TALLAHASSEE — Danny Kanell left Florida State 30 years ago with a national championship, four ACC titles and four 10-win seasons. He feels the pain the program is going through with back-to-back losing seasons and hears about it from fans on social media and as part of his work with CBS Sports, a satellite radio show and a podcast.
“I have described it as some of the worst vibes since I’ve been here as a player,” said Kanell, a Fort Lauderdale native who played at FSU from 1992-95. “It is as bad as I can feel as somebody who’s on the outside. I don’t live in Tallahassee, but I am online. I can feel the negativity.”
Kanell spoke to the Tallahassee Quarterback Club on Tuesday night, often wearing his frustration on his sleeve. He tried to take inventory of fans before the game: How do they feel about the program? How do they feel about Mike Norvell?
What Kanell thinks is some fans go into games hoping FSU loses so that a coaching change happens quickly.
“The most upset people are often the loudest, right? They’re the most vocal in their complaints,” Kanell said. “I think it impacts the players on that field. I think it impacts the coaches in that room, and I think you can see it with Coach Norvell. Watch him. Look at how much it is taking a toll on him to feel the pressure, the weight of the world.
“That every single week, if I don’t win this game, I’m gonna get fired. That is what I see from the outside.”
Norvell has not won a road game since 2023 and the Seminoles have lost four straight games to Power Four teams, although that includes losses to ranked opponents SMU and Alabama this fall. Kanell is optimistic in his outlook for FSU, which is 2-2 going into Saturday’s game against 3-1 Virginia at 3:30 p.m. (ESPN2).
He went into the season viewing FSU’s schedule as a challenge and still sees it unfolding that way. Kanell thinks an 8-4 season is plausible.
And Kanell thinks the Seminoles have the money to compete in the ACC. He spoke at length about the escalating costs of building a roster but thinks FSU’s budget, estimated at $30 million, is more than the majority of the ACC schools. Thus, FSU should be competitive and win games.
“I still think eight wins should be the expectation, and I think nine wins is within reason,” Kanell said. “And then if it is short of that, I do think if you lose to some of these programs that are around us in spending (a team’s player acquisition budget), then I think it’s a reason to get upset. There’s some serious decisions that have to be made.”
Danny Kanell, a former FSU quarterback, on the state of the program: “I have described it as some of the worst vibes since I’ve been here as a player.” (Orlando Sentinel file)