Many Florida State football fans believe coach Mike Norvell can be the next Bobby Bowden for the Seminoles.
Rick Stockstill sees the similarities, too.
“I was fortunate enough to play for coach Bowden. I see a lot of coach Bowden in him,” Stockstill said. “He’s has a tremendous work ethic. The biggest thing is he’s authentic. He gives this program everything he’s got every day.”
Stockstill, of course, is a familiar and respected name in FSU football history. And the former Seminoles quarterback (1977-81) and Hall of Famer (2019) returned to Tallahassee last January, when he joined Norvell’s staff as director of scouting for the offense.
While Stockstill, 66, wishes the circumstances were different behind his hiring – last November he was fired as head coach at Middle Tennessee State after 18 seasons and 10 bowl appearances – his passion for FSU is authentic.
“I love Florida State. I love Florida State football.,” Stockstill said.
“I am very humbled and very honored to be a part of the staff right now.”
Florida State football opens 2024 season vs. Georgia Tech in Dublin, Ireland
The No. 10 Seminoles are less than two weeks away from their season opener against Georgia Tech in the Aer Lingus College Football Classic in Dublin, Ireland, Saturday Aug. 24.
FSU is currently listed a 13-point favorite and enters with a new quarterback in transfer DJ Uiagalelei. The extended forecast for the noon kickoff calls for temperatures in the low-60s and a chance of rain.
The Seminoles are coming off a 13-1 season , Georgia Tech 7-6. While the Yellow Jackets are making their second appearance in the Aer Lingus game, defeating Boston College in 2016, it marks FSU’s first football game outside the United States in school history.
Stockstill holds a special place in FSU folklore.
He quarterback FSU from 1977-81, leading the Seminoles to a 10-2 record and No. 5 final ranking in 1980. That season saw FSU win at No. 3 Nebraska and a home victory over No. 3 Pittsburgh in consecutive weeks. Stockstill was a team captain in 1981 and led FSU to wins at No. 7 Ohio State, Notre Dame and LSU as part of a stretch of five straight road games.
He finished with 2,834 passing yards and 26 passing touchdowns in his career under the legendary Bowden, who died three years ago.
All Stockstill has to do is look around at FSU’s renovated facilities, the indoor practice field and future plans to know that was a different era in Seminole history 40-plus years ago.
“Compared to what we had when I was here, compared to what I had at Middle Tennessee State all those years. … Florida State deserves everything it’s getting right now,” Stockstill said. “It really makes you proud to say you are part of it.”
Stockstill has also witnessed the changes to college football, from the NCAA’s decision to allow college athletes to profit from their Name, Image and Likeness (NIL) to the transfer portal. College athletes may also soon get paid following the proposed $2.8 billion settlement announced last May between the NCAA and athletes in a class-action lawsuit.
“Whether you like it or not, whether you are old school and you believe a scholarship is all you need, those days are over,” said Stockstill, whose 113 wins are third in MTSU history and were the sixth-most nationally at one school among head coaches active in 2023.
“Hopefully, here in the future we will get more parameters around the NIL and transfer portal. Yu have to deal with it, you have to accept it, you have to get in front of it. Ten, 15, 20 years ago when there was an arms race for facilities, now they are putting all of their money in NIL trying to get the best players.
“You better accept it and adapt to the changes.”
This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: Former Florida State quarterback, Middle Tennessee coach returns to FSU
