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CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Florida State coach Mike Norvell was so exuberant at Wednesday's Atlantic Coast Conference preseason football media days that he was practically yelling during his news conference.
"I'm extremely excited," he said when asked about his enthusiasm.
It's easy to understand why in moving on from last year's remarkable crashout.
The Seminoles went from winning the 2023 ACC title that marked the program's first in nine years to becoming a preseason league favorite that finished last -- the league's first-ever 17th-place finisher due to expansion -- in a two-win season. Things got so bad that Norvell had to fire both his coordinators before the end of the season.
That led to changes that include hiring former Auburn and UCF head coach Gus Malzahn to run the offense. FSU also hired Tony White from Nebraska as defensive coordinator.
Malzahn's arrival stands out. He coached Auburn to the national title game, where the Tigers lost to FSU to cap the 2013 season.
"We've experienced the highest of highs, and we've also found ourselves in a valley," Norvell said. "We've faced some disappointments. But every part of it has come back to our response. This team and this season that's ahead, I've got great expectations."
Pitt excited
It's hard to imagine Desmond Reid's role increasing after working as a running back, wide receiver and return specialist in his debut Pittsburgh season. But The Associated Press second-team All-American as an all-purpose player thinks he's capable of doing more, even as an undersized player.
"Growing up, I was always a smaller guy, so my dad always told me, don't worry about what people say about you, just do what you can do, handle what you can handle," Reid said.
Despite his 5-foot-8, 175-pound frame, Reid rushed for a team-high 962 yards on 183 carries, tied for the team lead in receptions with 52 for 579 yards, returned punts and scored 10 total touchdowns after transferring from Western Carolina.
"He's a team guy," Pitt coach Pat Narduzzi said, "and he's got a chest cavity filled with a big heart."
Sticking around
Georgia Tech gave offensive coordinator Buster Faulkner a two-year contract extension. His offense averaged 28.9 ppg last season.