Mike Norvell breaks down how Florida State is preparing for Ireland trip to open season

The Florida State Seminoles are starting the season in Dublin, Ireland for a game against Georgia Tech. Ahead of that game, head coach Mike Norvell broke down how the team is preparing for that trip to open the season.

As Norvell explained while speaking to the media, Florida State is using experience from others who have made similar trips to help prepare in the right way.

“Just to be able to continue in the research in that and it’s one of the things that we’ve tried to do from multiple different sources. Guys who have had experience of it,” Mike Norvell said. “But also making sure that we’re looking at a variety of different options. Guys that have done it at both levels and different things that they would implement and things that try to eliminate going down the wrong path just through others’ experiences.”

There are more than a few challenges that come with the trip to Ireland. The first is that it changes the schedule of Fall Camp from what teams normally have ahead of the season. On top of that is the distraction that comes with the trip, almost acting like a bowl atmosphere for a game that counts against your conference record.

“So, it’s been good,” Norvell said. “We’ve spent a lot of time at least going into Fall Camp and just our continued work through those systems and what that’ll be that we’re prepared and ready to go when we get to Ireland.”

Following the Week 0 game against Georgia Tech, Florida State will return to Tallahassee for another ACC game. That one will be against Boston College, meaning the Seminoles will only have a week to travel and prepare for a second conference game to open the season.

Mike Norvell opens up on what it means to him to face Memphis in Week 3

While the focus for Mike Norvell is Week 0 against Georgia Tech, he’s also going to have an emotional game later this season when Florida State takes on Memphis, the team he coached before Florida State.

“Memphis has a great program, a very talented team. Coming off another 10-win season there.” Norvell said. “We know it’s going to be a great challenge when we get to that third week of the season. It’s definitely going to be a unique dynamic. Coach [Ryan] Silverfield and his staff have continued to push that program forward.”

Norvell spent four seasons at Memphis, compiling a 38-15 record there.