Florida State entered 2024 ready for another breakout season after their impressive 13-1 run, but it’s been a nightmare instead. Just when FSU fans thought, ‘it can’t get any worse,’ it did—over and over. Now, the Seminoles are at an all-time low, sitting 1-9, with yesterday’s crushing 52-3 loss to No. 10 Notre Dame marking rock bottom. The Fighting Irish handed them a brutal blow, leaving fans stunned and the season in shambles. And the next morning, FSU head coach Mike Norvell made a tough decision that no one saw coming: the dismissal of three key coaches—Alex Atkins, Adam Fuller, and Ron Dugans.

Alex Atkins’ (O-line coach) journey with FSU was a rollercoaster but had an excellent reputation for his bright mind behind the team’s recent resurgence. A former offensive linemen, Atkins joined FSU in 2020 and quickly turned the Seminoles offensive line into a formidable unit. His tough but fair coaching style is known for developing strong linemen and a powerful running game. After a stellar 2023 season, Atkins’ efforts were rewarded with a two-year extension. But unfortunately, things didn’t work out well! Following that Notre Dame loss, Atkins was let go by Mike Norvell.

Even the Seminoles defensive coordinator, Adam Fuller, struggled to get going this season, with the Notre Dame blowout (52-3) being the breaking point. Known for his aggressive, bend-but-don’t-break defensive schemes, he did his best in the last five years trying to make the Seminoles’ defense a dominant force in the ACC. Fuller had splendid success past two seasons. However, he fell short this year, as his defense went from top tier to bottom tier, all under one season. But after giving up 52 points in a must-win game, it was a clear call that something had to change.

The wide receivers coach, Ron Dugans’ departure, hurts the most, not just because of the results but because of the bond he built with his wide receivers. He developed some notable FSU wide receivers who are benchmark standards in the NFL. Keion Coleman, Johnny Wilson, and so on. Despite his efforts to develop a playmaking group, the receivers didn’t live up to expectations this season. With one year left on his contract, Dugans is out. It’s a tough end for a former Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver, who likely hoped for a better outcome.

Coach Mike Norvell’s tough decision for FSU’s future

Mike Norvell is a man known for his calm demeanor, but even he couldn’t ignore the writing on the wall. “I did not make any of these decisions lightly,” Norvell said in his statement. “But I felt changes needed to be made to elevate our program back to where we all desire it to be. I appreciate the work these three men have provided over the last five years with me at Florida State,” he added.

Norvell has been through the highs and lows of coaching, but this decision—firing three coaches amidst a 1-9 season—is something even he might not have thought of in his wildest dreams. Well, it also shows how much pressure there is to succeed at FSU. This season’s performance was capped by the disaster in South Bend, which left Norvell with little choice but to hit the reset button.

This season, marked by consistency, poor execution, and a string of missed opportunities, ultimately cost these coaches their bread. With the departure of Atkins, Fuller, and Dugans, the recruiting scene might hit a toll. It is very obvious nobody wants to support a losing team, let alone play for the losing program, which is not something on many high schoolers’ bucket lists. There’s a lot of work to be done in Florida for FSU and Mike Norvell in their attempt to steer the program back on track, but the question remains: will it be enough to restore the Seminoles to their former glory?