Seminoles HC Mike Norvell makes something clear about facing Alabama, Kalen DeBoer in NCAAF season opener

Mike Norvell will once again be at the helm for the Florida State Seminoles, who are looking to turn the page after a disappointing showing last NCAAF season. The road to redemption won’t be easy — and it starts right away in Week 1, with a high-stakes showdown against none other than Kalen DeBoer’s Alabama Crimson Tide.

In what is expected to be a season led by Tommy Castellanos as the starting quarterback, Norvell’s squad will kick off their campaign on August 30 in a difficult clash against one of the top title contenders.

Speaking to the media recently about the difficult matchup, Seminoles head coach acknowledged that facing a tough opponent like Alabama presents a major challenge — but also a valuable opportunity.

“It’s a great opener for us,” Mike Norvell said. “You know, college football is different. You kick-off, and every snap matters. Everything that you do, that first game, you have to be ready. I think over the years, our guys have shown in their preparation the importance of the opener. I see nothing different going into this year. Just continued excitement for us to put our best foot forward.”

Head coach Mike Norvell of the Florida State Seminoles reacts against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish during the second half at Notre Dame Stadium on November 09, 2024 in South Bend, Indiana.

“…But I’m really looking forward to just knowing what’s ahead, just that daily sense of urgency for every play, every meeting, the walkthroughs, I mean every bit of it. I would expect no different if it was playing a different opponent,” the HC added via On3.com. “But this is definitely a privilege to be on that stage, that game, full-capacity Doak-Campbell Stadium. That’s college football.”

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Norvell addresses the starting QB situation

Although there are still several weeks until the first snap of the new NCAAF season, head coach Mike Norvell is slowly starting to define his potential lineup, keeping in mind the tough matchup ahead against Alabama.

While no official confirmation has been made yet, all signs point to Tommy Castellanos, former Boston College player, being the one to start as QB1 for the Seminoles.

“He’s putting himself in position. You talk about being the starting quarterback, but our expectations for him to be one of the best quarterbacks in the country,” Norvell firmly stated.

“And that’s one of the challenges. Yes, every guy in that (quarterback) room is competing. Everybody’s trying to push to be the best they can be, but we want to set the highest expectations for what they’re capable of and you just go out every single day and try to live up to that.”