The FSU Seminoles and Miami Hurricanes played another classic game, with the Seminoles falling 43-35 in double overtime. Unfortunately, there was plenty of controversy surrounding the final two plays of the game as FSU tried to tie the game.
Xavier Chaplin was called for a holding call, wiping out a touchdown throw from Ashton Daniels to Micahi Danzy on 4th and 21. Daniels then appeared to throw a touchdown to Duce Robinson on 4th and 31, but the officials ruled it an interception, ending the game. Head coach Mike Norvell revealed after the game that he did not get an explanation for the final play, voicing his frustration with the situation.
"I didn't get an explanation," he said. " They went to review. It's pretty unique when you have the same crew. Back-to-back years, game-ending situations that go down on the last play. You don't get a whole lot of explanation. You had a holding call on the play before. I watched the replay.
"Since the start of football, if it's a tie, it goes to the receiver. I guess they had a different angle. You could see something different. I'm sure that they will evaluate that and see."
He also voiced his frustrations with the play before, indicating he did not agree with the holding call on Chaplin.
"Holding call on the play before," Norvell said. "They said it was on 77. Go watch the film.
"It's unfortunate to see the guys go out there and perform the way they did. Like I said, there's plenty of plays. To have that outcome come down to a play like that. I'm grateful for our guys and the way they battled."
Norvell also talked about how proud he is of the team, potentially going for two in overtime, and more. Here are his comments after FSU's controversial loss.
Opening Statement
First off, just a disappointing result in the game that I'm really proud of our players. The way they came out, the way they battled, obviously competing at a high level throughout. I had high expectations of what it would look like, what it would be.
Seeing the way that they went back and forth, there's plays in all phases that you like to have back. We had opportunities, but those guys competed to the very end. For the ending to be like that, just sick.
I am proud of our players. We've got to continue to push, got to continue to improve. They're hurting, we're hurting, and everybody in that game, it means so much. To see the way that they fought through it.
We had missed opportunities. There's times that obviously we've got to be a lot better, but I thought our guys battled. I think that's what this rivalry is about. I asked if we could show the heart and show the type of men they are. I thought that they all did. Players, coaches, the work that went in. They continued to fight in belief.
Just as I told them thereafter, that's not stopping. This team is going to continue to pour everything they have into it. Results are not what we want.
Results are, we lost to some good football teams. We played really good football. at times we've got to be more consistent in that.
I'm grateful for these guys in the locker room and the work that they poured in, put themselves in the position that they did tonight.
On the explanation he got on the final play from the refs
I didn't get an explanation.
They went to review. It's pretty unique when you have the same crew. Back-to-back years, game-ending situations that go down on the last play. You don't get a whole lot of explanation. You had a holding call on the play before. I watched the replay.
Since the start of football, if it's a tie, it goes to the receiver. I guess they had a different angle. You could see something different. I'm sure that they will evaluate that and see.
Holding call on the play before. They said it was on 77. Go watch the film.
It's unfortunate to see the guys go out there and perform the way they did. Like I said, there's plenty of plays. To have that outcome come down to a play like that. I'm grateful for our guys and the way they battled.
On if he considered going for two in the first overtime
It did cross my mind. There in the moment. With just a little bit of the time there. That's probably what kept me from it, but it was a consideration. I was really proud of the way our guys went out there.
Obviously, Duce, we talked throughout the course of this week; he’s just somebody who cares so much. I told him, When you go into the game, you control everything you can control.
There will be times when the ball comes to you. I think you had a good number of targets tonight. There will be times when it doesn't.
You just focus on doing your job. Being ready for it. For him to make the three plays that he made at the end. The last play was a hell of a play that he made. It didn't go in our way. For him to do that, it was really special.
Seeing the way he competed. The way he was able to perform there. Obviously, AD made some big throws there at the end. Hurt for this team.
On if this game coming down to the wire affects his decisions on fourth down
We had the fourth downs near the goal line.
This game, you never know how things are going to unfold. I was playing a very explosive football team. Number one offense, number one defense in the country. You've got to play to win. Our defense did a great job. We got stopped. Gave us a short field. Ended up being able to convert, get points on the board.
We want to score every time we have a football. Those are tough decisions. Unfortunately, we haven't been good enough in them these last two weeks. You evaluate all things situationally within a game. Who? What? All things you do in your planning.
That was the reason for the decision. That was probably the reason they went for it. On their two fourth downs, they didn't get.
Injury update on Ousmane Kromah
To be honest, I don't have the update. I just love the kid. To see somebody that's hurting the way he was hurting. He’s such a competitor. He’s tough.
Like I said, I don't know the final deal with the foot injury. Even with that, he's hopping to get across. When I went out there, I just told him ‘Look at me everything's going to be okay. Whatever it is. It will all be good.' I just wanted him to calm down. Just to see his teammates, them surrounding him.
We got a great group of young men. I'm honored to see them play for each other. The things that they pour in. The challenges that they embrace. We try to push in all areas. For what they're doing on the field. What they're doing off the field. Who they're getting to do it with. To feel those guys come together. We were hurting for Ous. Obviously, the next guy's got to be ready. Everybody's got to take it up another notch when your top playmaker goes down, I thought they did that.
On the final two plays by Ashton Daniels
You saw it. Obviously, AD made the throw on both of them. He made the throw on both of them. But you saw the competitiveness of the receivers.
For Machi, it was a rough game for him a little early. He didn't have a whole lot of opportunities. But you saw a determination to go up and make that play. I was really proud of him. And how he was able to stay in it.
For Ashlynd to give him an opportunity. The 7 cut to Duce for the touchdown. For the play to Machi. The throw there at the end, having to extend for Duce’s catch, the last play deal.
That was impressive. To see those guys compete. It's unfortunate that it didn't finish the way we wanted it to finish. We've got to learn from it. We've got to grow from it. We've got to get better and be more consistent.
Because there's plays throughout from first quarter to fourth quarter. And in overtime. That we have to make. That we've got to be able to beat a top team.
Which I said, I believe in the capabilities of this team. I think they showed that they have that. It's just the consistency. We've got to continue to grow. There are plays that cost us throughout that we’ve got to get cleaned up.
On what he said to Duce after that play, the team
I told them it hurts. The result hurts. My respect for them, because going into this week. I told them I want to see their heart, I want to see their fight, I want to see their passion, I want to see the love they have for each other, the love for playing this game. I want to see the type of men they were. Same thing for the coaches.
I thought the coaches and staff did a really good job putting together a game plan. Where you play a team that’s one in both categories, it’s a talented team. They've invested what they can do to have a really talented team.
We came in here with absolutely no other focus other then to go win. I believe we can do that. We have a team that is very capable. I hurt for them.
But I also told them how proud of them I am. Because I am proud of them.
We're not looking to play a close type of game. We want the results. But how that ended. That's what pisses me off. Because they went and made some plays in those moments. And you know. It is what it is.
On what it takes to come through in those crucial moments to steal a game
It wouldn't have been stealing one. We went and played our butts off in that game. We didn't make the plays necessary. It was two competitive teams that went through it.
And obviously they made the plays that were necessary offensively there in overtime. We had opportunities, but we were not able to capitalize.
All the emotion, everything that's going around you still make it small. Technique. Fundamentals. Communication.
I give credit to them, made a hell of a throw and catch to Toney there. Jabril's in a really good place, and they pretty much had to be dang near perfect on it. Had the big run, we had a mistake that showed up there.
Those are the things, you’ve got to eliminate that. And I mean, just like on their end I'm sure they're sitting there talking about some of the mistakes they had. It happens in a game of football. At the end of the day. You've got to make those critical plays. It was a critical play in the second quarter. It was a critical play in the third quarter, fourth quarter, all parts of it.
You remember for how they finished, I’d have liked to have seen just a couple more plays because I thought those guys were competeting to do whatever they need to do. But unfortunately the outcome is the outcome.
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This article originally appeared on FSU Wire: What FSU head coach Mike Norvell said after losing to Miami