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FSU football has experienced turnaround since time last Syracuse was in town | The NoleBook

ehsan kassim, tallahassee democrat
·5 min read

The situation for Florida State football was completely different than it is now the last time Syracuse made the trip to Tallahassee.

The Seminoles were sitting at 0-4 and questions persisted about the future of head coach Mike Norvell.

The script has flipped in the past two seasons, as No. 4 FSU (5-0, 3-0 ACC) has rattled off 11 straight wins and has gone 25-6 since. That stretch began with a 33-30 victory over the Orange. Starting quarterback Jordan Travis threw for 131 yards and two touchdowns and added 113 rush yards in that game.

For the FSU players, the fact of where the program was and where it is now is not forgotten.

The No. 4 Seminoles take on the Orange (4-2, 0-2) at noon Saturday at Doak Campbell Stadium. (Broadcast: ABC).

"That is wild,” FSU running back Lawrance Toafili said following Tuesday's practice. “It’s totally the opposite. It’s a blessing to be a part of it.”

At the time of the Syracuse matchup, Norvell was just 3-10 in his first two seasons in charge and the team was less than a month removed from an embarrassing loss to then FCS Jacksonville State at home.

Florida State football injury update: Mike Norvell updates status of Johnny Wilson, others

But Toafili said he never lost faith in what Norvell could do.

"Most definitely,” Toafili said of if he believes the FSU coaching staff would turn the program around. “The standard we have, it was destined. We just had to keep chopping the wood and carrying the water and it was going to work out.”

The Seminoles continue to have their eyes set on winning the ACC for the first time since 2014 and a potential spot in the College Football Playoffs.

So while the players are happy with the turnaround, they know the work is not done just yet.

“Honestly, it motivates me to keep going, push the team to be even better than what we’re doing now,” Toafili said. “It’s always a climb. We started at the bottom and we just keep going.”

Here are observations from the Democrat writers in attendance for Tuesday's practice ahead of the Week 7 matchup.

Observations from FSU's Tuesday's practice ahead of Syracuse

  • Scouts from the Washington Commanders, Jacksonville Jaguars, Carolina Panthers and Chicago Bears were in attendance for practice.

  • Screen pass to Lawrance Toafiil from Jordan Travis to open indoor 11 vs. 11 drills. Jared Verse, Patrick Payton and Tatum Bethune get in for a sack. Travis throws an incomplete pass to Toafili. A 39-yard field goal attempt by Ryan Fitzgerald is blocked. Jared Verse blocks it by getting good inside leverage and able to get his hand on the ball.

  • In redzone drills, Travis to Keon Coleman on good route. Coleman beats Renardo in coverage.

  • Rough day for Fitzgerald continues as he doinks a kick from 31 yards. He bounced back and is good from 43. Tyler Keltner is good from 31 and 43.

  • Travis to Kyle Morlock for TD in red zone drills outdoors. DJ Lundy as FB catches TD pass.

  • Tate Rodmaker runs in for a TD. Good blocking from the offensive line to open a hole

  • 11v11 outside: Travis hits Jaheim Bell in stride with tight coverage. Fit the tight window perfectly to fit the ball into. Bell does not seem slowed down. Only played seven snaps last week.

  • Screen pass to Trey Benson. 41 right there in coverage to stop it for no/minimal gain

  • Travis to Morlock. Seems like a concentrated effort to get him more involved. Connection with Travis looking stronger.

  • With heavy pressure, Rodemaker makes a tight window throw to Joshua Burrell. Burrell attempts a diving catch but is unable to come up with it.

  • Travis back in. Hits Douglas on a wheel route.

  • Heavy pressure from Lundy on the blitz forces Travis to get the ball out quickly and throw it away.

  • Edwin Joseph gets caught looking the backfield, and Travis hits Hykeem Williams on a good go route. Willians won off the line and Travis baited Joseph to bite early with his eyes.

  • Scout 7: Travis late on throw over the middle. Picked off by. Next throw is a dump off to CJ Campbell. He then hits Destyn Hill over the middle. Throw q little high. Great grab by Hill.

  • Rodemaker to Markeston Douglas on the left hash with Azaerey’h Thomas in coverage. Deuce Spann adjusts back to the ball to get open for Rodemaker to hit him.

  • Travis to Morlock who makes a catch and observes a big hit from Ashlynd Barker after the catch.

  • 11 scout: Travis to Kentron Poitier. He bobbles the ball bit is able to keep concentration and corralls it in.

  • Travis to Williams On the next play. Williams with a strong practice.

  • Travis to Darion Williamson. Important to get all WRs involved.

  • Caziah Holmes rips off a big run. Potentially a 60-yard TD if not blown dead.

  • Screen to Ja’khi. He makes a good run with WRs blocking. He had a drop earlier in practice coming off a game with two blocks. It’s clearly FSU wants to build his confidence and get him going.

GAME INFORMATION

Who: No. 4 FSU (5-0, 3-0 ACC) vs. Syracuse (4-2, 0-2)

When/where: Saturday, noon; Doak Campbell Stadium

TV/Radio: ABC/94.9 FM

Live game updates: www.Tallahassee.com; @Ehsan_Kassim, @jackgwilliams and @JimHenryTALLY on X, formerly Twitter

Reach Ehsan Kassim at ekassim@gannett.com or follow him on Twitter at @Ehsan_Kassim. You can also follow our coverage on Facebook (NoleSports) and Instagram (tlhnolesports).

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This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: Florida State football: Lawrance Toafili talks growth of Seminoles