Mike Norvell reveals what it takes to win on the road in a hostile environment

Well, Florida State isn’t technically going on the road to play its first game. They’re not entering the lion’s den, so to speak. But the Seminoles are traversing the southeastern seaboard to play LSU in their home state of Louisiana. Just not at Death Valley. But instead, at the Caesars Superdome in New Orleans, a quasi-neutral site for the first game of the season between both teams.

Who are we kidding, this is essentially an LSU home game. In New Orleans, down the creek from Baton Rouge, this place will be packed with 75% or better purple and gold most likely. Especially considering the excitement of a new coach for the Tigers. Can’t imagine there will be nearly as many Seminole fans given the general malaise of the last seven or eight years of FSU football AND the fact that they have to do all the traveling between the two fanbases.

So Mike Norvell needs to have his players for a road environment. When asked how to prepare for such a raucous atmosphere, he answered that his guys need to stay locked in. You can watch his answer right here at the 2:30-mark or read his comments in full below.

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Mike Norvell on handling road atmospheres

“I mean fundamentals, you know. Consistency, maturity discipline, you know. I’ll tell them all the time that, you know, momentum swings are that. They’re things that are real. But momentum really only affects the teams that allow it to. And, you know, you have the choice to go out there and make the play. You have the choice to go out there and respond in this situation. You go on the road, you’re gonna feel the emotion.

“It’s not always going to be a positive atmosphere for you. There’s gonna be a lot of things that are uncomfortable, you know. There’s probably only a handful of guys on this team that have ever played in the Superdome. I mean they’re going to have to go and get adjusted to that in the course of the game, and just whatever the atmosphere is. But ultimately, I mean, it’s our decision of what we wanted, what we want it to be, and you got to go out there and, you know, be as consistent and as disciplined and be able to execute in that moment in order for you to play your best.”