Norvell cites transparency amid player’s accusations
Seminoles coach denies athletes misled about results of COVID-19 tests
Florida State coach Mike Norvell vehemently denied accusations by a current player who posted on social media that school officials are lying about how the coaching staff is handling safety protocols during the coronavirus pandemic.
“Disappointed to see or to hear about the message put out there, but we’ve been very transparent throughout this process,” Norvell said of social media posts from receiver Warren Thompson, who criticized the program.
Thompson, a redshirt sophomore from Armwood High near
Tampa, posted he had been lied to “several times” by the coaching staff regarding COVID-19 test results.
“It has been shown to myself and the rest, that our leadership is based off an ‘I’ mentality with them only worried about their own future rather than their own athletes,” Thompson posted on Twitter on Thursday. “I have been ridiculed about speaking up regarding this issue and it needs to be addressed for myself to safely continue the season.
“The lies from our leaders have backed myself into a corner putting my overall well-being in jeopardy.”
Thompson’s message was posted the morning after teammate DJ Matthews tweeted he tested positive for COVID-19. Matthews’ post was deleted later
night.
Matthews’ tweet was first reported by the Tallahassee Democrat and Noles247.com.
When asked what Thompson meant when he referred to lies from leadership, Norvell said he did not know. The coach said he spoke with Thompson and Matthews on Wednesday evening, but he declined to share details of their conversation. except to say that he checked on their health status.
“We talk about understanding and respecting people’s privacy and what they’re willing to post,” Norvell said about players taking to social media to express themselves. “Every player has the opportunity to post anything about their own individual situation.”
Norvell said he didn’t ask Matthews to take down his post and isn’t sure why the senior deleted it.
Florida State officials have declined to reveal the number of players who have tested positive for coronavirus, citing privacy laws.
The Seminoles had team meeting two days ago, during which Norvell addressed concerns about the program’s safety protocols and updated the group about player testing.
“I’ve been very transparent with every player I’ve talked to and with our entire team,” Norvell said of the discussion. “We continue to urge guys to make proper decisions when they’re away from the facility and follow proper protocols when they’re in the facility.”
Norvell said there have been several FSU players who have been ill during camp but received negative coronavirus test results, which could have caused some confusion about health information being shared with the team. The first-year coach said players have been tested four times in the past month, including immediately beWednesday fore they left for Fourth of July weekend and a week before fall camp opened Aug. 7.
Norvell said they’ll be tested again this week and then be tested on a weekly basis throughout camp.
Thompson’s message was posted two days after Florida State hosted a news conference featuring Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, FSU President John Thrasher, Norvell and several players all lobbying to let the Seminoles play football in the fall. They said FSU had gone above and beyond following safety protocol and could safely compete.
The Big Ten and Pac-12 announced Tuesday they are postponing fall football games and will try to play in the spring. But the ACC, SEC and Big 12 are moving forward with plans to play football this fall.
ACC presidents reiterated their plans to play a fall football schedule during a videoconference Thursday evening, according to Yahoo! Sports’ Pete Thamel.
“It’s challenging for our country, it’s challenging for everybody involved, but it takes great sacrifice to be able to do that,” Norvell said. “The protocols are there for a reason, and once again this is completely voluntary. We respect everybody’s decision whether they want to be here or whether they do not want to be here.
“We’ve got a bunch of guys who have worked extremely hard for this opportunity.”
Redshirt sophomore defensive back Jaiden LarsWoodbey was among players who endorsed FSU’s safety protocol during a videoconference interview with reporters Thursday.
“I honestly feel the FSU coaching staff and training staff have been doing everything in their power to make sure we’re safe and making sure we’re doing the things necessary in order to play football this year,” Lars-Woodbey said. “I have a lot of trust in them.”
This is the second time since his arrival in December that Norvell has been called out by a player on social media.
All-America defensive tackle Marvin Wilson spoke out in June after he felt Norvell misstated conversations between the coach and players about race in the wake of the death of George Floyd, a Black man killed in police custody. Norvell apologized the same day for his miscommunication, praising Wilson for speaking up.
“It’s a work in progress,” Norvell said Thursday when asked why players keep raising concerns on social media.
“There is a transition any time there is a new staff or a new leader into a program. There is a transitional experience that we all have to work through. The issue back in May with Marvin, I ... understand where my mistake was made.
“The issue we’re having today is a separate issue.”