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Florida State football: Mike Norvell looking for 'real ones.' Are there any on roster?

Real, recognize real.

Florida State football (1-4, 1-3 in the ACC) coach Mike Norvell understands the importance of team leadership. After SMU, 42-16, blew out FSU, he realized the leadership had been lost.

During his weekly presser on Monday, he gave a passionate speech, challenging his Seminoles who can rise to the occasion and deliver when it matters.

Here's what Norvell said:

"If you're a real one, you're going to rise up. And I say that in all — and I believe we've got a football team full of real guys, and guys that have done it before.

"But if you get caught up in the circumstance, you put yourself in a position to be swayed by the emotion. Nobody wants to be down. I'm not sure (nobody) wants to be put in tough situations. Nobody wants to have anything bad ever happen to them.

"But when it shows up, I mean, who are you? And the real ones, they rise up, and they go make the play.

"They want that. They are willing to step forward. They are willing to take the brunt of all things and still just put themselves out there, and that is a challenge."

As the Seminoles lose four of the last five and 15th-ranked Clemson (3-1, 2-0 in the ACC) is coming to town, Norvell is reidentifying leaders on his team to turn the season around.

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Where are the leaders? Who can step up for FSU football

Sep 14, 2024; Tallahassee, Florida, USA; Florida State Seminoles head coach Mike Norvell leads his team before a game against the Memphis Tigers at Doak S. Campbell Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Melina Myers-Imagn Images
Sep 14, 2024; Tallahassee, Florida, USA; Florida State Seminoles head coach Mike Norvell leads his team before a game against the Memphis Tigers at Doak S. Campbell Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Melina Myers-Imagn Images

The message was loud and clear.

However, it is unclear who fits in that role. Leadership can come from anyone. Usually, seniority would factor in experience and production.

Darius Washington, Maurice Smith, Patrick Payton, Joshua Farmer, and Lawrance Toafili were expected to represent the standard because they had been in the program the longest, and that can still be true.

Earlier this week, Payton, who leads FSU with four sacks, was asked about Norvell's speech and how he identifies what leader is to him.

He believes he leads by example, hoping his teammates will follow. He even considered senior wide receiver Kentron Poitier to be the vocal leader.

"Some guys like to lead by talking and being outspoken guys, and some guys are just the guys who just come here and just work as hard as they can and play as hard as they can," Payton said.

"Everybody has their flaws, and everybody has their good when it comes to those things."

"I feel like I'm more of a just a play-type of guy and just let my work and just see make try to make everybody follow and some certain guys like KP like he's a great guy when it comes to being a vocal guy and stuff like that."

Senior receiver Ja'Khi Douglas asked how he could step up as leader. Besides being a reliable target with 15 catches for 285 yards and a touchdown, Douglas wants to step out of his comfort zone and be outspoken.

“Just be more vocal,” Douglas said. "I want to be more vocal to the young guys, and the older guys, to the guys who just got here and the guys who have been here. I just have to show them the standard.”

Mike Norvell will see the 'moment of truth'

While FSU's season will be tougher this month, it is an opportunity to re-establish Norvell's standards. The biggest flaw of FSU's season is the lack of consistency.

It continues to show during practice, in games, and even individually, leading Norvell to wake his team up and give his speech.

He'll expect more out of the Seminoles for the remainder of the season as they look for a spark and get back on the winning track, but it is a matter of whether FSU can deliver and answer the call.

"I am the ultimate optimist," Norvell said. "I mean, I see what people can do. I see what I believe they can become. I see what I feel and what I have a sense of the potential of a group. But it still comes down to the moment of truth."

How can I watch FSU football vs. Clemson

  • Date: Saturday, Oct. 5

  • Time: 7 p.m.

  • Where: Doak Campbell Stadium/ Tallahassee, Florida

  • TV: ESPN

FSU football schedule 2024: TV channels, dates and start times

All times Eastern

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Peter Holland Jr. covers Florida State athletics for Tallahassee Democrat. Contact him via email at PHolland@Gannett.com or on X @_Da_pistol.

This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: FSU football's Mike Norvell wants leaders to show up after 1-4 start