Florida State’s win over Alabama on Saturday was monumental for a number of reasons, both on and off the football field.
It was the Crimson Tide’s first-ever trip to Doak Campbell Stadium, which itself was debuting its new-look to the world at large, and its first season-opening loss in 24 years. It was a reminder to all just of what Mike Norvell is capable of with a team molded in his image, one dedicated to executing at a high level, in all aspects, as he advanced to 3-0 against SEC teams in the first two
weeks of the season (6-3 overall against teams currently in the conference). It was a stunning debut by an overhauled roster and staff, most notably quarterback Tommy Castellanos, who talked the talk and walked the walk to reset the expectations of what 2025 can be in Tallahassee.
It was also a fantastic showing by those inside Doak Campbell Stadium, with a rowdy crowd playing a factor in the game on multiple occasions, forcing four pre-snap penalties and timeouts as Alabama proved unable to deal with the noise.
“For our crowd, our fans, I mean, that was specialm” Norvell said after the game. “Being back at Doak Campbell full capacity, we felt it. The Marching Chiefs, it was rocking tonight. I do want to take just a moment — Mike Alford, our AD, outstanding, outstanding job. When you look at our President McCullough, our Board of Trustees, the push, the support, the investment into our program with the new stadium, with the new football complex that’s going to be opening midway through this year, it’s an incredible group.”
“I tell people all the time, it’s the people that make the place, and that’s what’s special about Florida State is we’ve got great people, and I think our players showed that and represented that well. So many former players that were here, that were just to be here to encourage, support. A lot of them were here last night.”
Just what was it like inside Doak that night? Jacob Smith, Matt Minnick and RaysnNoles break down their experiences below, including thoughts on the new renovations — and if you were there, feel free to share your own stories in the comments,
Jacob Smith: Few victories in Florida State history have felt as symbolically potent as the Seminoles’ season-opening 31-17 upset of the No. 8 Alabama Crimson Tide on Saturday. That win felt more like a communal catharsis than a game. Their win was a defiant step forward following a season and a year that has tested the program and the community’s resilience in so many ways.
One must fully appreciate how devastating the 2024-25 year was for Florida State. After entering the season as defending ACC Champions and a top-ten ranked team, FSU spiraled to a historically dismal 2-10 record, its worst since 1974. In the process, the program endured national embarrassment: the first team in the College Football Playoff era to both be snubbed after a 13-0 regular season to double-digit losses, becoming the first power-conference defending champion to miss a bowl game since USC in 2018.
That despair-inducing season included ignominious losses like the first-ever defeat to Duke in program history. In the wake, several staff members being dismissed did not help the dysfunction of this Seminoles program. It felt like the total collapse of a program that had nothing much to celebrate.
This is the part that everyone still thinks of. On a Thursday in April 2025, the heart of Tallahassee and the entire state of Florida were shattered by a senseless act of violence. I was in the Tully Gymnasium, where the volleyball team plays. In my Sports Governance class, I kept asking, “Why us?” in my head. Even now, four months later, I still find myself struggling with survivor’s guilt occasionally. For weeks and months, numbness felt like a defense mechanism, where joy felt like a betrayal of grief.
But hope is a stubborn thing, and a new season always brings a flicker of it.
Alabama took the opening kickoff and did what Alabama does, marching down the field on a methodical 17-play, nine-minute drive that culminated in a touchdown. A familiar sense of dread began to creep into the stands. Myself included. This is where the blowout begins.
But then, something shifted.
The new look Florida State offense took the field and responded. Castellanos led a seven-play, three-minute drive, capping it himself with a 9-yard touchdown run. I remember being next to the Champions Club when the stadium erupted. I thought Alabama had gotten an interception since the visiting fans’ area is right below there. Nope. Everybody roared around me.
What unfolded over the next three hours was nothing short of poetic. Malzahn’s offense steamrolled Alabama’s run defense, 236 yards of it to be exact. Castellanos looked like the savior of the program when he rushed for that touchdown early in the game. While his passing numbers weren’t gaudy, 9 of 14 for 152 yards, he was no doubt a reason the game ended how it did.
When Alabama cut the lead to 24-17, I thought, “Oh god, are they seriously going to blow this?” 2024 returned to everybody’s mind. We’ve seen this play out before. Was this when the collapse would come? With a 10-play, 75-yard drive for the game-sealing touchdown, the Seminoles put the icing on top of a great day for the ground game. The final, definitive fourth-down stop by the defense sent an explosion of pure, unadulterated joy throughout Tallahassee.
The players began to dance to Soulja Boy’s Crank That, and that’s when I knew it was GGs.
On the final knee, immediately, the dam of pent-up emotion broke. Thousands poured onto the field, a garnet and gold sea of humanity swarming the turf. I have never, ever seen Doak Campbell Stadium as joyful and as free as it was that night. I high-fived dozens, perhaps hundreds of fans in the upper deck. The faces down below were just blurs of joy.
I looked up at the north scoreboard, which just read ‘NOLES WIN’ in big, blocky letters. And then, a light drizzle started to fall. It was barely anything compared to that earlier rainshower during halftime. But looking at that graphic, feeling the rain, and surrounded by this ocean of pure happiness, I legitimately had my hands in my face trying to conceal my joy. The grime of 2024 felt like it was all being washed away. Few games in college football, or even sports in general, had as much meaning as this one did. We all like to craft little narratives surrounding players and teams to make them seem more like a protagonist in a video game.
There are national championships and legendary blowouts that define eras of Florida State football. Names I don’t need to name. Those victories are about climbing a mountain. For this reason, I think this game versus Alabama, scheduled years ago, mind you, was far more than a mere week 1 match.
This game felt like a celebration of life.
Matt Minnick: There’s been plenty of noise amongst the fan base about the Doak’s renovations (and accompanying decrease in capacity) over the last 18 months so there’s no point in rehashing it all here. What I can say is that, at least for one game, the new look stadium combined modern amenities with an old school atmosphere to produce a wildly memorable experience. Here were my thoughts from section 136:
A) setting aside my lingering bitterness of having my family’s seats of 38 years turned into a ribbon board, the views and sight lines were as good as ever in Doak. The cut-out design for the new club area looks a little wonky when the seats are empty, but with a packed house you didn’t notice anything weird. Are the people in the field level suite able to see anything besides cleats and knee pads? Someone who stands there will have to answer, but everyone else on the west side has a great view.
2) The concourse and concession areas are MASSIVELY improved. Wider walking areas, more bathroom options, and plenty of TVs so you don’t miss the action (I was getting a beer when the punt was muffed. Didn’t leave my seat again). The improved food options are nice and the sports bar area right near 136 is excellent. Oh and yes, the giant spear is a worthy photo op.
D) I’ve been asked a few times about where’d I’d rank this game on my all time in-person experience. In terms of great games, like the actual game of football, it’s not top 25. FSU was just too dominant to crack a list with games like Rix to Sam, Choke at Doak, 2014 ND, and both Wide Rights. But from an atmosphere or loudness perspective, it is well into the top 25. Maybe even top 10.
The cathartic release of two years of pent-up frustration actually reminded me not of a recent football game, but the FSU/UL basketball game. Like that destruction of a top 10 Cardinals team, the fan base cheered with an angry chip on their shoulder, understanding that their energy was pumping straight into the veins of the players on the field. The Gavin Sawschuck bulldozer TD run proved to be the Trent Forrest dunk to cap off the evening.
There was never quite that single eardrum-popping moment that took place in the 1998 UF game on the Outzen to Warrick deflected TD. (For the younger fans, the slightly lesser version of that moment is the 2011 OU game with the Rashad TD and subsequent punting series).
And there is no way it matched the beginning-to-end wall of vitriolic thunder that was the 1989 Miami game. How could it? In that one, FSU intercepted the ball on the game’s first play before housing a long run one play later. In this one, Bama went on an 8-minute scoring drive to kick things off. And let’s be honest—Bama hate ain’t Miami hate.
Nonetheless, this was a consistently loud, boisterous crowd that was provided with multiple “high-five your new best friend 2 rows behind you” moments, making this a game that will certainly—and deservedly—be talked about wistfully for years to come. Does it rise up into the pantheon of truly elite Doak games? For that to happen, it would probably need to be a launching pad for this team’s ascendence into the 2025 CFP semi-finals or further.
So, put me down for a maybe.
RaysnNoles: With the 2025 season kicking off this past Saturday there was a safe assumption of what to expect on the field of play. However, with the stadium renovations complete there was doubt about what the fan experience would be like. Much like the outcome of the game coming as a beautiful surprise, the stadium renovations were almost on par with the Seminoles’ victory. The crowd was at max capacity and there were plenty of fans wanting to get into the stadium early. I attempted to enter the gates at 2:30 PM and there was quite the line at most of the main gates, but a short walk to the back of the stadium (Gates M and L), five-minute wait in line and I was in the stadium.
Once inside the stadium and a walk up the ramp to section 137 and the first update that caught my eye was the fresh paint and the new lighting that made it feel like you were no longer walking through the basement of a construction site. New signage and graphics made all the concessions and restrooms easily identifiable. The number of concessions was also a pleasant surprise, with at least one at every gate. They were well staffed, moving the line rather quickly. There were also stand-alone concessions that only sold alcohol or popcorn or nachos. One minor complaint was about the variety of food and beverages, while there were concessions in abundance, the ability to try different foods was limited.
Visited the restroom a couple of times and they were large, clean and numerous with limited lines outside the temporary downpour that brought a large group of fans to find shelter. During halftime I took a tour of the rest of the stadium, on all levels and the entire stadium was not disappointed. Florida State University hit it out of the park for the opening game and with time hopefully it will only improve.
