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'We are going to paint the streets of Dublin garnet and gold' ... FSU holds presser for Ireland game

On3 imageby:Corey Clark•03/21/23•

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Florida State athletics director Michael Alford speaks during the Seminoles' press conference for the 2024 Ireland game. (Gene Williams/Warchant)

It’s been less than a week since it was officially announced, and the game itself is 17 months away, but Florida State Football’s trip to Ireland for the 2024 season opener remains a super-hot topic of interest for FSU fans around the state, the country and the world for that matter.

On Tuesday morning, Florida State hosted a press conference with athletics director Michael Alford, head football coach Mike Norvell and organizers of the Aer Lingus College Football Classic, which put together the game between the Seminoles and the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets.

John Anthony, who leads the group, said after a week of presales they are expecting roughly 20,000 FSU fans to be in Dublin for the game.

Alford told Warchant that over 2,000 down payments have already come from FSU fans, which is more than any other school has produced this quickly for the annual early-season game.

“The response has been overwhelming,” Alford said.

He also said there have been more than 50 suite requests for the game.

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It’s been obvious from the second the game was announced that FSU fans were going to head across the Atlantic in droves. Alford said he told the game’s organizers that the Warchant will be ringing in the streets and pubs of Dublin for a week before the game is played, and long after.

He also reiterated what a great opportunity it is for the school and the program to showcase its brand on an international stage.

“Florida State has so much to offer,” Alford said on Tuesday morning. “You’re talking about a Top 20 public institution in America, and now we’re going to showcase everything. Not only the city, but what this institution and program has to offer the whole world.

“I can’t tell you how excited we are to get to Dublin.”

That most certainly includes Norvell.

The FSU head coach echoed what Alford said previously about the trip being a great cultural and learning experience for his players. Norvell added that he is enthused for the FSU fans and what they will get a chance to see as well.

“When Michael brought up the chance to play this game, it was something that was so very intriguing,” Norvell said. “Because now you’re taking this team and this wonderful brand and you’re taking it worldwide. And to be able to have this experience, to go to Dublin, Ireland, to be able to kick off the 2024 football season, but also to give our players such a unique perspective of a new culture.”

Norvell said he talked with Northwestern head coach Pat Fitzgerald about his program’s experience with the game in 2022, and he couldn’t have been more effusive with his praise about the hospitality and pageantry of the College Football Classic. Not just for the players, but the fans.

“It’s amazing,” Norvell said. “I was out there at the softball game on Sunday and the number of people that were already talking about where they’re going to be in late August to kick off the 2024 season. We are going to paint the streets of Dublin garnet and gold throughout that week. Probably before and after. Because there is just such a great following with our wonderful institution and this great team that I get the opportunity to lead.”

*ALSO SEE: Additional updates from Tuesday’s press conference

Norvell also said on Tuesday that the Seminoles will likely be playing Labor Day night — in another prime-time conference game — the week after they return from Ireland. The opponent has yet to be officially announced, but it’s expected to be Boston College at Doak Campbell Stadium.

Talk about this story with other die-hard FSU football fans on the Tribal Council.

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