Florida State Head Coach Mike Norvell Has 'Utmost Confidence' in Tate Rodemaker
As the 2023 regular season's end is fast approaching the No. 5 Florida State Seminoles remain undefeated. Last Saturday, the 'Noles blasted the North Alabama Lions 58-13 and although crushing another opponent should have Florida State fans on the top of the world, adversity struck when starting quarterback Jordan Travis' season and FSU career ended with a tragic injury.
The Seminoles will have to rely on quarterback Tate Rodemaker to finish the season and after a brilliant showing on Saturday, the redshirt junior will now be thrust into the spotlight as Florida State is set to take on the Florida Gators this weekend.
"For as sad as I am for Jordan and him not being available, I'm so excited for this team. I'm excited for them to get the opportunity to go and put their identity on display," Florida State head coach Mike Norvell said during his Monday morning press conference. "I'm excited for Tate. He did a wonderful job coming in, we talked about it yesterday, and it didn't shock anybody that was on our team because we've seen him do that before."
Although not yet a household name, people close to the program know of Rodemaker's abilities and what he's put into being a Seminole. Throughout his time at FSU there have been growing pains but this season the veteran quarterback has grown at the same rate that the rest of the team has. Even serving as a backup he's thrown for 376 yards and five touchdowns and now has the chance to showcase it on a national stage.
"It's the same message I've had for him for probably three years now: When you get your opportunity just go be you. I've got the utmost confidence in what he will do," Norvell said. "I have a lot of confidence in him. I've watched him grow over the years. You know I've been fortunate to be able to have somebody who has been in this system since we got here. He was in that first signing class."
Playing backup to a Heisman candidate on his way to the NFL can be challenging especially when you're coming out of a dominant high school as a top-15 pro-style quarterback in your class. But that hasn't swayed him in the process. He led a comeback victory over Louisville last season and will be facing the Cardinals again in the ACC Championship.
"He's really done a lot of great things and he stuck through the journey and he's continued to prepare. It is his time and I've got a lot of confidence in Tate because of what I've seen and the work ethic that he has," Norvell continued. "This football team has a lot of confidence in him and you saw it the other night."
The Florida Gators are no slouch of a team when it comes to their annual rivalry against FSU. When their defense is playing well they play at an elite level and although any game is a challenge, Norvell says that he has the right man for the job.
"As we go into this week he just needs to prepare to go be him and trust all the things that we've done at this point and we'll do a good job as coaches in making sure that we try to put him in the best position. He's done everything in this offense and has been preparing for it."
Whatever the end of the 2023 season looks like, Travis and Rodemaker have and will etch their names into the record books.
Stick with NoleGameday for more coverage of Florida State football throughout the 2023 season.
