FSU Head Coach Mike Norvell Embracing No. 3 Ranking

"If somebody says we're highly rated or not, none of that matters."

The No. 3 Florida State Seminoles are back at it after a 66-13 rout over the Southern Miss Golden Eagles last weekend. The 'Noles will now look ahead to take on Boston College for their first away game of the 2023 season and open up conference play after starting 2-0.

READ MORE: Mike Norvell Provides Injury Updates On Multiple Florida State Starters

Head coach Mike Norvell met with the media Monday morning to discuss the overall team health and preview the Eagles, who are 1-1 on the season and will feature a different quarterback, Thomas Castellanos, than who they began the season with.

Although injury hasn't been a major issue for the Seminoles, a few players have taken bumps and bruises over the first two games. Safety Akeem Dent and wide receiver Johnny Wilson both went down in last Saturday's matchup, while offensive linemen Robert Scott and Maurice Smith have been dealing with nagging injuries.

"We'll track how everything goes this week. We got a couple guys that missed the game. Rob and Maurice there on the offensive line, we'll see where that goes this week," Norvell said. "Obviously, Akeem went down in the game, was not able to return. Johnny went down, was not able to return. We'll see how they progress; I thought they came in well last night, as we were able to start getting treatment and things like that. I'll give you probably a better sense of it as the week progresses."

There is no doubt Florida State has continued to climb back to its identity of being a powerhouse football program and it isn't lost on the guy in charge of making that happen. Norvell says it's been a program-wide investment, and he appreciates the work everyone has put in. 

"There is an appreciation for where we've come because I watch our players work. I watch what they put into it. I see how hard our coaches coach," Norvell said. "I see the program-wide investment to see guys believe, get better, and obviously respond to situations that we have found ourselves in, so I appreciate that."

After starting the season ranked as No. 8, FSU has dominated its first two games and now holds the No. 3 spot in the country. Now heading into conference play, Norvell says their mindset is no different.

"Embrace? There's no difference in how our approach (is). If somebody says we're highly rated or not, none of that matters. It's about what we're willing to do when we show up and when we go to work," Norvell said. "I believe in this team. I believe in this team for what they've been through and I believe in this team for the guys that have said yes to come be a part of it and the challenge of it."

Norvell goes more into depth about the team's health, what he sees in upcoming opponent Boston College, and more in his full interview below. 

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READ MORE: Kickoff Time, TV Channel Announced For Florida State's Crucial Road Game Against Clemson

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