Mike Norvell admits he has 'big expectations' for Florida State vs. Miami atmosphere

The Florida State Seminoles are set to host the Miami Hurricanes this weekend, renewing one of the most intense rivalries in all of college football. It’s a game that has produced some strong feelings on both sides over the years, so it’s no surprise that head coach Mike Norvell has big expectations for the environment at Doak Campbell Stadium.

Norvell explained that the Seminoles are pouring everything they have into the game and want to focus on themselves. At the same time, given the circumstances, it’s hard to imagine it won’t be a chaotic crowd to contend with.

“Big expectations for the atmosphere,” Norvell said. “I know what we’re pouring in and we’re preparing for. I expect it all. You said in ranked games, what do I think it’s going to be? I don’t know. I know it’s going to get every bit of who we are and what we’re about. That’s my expectations on what we control in our preparation, the edge, the fight throughout it. That’s what I want to see.”

Miami enters the game unbeaten and well-rested, coming off a bye week. With a few big wins already, the Hurricanes are ranked third in the current AP Poll. That’s actually down a spot from the week prior, and they’d love to prove that they should never have slipped. Florida State, meanwhile, suffered an upset loss last week at Virginia. Still, after opening with a win over Alabama, it’s clear the Seminoles are capable of beating anyone, especially in front of their home crowd.

The Florida State-Miami rivalry is among the best in the sport, always adding to the atmosphere as well. It’s a rivalry that dates back to 1951, and since 1970, it’s been an annual matchup. Over the course of the series, Miami leads Florida State 36-33. In that time, it’s a game that Miami head coach Mario Cristobal has known well, going back to his playing days. Now, he feels it’s the best rivalry in the game.

“We always knew this as the best rivalry in football coming up,” Cristobal said. “As a player, that’s always a reason why players chose to go to one of the two respective schools. I mean, college football is the best sport in the world, so the fact that people bring up historical moments and whatnot, it’s not surprising. I do think our players, alumni bases, fans, they all understand how intense this rivalry is, but I think our players, more importantly, understand the importance of practice and preparation, and that’s what our focus is on right now.”

Both Mike Norvell and Mario Cristobal are hoping to stay focused on the task at hand when they meet on Saturday. Kickoff is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. EST. How the home crowd affects the game remains to be seen.