TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WTXL) — This week teams across nearly every major sports league postponed games to raise awareness for social justice issues and the Florida State football team issued a statement on Friday saying they want change too.
Football is important, but head coach Mike Norvell says social issues are important too,
Thursday night, Norvell tweeted a statement in a show of support, and Friday afternoon the team released a joint statement saying, in part, they were, "frustrated that events have created the need for another statement and they are going to continue working with the Tallahassee community to make a difference in the lives of others."
"There's still acts of hate and injustice that they're showing throughout our country," said Norvell. "We are aware. We know it as a football team as a program and as a University. Those are things that every day we have to continue, that our actions are part of the solution. It's a hard time for all of us."
You can read their full statement here:
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"Anybody can tweet something," said Norvell. "If you go out each and every day and live something that'll better this world, impact others to be a positive influence."
"Times like this, you see people's true colors," Isaiah Bolden said. "As you see Coach Norvell's colors, him and his coaching staff, everybody on this staff will stand with their players."
Standing up to be heard, using their platform for change.
"Don't lose hope," said Norvell. "Don't lose sight of the importance of your voice and who you can impact."
"I want all athletes out there to know you have a voice," Bolden said. "I feel like all athletes should come together, coaches, athletes should come together and spread love and peach."
"If you life without relationships or you live a life without those connections, it's not a life worth living," said Norvell. "You go through this to have a positive impact on others while trying to be the best version of yourself in everything you do."
Everything starting with making this world a better place for everyone.
"People are going to like what you do or they don't, and people are entitled to their opinion," Norvell said. "I stand firmly in the beliefs that I have."
A belief that it's bigger than football.
The Seminoles are starting to fine-tune the details and will have what Norvell called an intense practice on Saturday.
Norvell and the Noles open the season on September 12 at home against Georgia Tech.
