Florida St., Norvell show how healing can happen
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — Herb Gainer felt compelled to text Mike Norvell on Friday evening.
As a former Florida State football player and the parent of a current player on the team, Gainer wanted to share his feelings with the Seminoles’ firstyear coach who was hired from Memphis.
Gainer, like many former players, understands how culture and ownership evolve within a program. Gainer also has raised his family in Tallahassee since his playing days and has a close connection to school, community and race.
“I wanted to tell him I was standing beside him and I was standing with him,” Gainer said Saturday morning. “That I was proud of him. His heart is in the right place.”
It has been an emotional, whirlwind few days at FSU – and elsewhere.
Amid the nationwide protests against racism and police brutality, college athletes are speaking up and demanding to be heard.
Coaches are facing new levels of scrutiny and culpability.
Athletics — and the world — are changing.
We are watching it happen in front of us, in real time, on our streets, hopefully in our homes and most certainly across traditional and new media.
FSU and Norvell felt the shift last week. The good news is the brief divide appears to have brought the team together.
FSU fans should feel good about their Seminole leadership because it has been on display.
The voices and actions of athletics director David Coburn, Norvell and senior defensive lineman Marvin Wilson have made FSU stronger.
Demonstrating effective leadership is not easy.
Sometimes it means displaying empathy by being sensitive to the feelings and well-being of others.
It also means taking a stand. And admitting to a mistake.
These last few days should be a teaching lesson for everyone. Legendary football coach Bobby Bowden has been watching, too.
“When I was coaching, you wanted to present a plan to the players, and you wanted all of them to abide by it,” Bowden said Saturday morning. “Nowadays, it’s more open. It’s probably not a bad idea that kids are able to speak out. … It looks like it was handled well. What was said and done seemed to work out for the best.
“If you don’t have togetherness, you
are not going to make it.”
Seminole Nation and social media were abuzz when Wilson went on Twitter at 12:13 a.m. Thursday and called Norvell’s account to a member of the media about how the coach responded to the team following George Floyd’s death last week in Minneapolis “a lie.”
While some believe Wilson should have reached out to Norvell privately to discuss, communication styles are different today.
Backlash spread well before sunrise. Norvell called a team meeting Thursday morning in the indoor practice facility – players wore masks and practiced social distancing. By all accounts, it was wellreceived by players.
After the meeting, Wilson released an Instagram post in which he thanked Norvell for "encouraging me to use my platform and speak for what me and teammates believe in." Norvell also issued a statement thanking Wilson and to say he was wrong to say he spoke with “every” player following Floyd’s death.
And Coburn, already scheduled to speak remotely during Thursday’s Board of Trustees Meeting, delivered a heartfelt, five-minute message to the board. He said the football team meeting was open, candid and emotional. Coburn also said players challenged him to speak out on their behalf.
Parents of FSU players held their own Zoom call, too, and discussed the events regarding Norvell.
While Gainer said he was not on the call, he understood the tone was positive.
There is a global outcry for change. There is so much pain and anger — emotions that are being felt across generations.
Believe me when I say FSU football is in good hands.
Norvell’s staff is structured, organized and, yes, it cares. Building trust with players and recruits is paramount. And parents of players also want to know their children are being treated fairly and coaches are standing up for the players they represent.
“Every opportunity is a teaching moment,” said Gainer, whose son Amari appeared in 13 games with nine starts last season at linebacker.
“The biggest thing is I think everyone is good. This is our program. … everyone wants to win again.”
Reach Jim Henry at jjhenry@tallahassee.com.