— Mike Norvell coached his first game in Memphis in 2016, just weeks before his 35th birthday.
The Tigers took a risk by hiring a young offensive coordinator from Arizona State, and Norvell delivered with a 38-16 record and four bowl appearances in as many seasons.
Now in his fifth season at Florida State and with the Seminoles (0-2) struggling, Norvell will face his former program when Memphis (2-0) visits Doak Campbell Stadium on Saturday.
“I have incredible respect for that program, a great love for that city,” Norvell said. “It was really a wonderful experience when we were able to live there and be a part of that program and continue to try to push it and elevate it, really to where it is.”
“I think it is one of the best programs in the country considering the success they have had and have been able to maintain.”
Despite changes at the top (from Justin Fuente to Norvell to current coach Ryan Silverfield), Memphis has put together 10 consecutive winning seasons. Silverfield wasn’t even 40 when Memphis promoted him from offensive line coach to replace Norvell, who left for Florida State in December 2019.
Silverfield took over for Norvell. Memphis is 33-18, including a 10-3 record in 2023 that ended with a bowl win over Iowa State.
Memphis is considered one of the top programs in the Group of Five and a legitimate contender to earn an automatic spot in the expanded 12-team College Football Playoff. While Northern Illinois sits atop the list after upsetting then-No. 5 Notre Dame and earning the final spot in the latest AP Top 25, Boise State and Memphis are just outside the rankings.
A win Saturday in Tallahassee would do more than just guarantee the Tigers $1.3 million: It would bolster Memphis’ resume nationally.
“We’re not going to treat this game any different than we did our first two opponents,” Silverfield said. “This game won’t be Silverfield versus Norvell. He and I are very close friends. We were very close to each other for four years.
“We know everything about each other and the way we think, move and breathe. But we’ve both grown as people and as coaches. I’m excited for this matchup. It’s good for our university.”
A win would be significant for Memphis’ trajectory. And for Florida State, which is desperate for an injection of positivity after two surprising losses to open the season. Georgia Tech and Boston College were double-digit underdogs against the Seminoles, but both pulled off upsets that saw Florida State move from No. 10 in the preseason poll to out of the rankings.
“Memphis will always have a special place in my heart, but this is about our players,” Norvell said. “It’s about us getting out there and being able to compete, get better and have a chance to show everything we are and what we can be against a very talented team.
“It’s an important week for us. We have to keep pushing and challenging each other, and I think our guys have the right mindset.”
___
Disclaimer:
The information contained in this post is for general information purposes only. We make no representations or warranties of any kind, express or implied, about the completeness, accuracy, reliability, suitability or availability with respect to the website or the information, products, services, or related graphics contained on the post for any purpose.
We respect the intellectual property rights of content creators. If you are the owner of any material featured on our website and have concerns about its use, please contact us. We are committed to addressing any copyright issues promptly and will remove any material within 2 days of receiving a request from the rightful owner.