Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney sharply criticized a banner flown over Doak Campbell Stadium during Saturday's game against Florida State, which called for the firing of Seminoles coach Mike Norvell and misspelled his name as "Novell."
Clemson defeated Florida State 36-24, dropping the Seminoles to 1-4 in the ACC and marking their 17th loss in their last 21 conference games. The banner, attributed to a person named Peter Collins, was visible during pregame warmups and the first half.
"What I saw above the stadium was embarrassing," Swinney said postgame. "It was an embarrassment. Florida State's better than that. That's not good for these kids. ... They didn't even spell his name right. They didn't even have the freaking R in the name. I mean, it's just disrespectful."
Swinney defended Norvell as "a good man" and "a helluva football coach," adding that the incident reflects a broader societal issue: "I don't know where we became this as a society that it's okay to tear people down. It's a blood sport now."
Norvell's buyout is reportedly $46 million, a significant financial hurdle for Florida State's athletic department. After the loss, Norvell acknowledged the frustration but expressed belief in his players: "You've got to go out there and you've got to win. That's what it comes down to."
Clemson freshman quarterback Tait Reynolds accounted for three touchdowns, including his first two touchdown passes since September, sparking an offensive surge for the Tigers.
