Florida State will host No. 5 Notre Dame in a primetime sellout at Doak Campbell Stadium
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – No. 2 Florida State held its final full practice of the week on Thursday at the Albert J. Dunlap Training Facility as the Seminoles prepare for Saturday’s clash with No. 5 Notre Dame.
Catch broadcasting legend Gene Deckerhoff’s call of the Florida State-Notre Dame game on Saturday night on Southwest Georgia’s home for FSU football, Live 101.9 FM (WBGE, Bainbridge)! Pregame begins at 6 p.m. and kickoff is scheduled for shortly after 8 p.m.
ESPN has been on campus since Monday and broadcasted live Sportscenter hits from campus all week. The pregame road show College Gameday has made a rare return trip to Tallahassee after coming for the Clemson game last month.
There is hype surrounding Saturday, but Florida State head coach Jimbo Fisher said the players aren’t affected by it because these types of games are why you come to FSU.
“The kids know when you come to Florida State and we keep winning and doing the things we do, these are the kind of primetime games we are in,” Fisher said. “That is why you want to go to major universities – to have a chance to win championships and to be in these marquee matchups.”
The Seminoles and Fighting Irish will play for just the eighth time. FSU holds a 5-2 series edge and came back from a 14-point halftime deficit to win the 2011 Champs Sports Bowl in their last meeting.
Notre Dame is a traditional power that has had a resurgence in recent years under head coach Brian Kelly. The Irish went to the BCS National Championship Game in 2012.
Notre Dame’s partnership with the ACC for football began this year. The Fighting Irish are not affiliated with a conference for football, but will play five ACC opponents a year as part of an agreement with the league.
“It gives you another quality opponent which I think is very critical for your schedule,” Fisher said. “They have great tradition so I think it brings a lot of attention to your program. Those are big time games.”
Thomas Will Wear No. 7
Redshirt freshman linebacker Matthew Thomas will be active for his first game of the season on Saturday following a suspension. He will wear No. 7. Thomas had previously been listed at No. 6. The Miami, Fla., native is expected to be in the rotation at linebacker.
Florida State Injury Report vs. Notre Dame – Oct. 18, 2014
Out For Game
OL Austin Barron (arm)
DT Demarcus Christmas (ankle)
LB Ukeme Eligwe (foot)
QB Sean Maguire (hand)
RB Mario Pender (ankle)
TE Mavin Saunders (hamstring)
Out For Season
DB Colin Blake (shoulder)
DT Nile Lawrence-Stample (pectoral muscle)
LB Delvin Purifoy (ankle)
Head Coach Jimbo Fisher Post-Practice Quotes
Opening Statement
“Excellent Thursday. I really liked our week of practice this week. Offensively, defensively, special teams wise I thought the guys were sharp, into the game and looking forward to game. We executed very well. It was one of our better weeks. We are getting healthy and I think our young guys are really developing into the offense, defense and special teams as far as not just knowing what to do, but on how to do it and doing it consistently. It has really upped our play and allowed us to call things differently on both sides of the ball and add things to our repertoire. I am very comfortable with more players in the game which adds more depth to the team and getting more reps to the team. I am very proud of that. I like where we are at right now and we are looking forward to the challenge we have on Saturday.”
On linebacker Matthew Thomas being officially cleared and how much of a role will he have on Saturday:
“I think he will have a huge role. He is in shape and he is in great condition. There are packages but we have the other guys that are playing too. We have some things for him to do and we feel very comfortable with him in the game knowing what to do. He is a very intelligent young man who has looked very good in practice. He has practiced and he got healthy two or three weeks ago when his ankle got better. He really flashes at you at times. I am sure there will be a little rust here and there but he has looked really good.”
On what playing in primetime televised games does for their football program:
“The exposure. The kids know when you come to Florida State and we keep winning and doing the things we do, these are the kind of primetime games we are in. That is why you want to go to major universities – to have a chance to win championships and to be in these marquee matchups.”
On his thoughts when Notre Dame came into the league:
“It gives you another quality opponent which I think is very critical for your schedule. They have great tradition so I think it brings a lot of attention to your program. Those are big time games.”
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