles needed a touchdown and a successful two-point conversion to extend the game to a third extra period. On fourth-and-21, Florida State launched a Hail Mary that wide receiver Micahi Danzy appeared to catch in the end zone, but officials overturned the play due to an offensive holding call. Norvell stated that he submitted the holding call to the ACC's head of officials for review and had not received a response by the time he spoke to the media.
Following the penalty, Florida State faced fourth-and-31 and attempted another Hail Mary. Wide receiver Duce Robinson seemed to come down with the ball, but officials ruled it an interception on the field, and the call was upheld after review. Norvell argued that "simultaneous possession" should have been considered on the final play, noting that such a ruling would favor the offensive player. However, that discussion never materialized.
Key Analysis
The loss to Miami dropped the Seminoles to 3-4 overall and 1-3 in conference play, intensifying scrutiny on Norvell, who is in his seventh season with a 41-38 record. The defeat also extended a troubling streak: Florida State has not won a true road game since November 25, 2023. Norvell's public criticism of the officiating adds another layer of tension to a season already marked by disappointment, and the team will look to regroup when it hosts Clemson next week.
Originally reported by yahoo.