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This is what Mike Norvell said about FSU’s first game on Saturday
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This is what Mike Norvell said about FSU’s first game on Saturday

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Saturday will be the moment of truth for the Florida State football team.

FSU coach Mike Norvell alluded to this in his press conference a day before the Seminoles face the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets in the Aer Lingus College Football Classic, the opening game of their season in Dublin, Ireland.

The Seminoles departed for Ireland on Wednesday night. Norvell felt welcomed in Ireland and was thrilled with the support of the traveling FSU fans. He expects a big crowd at Aviva Stadium.

“It’s going to be a wonderful atmosphere,” Norvell said Friday. “You can feel the energy and the excitement. So many Florida State fans have come. There’s definitely a lot of excitement.”

While the Seminoles settled in, they held two practices on Thursday and Friday to prepare for the Yellow Jackets. The ACC matchup will be broadcast on ESPN at noon ET on Saturday.

“I’m excited for tomorrow,” Norvell said. “You work so hard to open the season. It’s a great opportunity for us to be here and experience the start of the entire college football season.”

Mike Norvell relies on preparation against Georgia Tech

Saturday will be the first look at Norvell’s new Seminoles group. Norvell expressed confidence in his players, the game plan against the Yellow Jackets and the offseason training that has been conducted to prepare for the Week 0 game.

“I believe in our training method. I believe in the way we prepare,” Norvell said.

“There’s going to be nervousness, like I said. I mean, you want a confident football team going out on the field, and I think confidence comes from work, and I know these guys have worked hard.”

Georgia Tech is coming off a 7-6 season last year. GT coach Brent Key enters his second season with 16 starters on the Yellow Jackets, half of whom are on offense, including junior quarterback Haynes King.

Norvell expects the Yellow Jackets to be a tough opponent on Saturday.

“This is a very talented Georgia Tech team that will fight for everything in the ACC,” Norvell said.

“I know that, and when we line up, we’re going to see some different looks. We’re going to see that maybe we expected some things.”

Mike Norvell on Marvin Jones Jr’s expectations for FSU’s defense

Norvell is excited about defensive end Marvin Jones Jr. He is one of 15 transfer portal players who will make their Seminole debut.

Jones, a transfer from Georgia, has FSU in his blood. His father, Marvin Jones Sr., was a linebacker at FSU from 1990 to 1992 and played 11 seasons in the NFL.

When Jones Jr. transferred to FSU, he made an immediate impact since the start of spring football and will start on the other side of edge rusher Patrick Payton.

“He was born wearing the garnet and gold and having him here is really special,” Norvell said. “I just want him to enjoy the game. He’s prepared at a high level. He’s very talented.”

Jones was the last player to see Georgia Tech when he was with the Bulldogs last season. Jones Jr. recorded two tackles, a sack and a forced fumble in Georgia’s win over GA Tech.

“The first game is the first game”: FSU newcomers compete for the first time

The first time is always the hardest, especially for the freshmen lining up for Saturday’s ACC game. FSU has six freshmen who made the lineup for the game against Georgia Tech.

It’s plausible that some, if not all six, will be on the field in all three phases. For Norvell, it could still be nerve-wracking for first-year players no matter where they are.

“I think it’s a natural thing over the years, whether we play in Tallahassee or Dublin: The first game is the first game,” Norvell said.

The six true freshmen on the travel squad include backup QB Luke Kromenhoek, running back Kam Davis, wide receivers Elijah Moore and Lawayne McCoy, and DBs Cai Bates and Charles Lester III.

They all showed off their skills during fall camp and Norvell is excited to see how each of them will contribute to the team.

“We have some very talented freshmen that will definitely help us this year and we’ll see what their role will be tomorrow. They certainly deserve it when they step on the field.”

How can I watch the football game between FSU and Georgia Tech?

  • Date: Saturday, August 24
  • Time: 12:00 p.m. ET
  • Where: Aviva Stadium, Dublin, Ireland
  • TV: ESPN
  • Streaming: ESPN+ ($10.99 per month), WatchESPN and the ESPN app (TV provider subscription required), fuboTV (7-day free trial), YouTube TV (2-week free trial), Hulu + Live TV (7-day free trial)

CLEARLY = ACC

* = Neutral location

Peter Holland Jr. covers Florida State athletics for the Tallahassee Democrat. Reach him via email at [email protected] or at X @_Da_pistol.

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