The Week 2 bye week came at a good time for Florida State to restart its stuttering start to the season. Unfortunately, the Memphis Tigers did not get the memo, walking into Tallahassee and putting more pressure on Mike Norvell and the Seminoles. Memphis won the game 20-12, sending Florida State to 0-3 on the season and needing some assistance from the deep hole they are in.
The Memphis Tigers were reportedly paid $1.3 million for the trip to Doak Campbell Stadium. They got the cheque and took the win, with FSU fans angry with Norvell, the team, but primarily quarterback DJ Uiagalelei.
Memphis Tigers Pile More Pressure on Florida State
The Florida State football program start the season 0-3 for the second time under Mike Norvell, the last time was in his second season in 2021. They ended up starting the season 0-4 that season, bouncing back with a win over Syracuse, finishing the season 5-7.
FSU head coach Mike Novell was once the head coach of the Memphis Tigers from 2016 to 2019 before leaving to take the Florida State job, making the loss a tougher pill to swallow. The Seminoles, who started as the preseason No.10 ranked team in the AP poll, are now the first preseason top-ten team to lose their first three games against ranked opponents.
HISTORY: Florida State is the first preseason top 10 team in history to start 0-3 against three unranked opponents.
— Shehan Jeyarajah (@ShehanJeyarajah) September 14, 2024
The loss has caused plenty of fallout from Florida State fans, with many already giving up on the season. Given that the team has looked below average in its first three games, it’s tough to disagree.
https://twitter.com/CKow78/status/1835042218140483858
Yea!! This season is over!! Let’s get back to the Transfer portal and find another QB, and this my MN last season as coach too!! Not looking good as a fan
— R B. (@RaBond44) September 14, 2024
The haters said we couldn’t do it. And they were correct. Honestly great call from the haters
— Barstool FSU (@FSU_Barstool) September 14, 2024
This is heartbreaking. We may not win a game this year.
— TaReef KnockOut (@TaReefKnockOut) September 14, 2024
Whoever prayed on my team downfall you won DAMN
— JDKillSwitch (@JDKillSwitch) September 14, 2024
He oversold this team in the offseason. But the players are there. Wish the offseason would have been more focused on details and execution. Not just overall “high school effort” and I think that’s where it got tricky. As long as guys are giving effort it’s okay. When it’s not.
— Jacobbi McDaniel (@JacobbiJustice) September 14, 2024
Florida State turned the ball over three times and had just 238 offensive yards, with the running backs having 15 carries for 53 yards. Memphis Tigers had over 300 offensive yards, with the Seminoles’ defense standing as strong as they could, being on the field for 15 more minutes than the Memphis Tigers’ defense.
Most of the blame was aimed toward quarterback DJ Uiagalelei and head coach Mike Norvell, who decided to bring him in via the transfer portal. Fans have called for a quarterback change since the Week 1 loss to Georgia Tech in Dublin, Ireland.
Will Mike Norvell Make a Change at Quarterback?
DJ Uiagalelei was brought in this offseason via the transfer portal after a good season with Oregon State in 2023. Before that, he started his career in the ACC with Clemson, where he struggled for two seasons. When the news broke that he was heading back to the ACC with the Seminoles, there was plenty of concern around Uiagalelei and whether he could handle the pressure of a big program again.
Fans feel like they have their answer after the Memphis Tigers’ defeat this Saturday, with plenty now calling for him to be replaced as the starting quarterback.
And that right there should do it for DJ Uiagalelei.
If not, then you lose the locker room. #Noles
— Logan B. Robinson (@LogansTwitty) September 14, 2024
The QB for @Seminoles @FSUFootball needs to be benched right now. He does not deserve to be on the field. His hash line at the end of Q1 is 5/5, seven yards passing with one interception. #dreadful
— EL Load (@EL_Load) September 14, 2024
The “DJ” in DJ Uiagalelei must stand for Daniel Jones
— Villian Gabriel (@RagsTuhBitches) September 14, 2024
https://twitter.com/ESSmithPA/status/1834994277941727405
If Norvell starts DJ Uiagalelei next week, his office has be emptied before halftime
— Slangz (@DSlangz) September 14, 2024
DJ Uiagalelei finished with figures of 16-30 for 201 passing yards and one interception against the Memphis Tigers. In three games, he has thrown more interceptions than touchdowns, with one passing touchdown and two interceptions. The fact that he has no rushing upside makes it more difficult if you can’t execute your passes.
We will see what direction Mike Norvell takes next week when Florida State faces California, who have already upset Auburn this season. They have redshirt freshman Brock Glenn, who had little game experience in 2023, throwing 51 attempts and completing just 19 of them. They also have four-star freshman Luke Kromenhoek, but it would be unfair to throw him into the shark tank at this stage.
The early buildup to Week 4 will surely give us an idea of which route Norvell will take, but keeping persisting with Uiagalelei seems like the wrong move if he wants to turn the season around. On the other hand, it may be the only move he has.
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