8/10 PM UPDATE: FSU to practice in Jacksonville

8/10 PM Update: FSU will spend Thursday and Friday practicing at UNF before returning home for a Saturday night scrimmage, which was moved to the evening due to the service for Bobby Bowden.

Original TN report: FSU will be practicing at the University of North Florida in Jacksonville the week of August 10-14, Tomahawk Nation can confirm. The practices will be closed to the public, but likely open to the media.

Florida State has traveled as a program for practices in recent years, practicing at IMG Academy in Bradenton (near Tampa) as well as holding its 2016 spring game in Orlando.

Jacksonville has long been a stronghold for the Florida Gators, but the blue and orange grip has loosened quite a bit over the past few years. The Alabama Crimson Tide, Georgia Bulldogs, Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets, and South Carolina Gamecocks are a few programs that have gained traction in northeast Florida. Mike Norvell’s Florida State Seminoles will look to make inroads too, as Jacksonville has some nice prospects.

The intent here is not only to have a greater presence in a fertile recruiting area, but also offer the opportunity for teammates to build bonds and prep for the feel of road games. Taking the team out of Tallahassee allows for more creativity and different experiences for a young team trying to change its culture.