Mike Norvell discusses challenges of season opener in Ireland

Mike Norvell and Florida State will have a unique schedule to open the 2024 season, first opening the season abroad and then secondly facing two conference opponents to the start the season.

The Seminoles will kick off their season in Dublin, Ireland, where they’ll take on Georgia Tech in a Week 0 game.

“Everything leading up to the game is going to be business,” Norvell said. “The plan’s already been kind of put into motion of when we’re going to leave, what it’s going to look like, making sure we’re building all the things to go play the best that we possibly can.”

In other words, don’t expect players to enjoy a ton of the Emerald Isle before the game is played.

There’s a lot at stake with back-to-back conference games to open the season — Boston College visits Tallahassee on Sept. 2 — and no cupcakes beforehand to get a tune-up before them. You need to be firing on all cylinders right out of the gates.

“We have to. That’s something that they’re accustomed to it,” Mike Norvell said. “Last year, you know, playing LSU on a big-time stage. I loved the fact that our first two games are going to be basically the only games on. We get to play on Saturday of Week 0 and then on Monday night of Labor Day, all eyes on us. Another conference game.

“It’s going to be a critical beginning to what we want to do and what we want to accomplish, but there will be a great sense of urgency for the work. Like I said, that started a week ago and our guys are already doing a great job with it.”

That’s not to say that Florida State’s players won’t be able to benefit at all from their trip abroad to open the season. After all, it wouldn’t be very fun if players simply were shipped up for a game and then shipped out.

Norvell has built that into his plan.

The team will get plenty of time to take in the sights and sounds of Ireland following the contest with the Yellow Jackets.

“We are going to actually stay a day after and we’re not going to leave back or head back to the States until Monday, so guys do get a little bit of an experience and definitely get to see some of the things that Dublin gets to offer,” Mike Norvell said. “Something that will be an educational opportunity for these guys, because it is a trip over there, but our focus will all be on the game building up till kickoff. But they will get a chance there on Sunday to get to go out and see a little bit of Ireland.”