- Newly-minted
Florida State Seminoles head coachMike Norvell apologized for mischaracterizing his communications with players about the death of George Floyd. - According to The Athletic's Tashan Reed, Norvell said he "went back and forth individually with every player" on the team given everything happening in the United States this week.
- FSU defensive tackle Marvin Wilson tweeted Wednesday that Norvell lied, adding: "me and my teammates as a whole are outraged and we will not be working out until further notice."
- After Norvell admitted that "it was a mistake to use the word 'every'" in a statement Thursday, Wilson tweeted that he and his teammates "got what we wanted & we are moving forward."
Life as head coach of the Florida State Seminoles has gotten off to a rocky start for Mike Norvell.
The former Memphis head coach — who made the move to FSU in December — nearly found himself with a player walk-out on his hands before coaching a single game down in Tallahassee.
According to The Athletic's Tashan Reed, Norvell said he "went back and forth individually with every player" on his team to discuss the current situation surrounding George Floyd's death and police brutality in America.
"That was something that was important to me because this is a heartbreaking time in our country," Norvell said. "We're trying to meet our guys at their need and be able to share some of the emotions that we're all going through."
But according to Seminoles defensive tackle Marvin Wilson, it never happened. The senior tweeted Wednesday that "there was no one on one talk between us and coach."
"This is a lie," Wilson added. "Me and my teammates as a whole are outraged and we will not be working out until further notice."
—HEAD HUNCHO (@marvinwilson21) June 4, 2020
After Wilson's claims caught fire on social media, Norvell called a closed-door team meeting between players and staff for Thursday. The 38-year-old play-caller then released a statement that "Marvin is right."
"It was a mistake to use the word 'every,'" Norvell said. "Particularly at this time, words are important, and I'm sorry."
—Mike Norvell (@Coach_Norvell) June 4, 2020
The team practiced Thursday afternoon, according to Reed, who tweeted that it "looks like things are back to normal" at Florida State. For his part, Wilson tweeted his thanks to Norvell "for encouraging me to use my platform and speak for what me and my teammates believe in."
"We got what we wanted & we are moving forward," he added.
—HEAD HUNCHO (@marvinwilson21) June 4, 2020
The Seminoles' conversations surrounding race relations and police brutality come as protests crop up nationwide over Floyd's death. Floyd — an unarmed black man — died after former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin and others kneeled on his neck and back for more than eight minutes.
Floyd died of asphyxiation, and Chauvin has since been charged with second-degree murder. The three other officers present at the scene were later arrested on charges of aiding and abetting murder.
- Read more:
- LeBron James blasts Fox News host Laura Ingraham for double-standard on which athletes she believes can speak out on politics
- Coco Gauff delivered an impassioned speech at her local Black Lives Matter peaceful protest: 'If you are choosing silence, you are choosing the side of the oppressor'
- Drew Brees on NFL players kneeling next season: 'I will never agree with anybody disrespecting the flag'
- LAPD used UCLA stadium named in honor of Jackie Robinson to detain Black Lives Matter protesters, and the school demanded it stop