Sports · Football · 8 hrs ago
Swinney criticizes banner calling for Florida State to fire Norvell
Clemson beat Florida State 36-24 in Tallahassee on Saturday night.
Before the game, a plane flew over the stadium carrying a banner that said “Fire Novell,” misspelling coach Mike Norvell’s name.
Clemson coach Dabo Swinney called the banner embarrassing and disrespectful and said it was wrong to tear down a coach in public.
He defended Norvell as a good person and said the criticism was unfair to the players.
Florida State is 1-4 in ACC play and has lost 10 of its 22 games since winning the conference title in 2023.
Norvell said the team understands fans’ frustration and knows it has to win.
Clemson coach Dabo Swinney criticized a banner urging Florida State to fire Mike Norvell after Clemson beat the Seminoles 36-24.
The banner, flown above Doak Campbell Stadium, misspelled Norvell’s name as “Novell.”
Swinney called the banner embarrassing and disrespectful and defended Norvell as a person and coach.
Florida State fell to 3-5 overall and 1-4 in ACC play with the loss.
Norvell said the team understood fans’ frustration and that winning was what mattered.
- Who
- Clemson coach Dabo Swinney criticized the banner, which urged Florida State to fire coach Mike Norvell.
- What
- A plane flew a banner reading “Fire Novell.” Clemson beat Florida State 36-24.
- When
- Saturday night, after the game.
- Where
- Above Doak Campbell Stadium in Tallahassee, Florida.
- Why
- The banner called for Norvell’s firing amid Florida State’s difficult season and growing fan frustration.
Mike Norvell’s critics, represented by the banner
Dabo Swinney
Norvell’s job
Mike Norvell’s critics, represented by the banner
The banner urged Florida State to fire Norvell.
Dabo Swinney
Swinney defended Norvell and criticized the banner as disrespectful.
University president Richard McCullough acknowledged fan frustration in a letter to supporters and urged them to support the student-athletes.
A plane flew above Doak Campbell Stadium with a banner reading “Fire Novell.
Clemson defeated Florida State 36-24 in Tallahassee.
Swinney criticized the banner, and Norvell said he understood the frustration.
- Final score
- Clemson 36, Florida State 24
- Banner wording
- Fire Novell
- Florida State record
- 3-5 overall; 1-4 in ACC play
- Norvell’s seasons at Florida State
- Seventh season
- Banner location
- Above Doak Campbell Stadium, Tallahassee
4 sources
Dabo Swinney slams 'Fire Mike Norvell' banner after Clemson's win over Florida State
Dabo Swinney rips into 'embarrassing' airplane banner calling for Mike Norvell's firing that flew above FSU's stadium ahead of Clemson's win
Clemson's Swinney irked by 'shameful' plane banner urging FSU to fire Norvell
What people are saying
What I saw above the stadium was embarrassing
It's shameful to me.
Mike Norvell's a good man. You ain't got to like him as a football coach, that's a good man right there and he's a helluva football coach.
You've got to win, that's what it comes down to
Posts on X
Here’s Clemson coach Dabo Swinney’s full quote ripping the people who flew a “Fire Mike Novell” sign over FSU’s football stadium pregame. He brought this up unprompted, calling it “embarrassing” and “shameful.” Dabo: “And they didn’t even spell his name right”
A plane with a banner is flying around Doak before FSU-Clemson but misspells Norvell in the message 😭😂 “FSU: Fire Novell • Peter Collins”