Florida State Football: Fans Will Noles to Victory

There's something special about Doak Campbell Stadium against a big time opponent at night.

"That was a tremendous environment for college football tonight," Head Coach Jimbo Fisher said.

As Florida State defeated Notre Dame 31-27 the announced crowd of 82,431 made its presence felt, creating one of the best atmospheres in all of college football.

"I was here when we played Oklahoma my freshman year, I was here when we played Clemson my sophomore year; I've been here for some pretty big games," Senior running back Karlos Williams said. "I've never heard the stadium like this, I got goosebumps a couple times."

Many of the Seminole players agreed that the atmosphere Saturday night was right on par if not better than that of the well noted crowd of the Florida State/Oklahoma game in 2011 in which the Noles fell 23-13.

"It was special...so loud, so crazy," Senior wide receiver Rashad Greene said. "It was definitely up there with the Oklahoma game in loudness."

"This game was neck and neck with that Oklahoma atmosphere," Junior guard Josue Matias added. "It was an entire Tallahassee effort."

"I was telling Bobby Hart in the first half that it's probably the loudest it's been since I've been here," noted Junior guard Tre' Jackson.

The type of atmosphere on hand Saturday night presented Doak in a special light to the large amount of top recruits on-hand. It's a big reason why high school football players are enamored with Florida State – to play in big games like the one they witnessed between FSU and Notre Dame, in these types of environments.

"That's why we come to Florida State for that kind of crowd in a top five match-up," Jackson said. "Our fans did a tremendous job keeping us pumped up tonight."

"I came to FSU to play in these types of games, these types of crowds," Junior defensive lineman Derrick Mitchell added.

As Notre Dame attempted to drive the field one last time in the fourth quarter, Junior defensive end Mario Edwards Jr. admitted that the Seminole defense was gassed, with the Irish running over 80 plays up to that point. It was the Florida State faithful that willed them to get one final stop.

"That last drive our entire defense was tired, but we heard the fans cheering a realized this was it; it was all on us."

"It was 4th and 18 and I literally felt the ground shake. It was ridiculous," Williams said.

"I feel like if the fans weren't there cheering us on like they did tonight we wouldn't have been victorious," Edwards Jr. mentioned.

As the clock hit triple zeroes, the Seminole players ran to the locker room satisfied in winning a top five match-up, never forgetting the atmosphere that helped guide them to victory.

"It was crazy, it was exciting," Junior cornerback PJ Williams said. "It gave me a feeling inside I can't even explain."

"It was super loud, something I've never experienced, just crazy. It was a great experience," Freshman linebacker Matthew Thomas agreed.

The crowd inside Doak Campbell Stadium undoubtedly impacted the game Saturday night and, as Edwards Jr. noted, has been instrumental in Florida State's continued success during their 23-game win streak.

"This is definitely the loudest game at Doak, the most fun I've ever had here," Edwards Jr. said. "We're a family at Florida State and it takes the offense, defense and fans to win. We all love, trust and believe in each other."

That love, trust, and belief was evident in the stands Saturday night, as Doak Campbell Stadium placed another notch in its belt of remarkable atmospheres.