North Alabama Head Coach Brent Dearmon Comments on The Opportunity to Play Florida State
The Florida State Seminoles return to Doak Campbell stadium this weekend for the last home game of the season as the 'Noles take on the North Alabama Lions. While the FCS team has had a very underwhelming season, with a 3-7 record, the opportunity to play a top four team gives head coach Brent Dearmon a chance to send the nation a message about his program.
"Big opportunity for UNA, big opportunity for our football program, you're going to see the UNA lion on national television, you're going to see it come across the ticker on ESPN, when they're talking about the semifinal games this weekend you're going to see the UNA logo so from a recruiting standpoint it's going to be big," Dearmon said. "If there's a guy we're recruiting in Florida, if there's a guy we're recruiting in Georgia or Texas that doesn't know much about North Alabama that gives us an opportunity to say 'hey, check us out on national television.'"
In addition to the recruiting opportunities a nationally televised game presents, the game experience for the players will be like no other, as Doak Campbell Stadium is nearly sold out, which would be the fifth consecutive sold out game the Seminoles have played at home. Dearmon added that the traditions Florida State offers are special, and it will without a doubt be an unforgettable moment for UNA football.
"The other thing that's going to be really cool for our players is to play in that venue. When you're used to playing in front of eight or nine thousand people in this conference, and then you get to go and play in front of 80,000 people. You get to see the Seminole come out and throw the spear down at midfield," Dearmon said. "All those things are just once in a lifetime experiences for our guys. They all grew up with power five, division one, FBS dreams, and they've got an opportunity to go out and see how well they stack up against that competition, so for so many reasons it's going to be good for UNA football."
In addition to being the last home game of the season and celebrating the current seniors on the team, the Seminoles will honor the 2013 national championship team, as this year marks the tenth anniversary of the last undefeated season at FSU. In the last edition of the BCS National Championship Game, the Seminoles faced off against the No. 2 Auburn Tigers. Coincidentally, Dearmon's first coaching job in college football was with the 2013 Auburn Tigers as he worked as an offensive analyst.
"My first year in college football, Coach [Gus] Malzahn calls me and brings me up from the high school ranks, and at the end of my first year we just won the SEC championship and I forgot who got knocked off that week that allowed us to move up in the rankings. Auburn got to play Florida State that year in the national championship in the Rose Bowl," Dearmon said. "So we go down to the Rose Bowl, 13 seconds away Tre Mason scores a touchdown with about a minute and a half left, I'm thinking 'we got this thing' and Jameis Winston leads them all the way down the field, scores with 13 seconds left on a slant, and now they're having a ten year reunion for that team at this game, so I will be on the other sideline for the ten year reunion.
Ahead of what will be the toughest matchup for the Lions, Dearmon gave his team a short message, and encourages the team to play the game the way they know how to.
"Just take advantage of it, some of us will only get to experience it once, especially for the seniors going out. Make the most of it and give it everything you've got, the only thing we can control is our effort, our energy, and our execution," Dearmon said.
The Seminoles and Lions will meet in Doak Campbell Stadium on Saturday, November 18th for what will be the last home game of the season for FSU. Kickoff is scheduled for 6:30 PM and the game will be broadcast on the CW.
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