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It's mail time: Is Mike Norvell sticking with DJ Uiagalelei? Will Brock Glenn be ready vs. Memphis

peter holland jr., tallahassee democrat
·4 min read

Florida State football fans can rest easily and not worry about losing in Week 2.

The 0-2 Seminoles are on a bye week and will return to Doak Campbell Stadium next Saturday at noon to face the Memphis Tigers.

It is the first time since 2021 that the Seminoles start the year 0-2. Also, FSU is the third team to go unranked after being in the preseason top-10 in the AP Poll since the rankings expanded to 25 in 1989.

As Mike Norvell and his FSU team look to figure out how to turn the season around, it is time to open the mailbox and answer some questions for the public.

Shan Walker: Is Mike Norvell going to stick with DJ (Uiagalelei) like Bobby Bowden stuck with Chris Rix? I hope not.

Answer: Hi Shan. Norvell didn't say anything directly about any quarterback change, but all the signs show that DJ Uiagalelei will remain the starting quarterback until proven otherwise.

Uiagalelei is adjusting to Norvell's scheme and connecting with his receivers on timing routes. I think he'll eventually get it together.

David Delgado: Do you see any kind of change or improvement against Memphis and on forward?

Answer: Hey David, it's hard to tell from watching them in practice. The Seminoles can have a good week of practice and look like the complete opposite in a game, which has been their issue. We'll see how they look against Memphis after their bye.

Bob George: Is Brock (Glenn) going to be ready to start next week? Are we going to develop a run defense?

Answer: Hi Bob, Brock Glenn always prepares himself like a starter. Every athlete's mindset is to stay ready so they don't have to get ready. It sounds like a cliche, but there is truth to it.

Glenn has enough experience from last year when he was thrown into the fire after what happened to Jordan Travis and Tate Rodemaker late in the 2023 season. You can never predict what will happen during a game.

Regarding the run defense, the back end must tackle better, and everyone must be on the same page. Those are fixable adjustments, but changes will have to be made if the issue continues.

Todd Howley: How come we didn’t spend the extra money and get Cam Ward?

Answer: Hey, Todd. It's because Miami had more to offer, and Uiagalelei already committed to FSU. The Seminoles didn't have much interest in Ward.

I'm not sure if it'd be any less different if FSU pursued Ward rather than Uiagalelei in the transfer portal, but Norvell was high on him, just as the Hurricanes were high on Ward. Obviously, we see who had the better end of the stick.

Lewis Hansen: After watching an all-22 breakdown of the defense, I realized that the mistakes are fixable. (I) haven't seen one for the offense yet. As for the game-day atmosphere, More Marching Chiefs and less pumped-in music except during lengthy TV timeouts.

Answer: Hey Lewis. I can tell you offensively, after rewatching the Boston College game, there are so many issues to go around.

Obviously, Uiagalelei missed a lot of throws, especially ones that could've been touchdowns. However, his receivers didn't do him any favors either.

Uiagalelei would throw some decent passes, but his receivers and tight ends would not get any separation or drop passes.

It's not all him. Also, FSU can't get its running game together, and the offensive line can't get any push.

Darius Washington had a horrible game at left tackle. It might have been his worst performance yet. That Boston College defensive end, Donovan Ezeiruaku, had his lunch money all night.

The offense is a mess right now. Hopefully, the Seminoles made use of their bye week.

There is nothing we can do about the changes with the music on third down and the Marching Chiefs.

The players requested it about a year ago and were granted it by the administration. I understand the frustration of breaking tradition. We all will have to adapt.

We love to hear from you. If you have any Florida State questions or a comment, email us at pholland@gannett.com or place a comment on our Facebook page or X page @NoleSports. We appreciate everyone's opinion.

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

Saturday, Dec. 6: ACC championship game (Charlotte, N.C)

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This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: Reaction mailbag: Response after Florida State starts season 0-2