TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WCTV) – The Florida State football team picked up a much needed victory Saturday night with their 34-14 thumping of Virginia Tech, but Saturday was way bigger than football. <\/p>\n
Ethan Pritchard, a football player who was shot<\/a> in the head, made his return to Tallahassee <\/a>this week \u2014 serving as an inspiration to his teammates and this fan base alike.<\/p>\n \u201cSeeing him lead us in the Legacy Walk today into the stadium, being in the locker room after the game, just the time with this team, it means so much to us,\u201d said head coach Mike Norvell. \u201cYesterday, at the end of practice, I asked him if he had anything to say. It was two words: \u2018Go win.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n Ethan Pritchard on the field after the game, congratulating his teammates on the 34-14 win over Virginia Tech.<\/p>\n It is so much more than football man. This is the good stuff. pic.twitter.com\/Qpfg9yAbtR<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Alison Posey (@AlisonPosey14) November 16, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n That was a request the Seminoles delivered on, as Pritchard continues his recovery after being shot in the head in a case of mistaken identity in August.<\/p>\n \u201cTo know what he had gone through, especially over these past two and a half, three months, seeing his progress, seeing him smiling, talking, laughing, it\u2019s truly nothing short of a miracle,\u201d said wide receiver Duce Robinson.<\/p>\n \u201cIt was a very emotional day for us, just to be able to see him yesterday and him show up at the game and be there able to support and be there with us,\u201d added quarterback Tommy Castellanos. \u201cIt meant a lot to us that we were there, and I think we did that for him.\u201d<\/p>\n Pritchard was discharged from a rehab facility<\/a> last week.<\/p>\n \u201cMost of the time I\u2019m Facetiming him, he\u2019s in the middle of a workout,\u201d Norvell said. \u201cHe\u2019s got sweat going, and he says, \u2018Coach, they\u2019re pushing me!\u2019 I said, \u2018Sorry, buddy. You\u2019re built for it!\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n Now his goal of returning to the football field continues.<\/p>\n \u201cIf you need inspiration, if you need motivation, you want to understand how to go about doing things in life?\u201d said Norvell. \u201cWatch him. I know where he\u2019s going, and I know what he\u2019s going to be able to accomplish.\u201d<\/p>\n Florida State faces NC State on Friday night. Kickoff is at 8:00 p.m. in Raleigh, North Carolina.<\/p>\n To keep up with the latest news as it develops, follow WCTV on Facebook<\/a>, Instagram<\/a>, YouTube<\/a>, Nextdoor<\/a> <\/a>and X<\/a> (Twitter<\/a>).<\/p>\n Have a news tip or see an error? Write to us here<\/a>. Please include the article\u2019s headline in your message.<\/p>\n Be the first to see all the biggest headlines by downloading the WCTV News app. Click here<\/a> to get started.<\/p>\n Copyright 2025 WCTV. All rights reserved.<\/p>\n