Mike Norvell - the coach you didn't know you wanted

[LeGOATski]

I get all the of the frustration and wanting to move on from this coaching staff. I advocated for firing Dorsey, but would rather keep McDermott.

 

However, if you're not like me and want a new HC, I've got just the man for you:

 

Mike Norvell

 

I've followed him since he started coaching at ASU (my alma mater). He made their offense legit. Then he went on to be the head coach of Memphis, turning them into a successful team and making the NFL think Paxton Lynch was draftable. Then he goes to FSU and turns them back into an undefeated championship contender.

 

He's an offensive coach, which a lot of Bills fans are clamoring for. He's signed with FSU through 2029, but we know how that goes ...

 

This is the HC you didn't know you wanted.

[Beast]

And still don’t.

[jkeerie]

8 minutes ago, LeGOATski said:

I get all the of the frustration and wanting to move on from this coaching staff. I advocated for firing Dorsey, but would rather keep McDermott.

 

However, if you're not like me and want a new HC, I've got just the man for you:

 

Mike Norvell

 

I've followed him since he started coaching at ASU (my alma mater). He made their offense legit. Then he went on to be the head coach of Memphis, turning them into a successful team and making the NFL think Paxton Lynch was draftable. Then he goes to FSU and turns them back into an undefeated championship contender.

 

He's an offensive coach, which a lot of Bills fans are clamoring for. He's signed with FSU through 2029, but we know how that goes ...

 

This is the HC you didn't know you wanted.

I do like what Mike Norvell has done in the college ranks.  Likely, though, that is where he wants to stay. I'm trying to think...has there ever been a successful college HC that transitioned to the pros as a HC and enjoyed immediate success?  

 

I can think of one...Jim Harbaugh that went from Stanford to the 49ers...but he also played QB in the NFL for 14 years.  Anyone else?

Edited November 15, 2023 by jkeerie

[BuffaloBillyG]

27 minutes ago, LeGOATski said:

I get all the of the frustration and wanting to move on from this coaching staff. I advocated for firing Dorsey, but would rather keep McDermott.

 

However, if you're not like me and want a new HC, I've got just the man for you:

 

Mike Norvell

 

I've followed him since he started coaching at ASU (my alma mater). He made their offense legit. Then he went on to be the head coach of Memphis, turning them into a successful team and making the NFL think Paxton Lynch was draftable. Then he goes to FSU and turns them back into an undefeated championship contender.

 

He's an offensive coach, which a lot of Bills fans are clamoring for. He's signed with FSU through 2029, but we know how that goes ...

 

This is the HC you didn't know you wanted.

Man, he sounds like the next Chip Kelly or Matt Rhule. Can't miss...

[SirAndrew]

College coaches are always a big no for me. Someone like Harbaugh with previous NFL success would be an exception. 

[The Wiz]

The coach I didn't know existed

[FireChans]

33 minutes ago, LeGOATski said:

I get all the of the frustration and wanting to move on from this coaching staff. I advocated for firing Dorsey, but would rather keep McDermott.

 

However, if you're not like me and want a new HC, I've got just the man for you:

 

Mike Norvell

 

I've followed him since he started coaching at ASU (my alma mater). He made their offense legit. Then he went on to be the head coach of Memphis, turning them into a successful team and making the NFL think Paxton Lynch was draftable. Then he goes to FSU and turns them back into an undefeated championship contender.

 

He's an offensive coach, which a lot of Bills fans are clamoring for. He's signed with FSU through 2029, but we know how that goes ...

 

This is the HC you didn't know you wanted.

Meh, I watch a lot of FSU. Program turn around was more from scouring the transfer portal and getting bonafide NFL talent from all over.

 

Jared Verse, Jermaine Johnson (last year), Trey Benson, Johnny Wilson, Keon Coleman will all be NFLers next year and some of them will be first rounders.

 

Couple that with a weak ACC and there’s your undefeated season. 
 

That’s college though and that’s no knock on Norvell. I just don’t see it as some X’s and O’s Mastery.

[streetkings01]

I’m a diehard FSU fan…….leave Norvell where he’s at. I would love to see this team draft K. Coleman tho.

3 minutes ago, FireChans said:

Meh, I watch a lot of FSU. Program turn around was more from scouring the transfer portal and getting bonafide NFL talent from all over.

 

Jared Verse, Jermaine Johnson (last year), Trey Benson, Johnny Wilson, Keon Coleman will all be NFLers next year and some of them will be first rounders.

 

Couple that with a weak ACC and there’s your undefeated season. 
 

That’s college though and that’s no knock on Norvell. I just don’t see it as some X’s and O’s Mastery.

Norvell has a little Ken Dorsey in him……he also loves to run out of the shotgun on 3rd and short.

[BADOLBILZ]

31 minutes ago, LeGOATski said:

I get all the of the frustration and wanting to move on from this coaching staff. I advocated for firing Dorsey, but would rather keep McDermott.

 

However, if you're not like me and want a new HC, I've got just the man for you:

 

Mike Norvell

 

I've followed him since he started coaching at ASU (my alma mater). He made their offense legit. Then he went on to be the head coach of Memphis, turning them into a successful team and making the NFL think Paxton Lynch was draftable. Then he goes to FSU and turns them back into an undefeated championship contender.

 

He's an offensive coach, which a lot of Bills fans are clamoring for. He's signed with FSU through 2029, but we know how that goes ...

 

This is the HC you didn't know you wanted.

 

I don't see it AT ALL.

 

He's just a solid amateur football coach who recruits well and now he's at a top 10 destination for recruits.

 

And additionally he could demand his contract be torn up and turned into a new 10 year $120M if he reaches the playoff..........and Florida State would do it.

 

At the NFL level he'd have less appeal than a number of current OC's............and none of them is getting anywhere near that money/security.

 

Just a complete non-fit in pro football.

[FireChans]

3 minutes ago, streetkings01 said:

I’m a diehard FSU fan…….leave Norvell where he’s at. I would love to see this team draft K. Coleman tho.

Norvell has a little Ken Dorsey in him……he also loves to run out of the shotgun on 3rd and short.

There’s exactly nothing wrong with running out of shotgun most of the time. Pancheco runs out of the gun a lot. 
 

It’s not doing it well that’s more problematic.

[gonzo1105]

Great college Coach as an FSU fan. Don't think he'd be as successful as an NFL guy in my opinion.

[FireChans]

5 minutes ago, BADOLBILZ said:

 

I don't see it AT ALL.

 

He's just a solid amateur football coach who recruits well and now he's at a top 10 destination for recruits.

 

And additionally he could demand his contract be torn up and turned into a new 10 year $120M if he reaches the playoff..........and Florida State would do it.

 

At the NFL level he'd have less appeal than a number of current OC's............and none of them is getting anywhere near that money/security.

 

Just a complete non-fit in pro football.

Well said. College game is just different. Can’t get a Super Bowl by telling FAs there’s a lot of good looking girls in town.

[LeGOATski]

3 hours ago, The Wiz said:

The coach I didn't know existed

Hence the thread

3 hours ago, FireChans said:

Meh, I watch a lot of FSU. Program turn around was more from scouring the transfer portal and getting bonafide NFL talent from all over.

 

Jared Verse, Jermaine Johnson (last year), Trey Benson, Johnny Wilson, Keon Coleman will all be NFLers next year and some of them will be first rounders.

 

Couple that with a weak ACC and there’s your undefeated season. 
 

That’s college though and that’s no knock on Norvell. I just don’t see it as some X’s and O’s Mastery.

He's turned the program around wherever he's been at, not just FSU. And you can't tell me FSU has had a problem getting NFL talent prior to this...

[Thrivefourfive]

This team needs winning NFL coaches at all levels. It college guys (see Dorsey.) 

[CSBill]

10 hours ago, Beast said:

And still don’t.

 

That was too easy 🤪

[Not at the table Karlos]

11 hours ago, jkeerie said:

I do like what Mike Norvell has done in the college ranks.  Likely, though, that is where he wants to stay. I'm trying to think...has there ever been a successful college HC that transitioned to the pros as a HC and enjoyed immediate success?  

 

I can think of one...Jim Harbaugh that went from Stanford to the 49ers...but he also played QB in the NFL for 14 years.  Anyone else?

Jimmy Johnson and Barry Switzer but Switzer had a great team already. 

[gjv]

Norvell currently makes just north of 7mil. He is about to get a huge raise to keep him from going to replace Jimbo Fisher at Texas A&M.

[H2o]

The only college coach I would take a swing on, outside of Harbaugh, would be Kirby Smart. He's not an offensive guy, but I have full confidence he could put a competent staff together. He's also been an NFL factory at Georgia the last 3 years. I think he would be successful, but I don't think he leaves the college ranks. 

[Ridgewaycynic2013]

11 hours ago, BuffaloBillyG said:

Man, he sounds like the next Chip Kelly or Matt Rhule. Can't miss...

 

11 hours ago, The Wiz said:

The coach I didn't know existed

Bah!  We want a waterboy! 😁

 

 I wonder if McDaniel will still be seen as the 'second coming of Shula' if he hits a down year.

[streetkings01]

12 hours ago, FireChans said:

There’s exactly nothing wrong with running out of shotgun most of the time. Pancheco runs out of the gun a lot. 
 

It’s not doing it well that’s more problematic.

Running out of shotgun on 3rd/4th and short makes no sense. The RB has to run 5-7 yards just to pick up 1 yard against linebackers that have moved up maybe 2 yards away from the line of scrimmage…..it makes no sense!

[Tisker A Tasker]

I shall call him Norvell Nedenbacher.

[BADOLBILZ]

10 hours ago, LeGOATski said:

He's turned the program around wherever he's been at, not just FSU. And you can't tell me FSU has had a problem getting NFL talent prior to this...

 

 

College football is full of guys that turn around small schools and get elevated to big school jobs.   If Norvell had missed on the QB(Jordan Travis) a couple of years ago he'd be walking the plank right now.   Do you follow college football closely?  

[FireChans]

10 hours ago, LeGOATski said:

Hence the thread

He's turned the program around wherever he's been at, not just FSU. And you can't tell me FSU has had a problem getting NFL talent prior to this...

They kinda have since Jimbo left? Do you follow FSU?

[Matt_In_NH]

It's never too early to get this started....Fire Mike Norvell!

[LeGOATski]

1 hour ago, BADOLBILZ said:

 

 

College football is full of guys that turn around small schools and get elevated to big school jobs.   If Norvell had missed on the QB(Jordan Travis) a couple of years ago he'd be walking the plank right now.   Do you follow college football closely?  

But he didn't. He's not walking the plank anywhere because he's successful everywhere he goes. And Jordan Travis isn't that good. The system makes everyone look good, like Paxton Lynch.

[John from Riverside]

A couple of thoughts on this
 

I cannot count the number of times that some hotshot coordinator was the next coming and ended up floundering out

 

What makes you think that we would even go after the prospect that several other teams would be going after it just doesn’t seem like the bills way we seem to go after defensive coordinators for head coach

[streetkings01]

2 hours ago, BADOLBILZ said:

 

 

College football is full of guys that turn around small schools and get elevated to big school jobs.   If Norvell had missed on the QB(Jordan Travis) a couple of years ago he'd be walking the plank right now.   Do you follow college football closely?  

Jordan Travis wasn’t Norvells guy……Willie Taggert brought him in. Norvell is the one that actually resurrected JT’s career.

41 minutes ago, LeGOATski said:

But he didn't. He's not walking the plank anywhere because he's successful everywhere he goes. And Jordan Travis isn't that good. The system makes everyone look good, like Paxton Lynch.

Jordan Travis is good, but I agree the system definitely has maximized his ability.

[Buffalo03]

16 hours ago, LeGOATski said:

I get all the of the frustration and wanting to move on from this coaching staff. I advocated for firing Dorsey, but would rather keep McDermott.

 

However, if you're not like me and want a new HC, I've got just the man for you:

 

Mike Norvell

 

I've followed him since he started coaching at ASU (my alma mater). He made their offense legit. Then he went on to be the head coach of Memphis, turning them into a successful team and making the NFL think Paxton Lynch was draftable. Then he goes to FSU and turns them back into an undefeated championship contender.

 

He's an offensive coach, which a lot of Bills fans are clamoring for. He's signed with FSU through 2029, but we know how that goes ...

 

This is the HC you didn't know you wanted.

College coaches only work in the NFL when they have certain personalities. Jimmy Johnson was the perfect example. He was the type of coach the NFL wants before he came to the NFL. He fit the mold perfectly. Not many college head coaches come right into the NFL and have success

[Cheektowaga Chad]

If going the college route , gotta at least have experience coaching in the NFL as an assistant

 

Seems like the guys who spent all or near all their time in college fail as head coaches in the NFL 

[Special K]

16 hours ago, BuffaloBillyG said:

Man, he sounds like the next Chip Kelly or Matt Rhule. Can't miss...

 

Did Urban Meyer win a Super Bowl with the Jags yet???

 

I wonder what the failure rate is of College coaches in their first opportunity as an NFL coach.

 

Even Nick Saban couldn’t cut it in the NFL.

Edited November 15, 2023 by Special K

[C.Biscuit97]

He ain’t leaving FSU

[BuffaloBillyG]

23 minutes ago, Special K said:

 

Did Urban Meyer win a Super Bowl with the Jags yet???

 

I wonder what the failure rate is of College coaches in their first opportunity as an NFL coach.

 

Even Nick Saban couldn’t cut it in the NFL.

Sadly, beating Buffalo WAS his Super Bowl😂

 

But to your point I agree wholeheartedly. Even looking back over time, Steve Spurrier pops to mind as well. Some guys are just better suited to be in college. Nothing wrong with that, of course. 

[MarlinTheMagician]

McDermott needs to stay, IMHO.  Posted this in another thread - wish everyone felt this way.  I hope Pegula does:

 

Man, as a fan since the late 1960s, I don't know how anyone can want McDermott fired.  The second half of the sixties, 75% of the seventies, 50% of the 80s and the drought years all stunk to be a Bills fan.  McDermott turned that around and made the playoffs every year but one.  Josh may be hurt and is playing poorly, and some of the core is getting old, some of it is injured.  

 

Coaching change won't help any of that.  Time to retool, not scrap the ship.  Geez.  I appreciate this administration.  IMHO, best in the history of the franchise, including Levy/Polian and Saban (the only real contenders I believe).

[streetkings01]

2 hours ago, Special K said:

 

Did Urban Meyer win a Super Bowl with the Jags yet???

 

I wonder what the failure rate is of College coaches in their first opportunity as an NFL coach.

 

Even Nick Saban couldn’t cut it in the NFL.

Last one that had success was Harbaugh. Something else I’ve noticed as well…….NFL coaches don’t have much success in college either.

[BADOLBILZ]

7 hours ago, LeGOATski said:

But he didn't. He's not walking the plank anywhere because he's successful everywhere he goes. And Jordan Travis isn't that good. The system makes everyone look good, like Paxton Lynch.

 

 

 

Paxton Lynch didn't play for Mike Norvell.   C'mon bro......you are clearly a casual football fan.   Go back to your OP.   Norvell didn't make Memphis into a successful program........that was Justin Fuente.   They were 19-6 in the two years before Norvell arrived.   Fuente was hot property and jumped to Virginia Tech.  Norvell took over a set-up program and then he went 38-16 while he was there.     He then took over Florida State and lost for two years with talent that was good enough to be a lot better.    It clicked for Jordan Travis midway thru his 4th season of college football and now he's a refined 6th year passer.    Is he "that good"? Yeah, too win the ACC with a very deep roster full of upper class-men, yes he is.    

[Htt2821]

As a fellow ASU alum…no to Norvell, especially after the way conducted himself while there. 

[buffblue]

No college coaches. Thanks 

[BADOLBILZ]

7 hours ago, streetkings01 said:

Jordan Travis wasn’t Norvells guy……Willie Taggert brought him in. Norvell is the one that actually resurrected JT’s career.

 

What difference does that make?    It's a big advantage being able to play 6 seasons of college football like he and Michael Penix have.    Having a 4th year sophomore QB start  becoming solid saved Norvell's job.   

 

[wppete]

No experiments with a college coach with no NFLexperience. We need a proven offensive mind that can work with Josh and make him better…. McDermott is not the answer. 

[streetkings01]

4 minutes ago, BADOLBILZ said:

 

What difference does that make?    It's a big advantage being able to play 6 seasons of college football like he and Michael Penix have.    Having a 4th year sophomore QB start  becoming solid saved Norvell's job.   

 

Yea you don’t know what you’re talking about. JT didn’t save Norvells job because it was never in jeopardy. His 1st season was  the covid year…..he was getting a minimum of 4 seasons to get things turned around by the University especially since we’re still paying Willie Taggert! I’m 100% sure I know way more about FSU football than you do.