Florida State football head coach Mike Norvell asked his team for a response after a lackluster practice on Tuesday.
In the two practices that followed on Thursday and Friday, the Seminoles delivered a response that brought palpable enthusiasm out of Norvell.
"You ask, and you will receive," Norvell said with a slight smile on Friday. "That was a good day. I told the team afterwards mindset, approach, physicality, and toughness; it was one of those days we needed."
Norvell wanted to see more intensity and physicality from his group, and they delivered.
He admitted there is still "work to be done," but the aggressive approach, especially in the goal-line situations, stood out to him.
He mentioned Roydell Williams and Caziah Holmes as two players who showcased physicality in the drills, and he mentioned an unnamed defensive player that he saw "really straining" to get off blocks and make plays.
It's something Norvell has been looking for and was pleased to see executed on a day he said needed to be a memorable practice.
"I said yesterday, this was a big day. I thought they answered the call," Norvell said. "Tuesday was not to the standard of what I wanted to see, and I thought this team responded this week at the back end of it. Still got to go and get better because you don't get any of these back, but I like the strides."
Norvell wanted controlled emotions and intensity from his team, and he felt it was displayed.
"You felt emotion today, but I didn't think there was a time we lost control and focus," Norvell said. "There's still some young guys growing through it, but you got bring the game intesntyit. It has to be a national championship rep. That's what it has to be."
"When you can get yourself worked up to that level and then play with control, play with fundamentals, understand the situations, it gives you so much better of an opportunity to be ready for those moments when they show up. I thought it was good and guys were definitely in control of them today."
Delivering a response is something Norvell has preached his entire coaching career.
At times, the response hasn't been what he expected out of his teams, but in a small sample size, he got what he asked for from the Seminoles in spring practice.
