Let’s continue my coaching debate series with two of the top coaches in the ACC: Mike Norvell of FSU vs. Dave Doeren of NC State.
The case for Norvell:
Few, if any, programs have as much momentum right now as the ‘Noles. Norvell and his staff have been one of the most successful teams in the portal this cycle, landing corners Fentrell Cyprus and Sam McCall, tight ends Kyle Morlock and Jaheim Bell, as well as a litany of other impact players. And that’s spilling over to the trail, where they’ve already got a Top 10 ranked 2024 class. On the field, the team appeared to turn the corner in 2022, finishing 10-3 and winning their last six games of the season.
The case against Norvell:
There’s a distinct chance that last year was an aberration, as he was a combined 8-13 in his first two seasons in Tallahassee. His offensive lines continue to be problematic and too often get bailed out of poor scheming by Jordan Travis‘ scrambling ability.
The case for Doeren
Simply put, Doeren wins. He’s finished over .500 in eight of his ten seasons at the helm in Raleigh, and one of those losing seasons was his first year back in 2013. He’s developed the Wolfpack into being one of the toughest teams in the conference year in and year out, and that’s manifested as very strong play along both the offensive and defensive lines. NC State’s defenses under the former Northern Illinois headman have also been routinely strong.
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The case against Doeren:
It appears that under Doeren, the Wolfpack may have reached their ceiling. Yes, he wins every year, but he’s never had a double-digit winning season and has never made the conference title game.
The Verdict:
Despite the early missteps, Mike Norvell clearly has FSU moving in the right direction, while NC State appears to be stagnating. Maybe the addition of transfer quarterback Brennan Armstrong and new offensive coordinator Robert Anae could help stimulate the offense, but I’d still be on Norvell and his ability to bring a whole lot more talent to the table. I have an immense amount of respect for Doeren and what he’s done in Raleigh — it’s one of the toughest Power 5 jobs to win consistently at, and he’s done that. But Norvell, starting with the LSU win at the beginning of 2022, has taken the upper hand.
