FSU Head Coach Mike Norvell Calls Sign-Stealing 'Unethical' Amidst Michigan Investigation

"Now, accusations of people going and watching a game, well, that's just unethical; it's against all parts of the rules."

There have been a lot of discussions surrounding an alleged scandal involving playoff contender No. 3 Michigan and an investigation into stealing opponents' play-calling signals to gain an advantage. 

Aside from the obvious reasons of not wanting teams to cheat in a game that millions of people love and enjoy, Michigan is one spot ahead of No. 4 Florida State and poised for a 2023 College Football Playoff berth. The Wolverines are 8-0 in the season and are heavy favorites to finish the season undefeated.

READ MORE: Florida State To "Probably" Be Without Veteran Defensive Lineman Against Wake Forest

FSU head coach Mike Norvell was asked by the media on the issue after Wednesday's practice, and although not directly addressing Michigan, he gave his thoughts on the problems that come with it.

"I think when you sit there and you look at sign stealing within games, that has been forever. Back when people started going no-huddle, people started spreading out and communicating everything from the sideline," Norvell said. "People look at the sideline, and if you consistently do this and then you run the same play every time, and that's it, somebody's going to pick up on it; it's just like a normal tendency."

Still, this is the real world, and cheaters do exist in all walks and levels of life; Norvell said that anything beyond what the rules state is unethical.

Michigan is accused of having staff members show up to opponent's games for the sole purpose of trying to gain an edge by knowing what the other team's play is before they run it and adjusting accordingly.

"Now, accusations of people going and watching a game, well, that's just unethical; it's against all parts of the rules of what's stated. I can't defend if somebody chooses to come and watch our games." 

Some additional discussions are going on surrounding ways to combat signal stealing by using headsets and relaying plays to the team that way. However, in today's offenses, a no-huddle and hurry-up scheme is essential to how the modern game is played. 

The NFL currently allows headsets to communicate with players, but Norvell said there needs to be restrictions if it trends that way in the NCAA.

"I think if we get to a point of having coach-to-player communication, I think there needs to be real restrictions on just the amount of time. The NFL is 32 teams, and everybody has their certain setup. It's a closed, secure system; there is a certain amount of time. I don't want to lose the integrity of the game - having to coach, having to teach, having to develop," Norvell said. "I just want to make sure that if that's where we go, that there are enough restrictions in place for coaching, application, and growth in people." 

Norvell likened the idea to a video game where the coaches hold the controllers. He said that hurts the integrity of what college is for and what student-athletes seek: growth and development.

"We're not playing video games with kids that are out there, with young men that are out there, and telling them everything that they need to do or what it is," Norvell said. "One of the best parts of my job is seeing the growth and development of somebody playing with confidence based on what they see from how they practice and playing with the right fundamentals."

Where the investigation will go is anybody's guess, but the results and implications could change the way football players and coaches compete.

---

READ MORE: Former Florida State Wide Receiver Signs Letter Of Intent To Play For XFL's Orlando Guardians

Stick with NoleGameday for more coverage of Florida State football throughout the 2023 season.

Follow NoleGameday on Twitter and Facebook