A War of words has started between Dabo Swinney and Mike Norvell.
During his Sunday night teleconference, Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney made his thoughts on what transpired Saturday very clear. On Monday morning FSU head coach Mike Norvell had a rebuttal prepared for Swinney.
Norvell may be a good head coach, yet to be seen, but one thing he isn’t ready for is a war of words with Dabo Swinney.
Right now, Mike Norvell is doing everything he can to endear himself to the fickle FSU fan base – yes, the same fan base that already wants him fired because they refuse to acknowledge the dumpster fire that is FSU football.
However, when you aim your gun at the king of the jungle, you should be ready for everything that will happen to you and Norvell is not only taking aim at the wrong guy, he isn’t ready for the heat that is going to come with taking aim at a two-time national championship-winning head coach.
At no point in time, Sunday night did Dabo Swinney take a swipe at Norvell, his staff, or the FSU players. Matter of fact, he did just the opposite. That didn’t stop Norvell from taking shots at Swinney on Monday.
Norvell: "If other teams want to practice symptomatic players, that's their decision." Sheesh.
— Anna Adams (@AnnaH247) November 23, 2020
In case you didn’t see any of what was said, here are just a few clips –
"“If other teams want to practice symptomatic players, that’s their decision.”"
The misinformation surrounding Clemson and the player in the question is astounding. At this point, Norvell is purposely putting out bad information because inside, he is truly embarrassed that FSU pulled out of this game.
He knows that Dabo Swinney didn’t allow anyone with symptoms to practice or travel. Instead of acknowledging that and changing the false narrative being circulated by both media as well as the Duke basketball fans, err, Florida State football fan base, he is adding fuel to the fire.
"“Football coaches are not doctors. Some of us might think we are”"
Dabo Swinney at no point in time has proclaimed to be a doctor. According to 247’s Anna Hickey, Dabo did say “The standard to cancel a game was not met. A guy testing positive Friday does not cancel a game. I was on every committee meeting since March and that was never the case.”
The Mike Norvell misinformation campaign continues. Still claiming that Clemson practiced and traveled a symptomatic player.
— William Qualkinbush (@QualkTalk) November 23, 2020
These are lies that have been debunked. The facts haven’t changed.
Fans can speculate all they want about protocols, but to discount what someone who has sat through every ACC COVID committee meeting is as absurd as Mike Norvell attempting to make a name for himself by coming at Swinney.
We get it, there are a lot of fans across the country that dislike Dabo Swinney. He makes them all realize that their own programs and their coaches aren’t good at what they do and reinforces that every year when Clemson stomps their teams on the field and on the recruiting trail.
Some people have to learn the hard way in life and this is one of those times for Norvell.
Duking it out with Swinney in the media is going to be a hard lesson for Norvell to learn as he attempts to find his path as a head coach in big boy football.