Florida State coach Mike Norvell let me and @aadelsonESPN call plays at the spring game. So that's why he's laughing so hard. But we didn't punt. We stayed aggressive. And we won. https://t.co/KbjtqNAqto pic.twitter.com/piC4YmiaKO— Andy Staples (@Andy_Staples) April 12, 2021
I know that Norvell had himself some troubles last year, but you have to admit, this is pretty cool. Smart move by FSU to let those two take an active part of essentially a glorified practice, and it creates a pretty nice puff piece that shows a human side of their staff.
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That's awesome. Norvell has some momentum building in Tallahassee right now. Recruiting is ticking back up to "FSU level," and he seems suited to avoid some of the off-field distractions that tend to plague that program even when they are doing well.
Dude this is next level PR and recruiticorning, may not translate to the field but cool to see.
This is an amazing concept and I wish VT would do something like this as a way to get more publicity/fundraising if we'd let donors bid to call plays on a certain drive.
However, given the general negativity around the program, if VT had done this, we'd be over-analyzing and questioning why Norvelle (Fuente) isn't wearing a mask and not getting his 2's quality reps while pointing out how fans aren't 6 feet apart and how it reflects poorly on the University and it's another PR nightmare.
I mean....we do let Cornelsen call the plays, so....
Goddamn it. You made me laugh on a conference call. Well played.
I mean, FSU is over there letting national reporters call plays in the spring game, and we're concerning ourselves with whether allowing it to be televised gives opponents too much scouting information for the upcoming season.
I wish we could take it as non-serious as FSU does. Its really one of the only times we can get fans in the stadium and actually let the players have a little fun with it.
Why not take it a step further. Give everyone an opportunity to donate up until a certain date and the 2 donors that give the most get to pick teams (similar to the NBA All-Star game). They have to pick coaches (or if they're able to get former players to come and help them coach that would be cool) as well and the coaches can help them pick the plays so it stays interesting. But in the end they make the decision to throw, run, punt, kick a 70 yard field goal, etc. I'm sure this is somehow against NCAA rules, but would be really fun.
Some of you guys freaked out when he said he likes watching golf in his free time, could you imagine how those same people would react if Fuente let Bitter and Berman call plays?
as one of the folks who "freaked out when he said he likes watching golf" I think it would be awesome if Fuente let Bitter and Berman call plays for a portion of the Spring Game. I have long felt that Fuente has treated the media as an adversary rather than an ally. I would be behind any action that endears himself to the media.
"What a waste of a practice for a guy that says we aren't nearly as deep as we need to be!" or at the first sign of any issues next season "Maybe Fuente should have taken spring ball more seriously"
Bitter can't be much worse at calling plays than Cornelson. Regardless of what the playcall is, the guys are gettin' reps on tape that the coaches can evaluate and coach. I don't really think who is calling the plays has any impact whatsoever on building depth.
They should make it like Vick vs Kam Chancellor
I want kickers vs punters - bring back the specialists!
Like it's all the warm and fuzzies around the Florida State program these days? My guess is the FSU eyore's are as cynical about this as you think the VT folks would be. Maybe more.
If not, it says a whole bunch about VT message board types...
I don't think FSU is where we should be taking our PR cues from. But you know, ignore the years of bad PR under the Fisher, Taggert and Norvell eras and focus on the one moment Norvell played Make-A-Wish for two writers so they'll write nice things about him.
I'm glad Fuente takes his practices seriously enough that two people who couldn't even diagram a basic read option are not running one of them.
via GIPHY
Bruh, I'm getting so sick of this shit haha.
Don't care about winning PR battles in the offseason, I only care about winning football games in the fall. I just hope both the offense and defensive staff get their collective shit together this spring so we can finally kick some ass this fall.
I mean, I thought your comment was kind of funny. I also felt you sorta came out swinging. But I get it, this off season has been difficult and we're all tired of the speculation.
I would love nothing more than for us to come out and kick some ass this fall.
Just for argument's sake, there might be a tenuous connection between PR and recruiting. But I think we'd all be happier with a return of winning Hokie FB, regardless if it involves PR stunts.
We went sub 500 tho. You can be a PR nazi if you win.
Norvell: You guys got this, I am gonna go watch the Masters.
At least Michigan is taking some of the national attention off about spring games, no media allowed, the guys on Xm college were even joking that they could have not even had the spring game and just released phots from practices this spring and no one would know.
You guys see that UCF let players wear their Twitter handles on their jerseys for their Spring Game? While I don't usually like players self promoting, I thought that was a completely free way to gain some point with the players themselves. If our coaching staff wants to talk about how tough this past year has been on our players, small things like that should certainly be considered.
Pretty sure Florida has already passed a NIL bill also.
Is there any reason recruits can't call the plays during the Spring Game?
Reason 1: We are not having one. /s
I don't know the fine print on this but i believe there are restrictions on recruits having access to the playbook prior to enrolling or at least officially signing so I'm sure there would be some kind of issue there if that is still the case. I guess they could go out there and call four verticals if they wanted too.
Techmo bowl sized playback with basic plays and 1 razzle dazzle play.
Let's kill two birds with one stone. The birds being making it fun and improving our player alumni outreach.
Invite previous players back as guest coaches. Have the entire coaching squad of one of the teams filled by former players.
Actually, it kills three birds:
1. Make it fun.
2. Improve past player relations.
3. Because more former players are back on campus and on the field during the game while recruits are there it's a recruiting W as well.
I'd go so far as to mic up the two head coaches and have their audio playing over the PA system to allow real time good natured trash talking to be heard by the fans in the stadium. Or maybe have two local broadcast feeds that fans can listen to in the stadium for the two coaching staffs.
Like, the Spring Game is the one time every year where we really don't need to have a perfectly executed scheme and strategy, so why not have a bit of fun with it.
Yeah. I get that it is still a precious day of practice, so there are aspects that need to be planned and taken seriously to get the full benefit. But, there is a ton of room left to make it a fun experience along the way.
This program needs a fun injection. Even in the latter Beamer years that were a struggle on the field, it was still a fun experience. Fuente's VT has become sterile.
Absolutely. There is probably even an opportunity to add a staff member at a relatively inexpensive salary with the job of only injecting fun in any way they can lobby for.
The shame is that Fuente has a lot of the desirable traits you want in a coach. He seems to do things the right way and cares deeply for his team. He just doesn't seem to get that thousands show up to watch because at the end of the day it is a game to entertain.
Fun injection? Fuente be like:
Yes this definitely. MV7 vs Bruce Smith. Each guy drafts other former players as their assistants and then the respective staffs draft their teams.
Put a 12th man on the field on each team, former players whose best days are behind them and they have to go 1-on-1.
Former players are the refs and they don't necessarily have to know the rules.
Erase the yard markers and boundary markers.
Put everyone on rollerblades.
Give everyone their option of wearing mittens or swim fins on their hands.
Make the game 8 hours long.
I might be going too far but yeah bring back some players.
I didn't realize you were joking until
I wasn't until that line!
Fuente can't be bothered to take a photo with the best team in school history when they're gathered in town. You think he'll put forth the effort to do something he doesn't want to do?
It's cute that you thought I would think Fuente would go for this. Thanks, thief of daydreams.
VT Football keeps having one PR blunder after the next. Considering the team hasn't been close to competing for an ACC championship in years, I'm not sure what keeping practice so closed is accomplishing, other then annoying our own fans. The spring game is about trying new things, not game planning for next season. Mack Brown isn't suddenly going to know our plan for opening day if we televise our third string QB handing off a jet sweep for a 2yd gain, or will he.
By the way does anyone actually know who is third on the depth chart at QB? And that is the biggest problem with not having a spring game, it builds zero excitement around the program. Has Knox taken a step forward, does Conner remember how to throw a football? With the amount we run our QBs, it's likely someone other then BB is going to start a game this year. And that's a little worrisome.
So for the people in the know, what rumors either good or bad have been coming out of spring practice?
Weren't we one game away from the ACC championship game in 2019?
Kidding. But from what I've heard, BB is capitalizing on the full spring and offseason. And from what I saw in the one practice I've been too, Holston looks legit and Knox seems to be pretty comfortable in the offense.
My God. You mean to tell me you're being positive about VT football?!?
Go Hokies!!!