Mike Norvell calls holding penalty in Florida State’s loss to Miami ‘an absolute joke’

Florida State coach Mike Norvell called a holding penalty that erased a potential touchdown against Miami ‘an absolute joke’ at a Monday, October 19, press conference in Tallahassee. The call came in the Seminoles’ 43-35 double overtime loss at Miami on October 17, and Norvell said he had sent video to the league office but had not received its final response.

The penalty against offensive tackle Xavier Chaplin wiped out quarterback Ashton Daniels’ 36-yard touchdown pass to Micahi Danzy in the second overtime. A touchdown would have given Florida State a chance to attempt a two-point conversion to tie the game and force a third overtime; the erased score itself would not have tied it.

Norvell questions review of final Hail Mary

Norvell also raised the final play, a 46-yard Hail Mary from Daniels toward receiver Duce Robinson. Miami defensive back Bryce Fitzgerald was awarded an interception on the field, and the ruling stood after review. That ending was the focus of NewsJaws’ earlier coverage of Miami’s double overtime win.

Norvell said he had been told that simultaneous possession did not come up in the review discussion. He argued that it should have been considered because both players went up for the ball and came down together. His account does not establish what the replay officials actually discussed.

Under the NCAA rule cited by 247Sports, a forward pass caught simultaneously by opposing players inbounds belongs to the passing team. Norvell’s objection concerns whether that rule was considered on the final play; the interception ruling remained in place. At the time of his comments, he said he was still waiting for the league’s final response to the video he submitted.