No Renegade, no Ramblin’ Wreck, lots of cattle ranch dressing: How

Andrea Adelson, ESPN

• Elder WriterAug 22, 2024, 07:00 AM ET Close ACC press reporter.
• Signed up with ESPN.com in 2010.
• Graduate of the University of Florida.In the lead-up to Saturday’s kickoff between Florida State and Georgia Tech, both schools spent 17 months making spreadsheets, submitting documents and triple-checking customizeds regulations to ensure they packed all the essentials for their transatlantic trip.Uniforms? Check.Cleats? Check.Ranch dressing? Umm, check?The Ramblin’Wreck? Unfortunately, back in Atlanta.Renegade, Osceola and their flaming spear? If only

that pesky quarantine problem had been solved.Even without their most iconic pregame customs traveling with them to Dublin, Florida State and Georgia Tech will headline Week 0 with whatever they need to play football thanks to an extensive behind-the-scenes effort that Georgia Tech director of football operations Josh Thompson refers to as “not for the faint of heart.”In all, the schools integrated to bring 238 dog crates weighing more than 40,000 pounds– jam-packed and delivered on freight aircrafts recently– filled with everything from game day devices to sport medicine fundamentals, protein powder, snacks such as Goldfish and yes, dressings that are not available in Dublin.Editor’s Picks 2 Related” There is no room for error here, “stated Jason Baisden, Florida State assistant athletic director for equipment operations.”As soon as we exist, we’re there. We can’t return or can’t call and say, ‘Hey, bring this with you.

‘” Both schools began to get ready for this game in March 2023, soon after it was revealed. Florida State director of football operations Bruce Warwick had actually become part of numerous overseas games in his previous drop in the NFL, so he already had a great idea about what moving a whole group more than 4,000 miles away would entail.Beyond leaving all the essential equipment, passports would need to be protected, several in-person website visits to the team hotel would require to be made(including food tastings)and interaction with officials in Ireland would have to be precise. Nothing– like presuming that an American biscuit and an Irish biscuit were the same– could be left to chance.”I needed to learn to speak their language,”Baisden said.”Like, it’s not a uniform to them, it’s a package. It is the English language, however we needed to ensure nothing was lost with the translation of what we are doing. “Baisden and Thompson made calls to people they knew at Notre Dame and Navy, 2 schools that had previously played in Ireland.

Baisden requested for their carnet, a file that assists in momentary global imports and exports. Basically, the carnet lists every item that is brought into a foreign country line by line, with exact numbers. Florida State Athletics Want to bring treats for the group? No issue. But every snack, from applesauce to crackers, need to be listed. The very same chooses rolls of tape, gloves, protein powders. You wish to bring it? You need to list it.At Florida State, Baisden ended up being the point person between departments. In January, he asked the sport nutrition, sport medication, imaginative video, weightlifting, radio broadcast

and sports info teams to start recognizing what they absolutely had to bring with them.He described the process as getting ready for “an abroad bowl trip.”However the information with which whatever needed to be itemized goes far beyond any bowl trip preparation, where schools can simply fill up their devices trucks and be on their way. For this trip, Baisden identified every cage with what it was for– hotel, practice, game.International travel is why the Ramblin’Wreck and Abandoner and Osceola were left at home. Irish authorities had actually asked about their availability, and both schools had serious discussions about finding a method to do it.Renegade, the famous horse ridden by Osceola before every Florida State home game to plant a flaming spear at midfield, would have needed to quarantine en route back to Tallahassee as needed by international regulations. As an outcome, the horse would have been unavailable for the home opener versus Boston College on Sept. 2. Plus, this is technically a Georgia Tech home game.A gold and white 1930 Ford Model A Sport Coupe known as the”Ramblin’Wreck”has actually led the Yellow Jackets onto the field for every home game considering that 1961.

The Wreck would need to take a trip on a ship to get to Ireland. The travel time home would have indicated it, too, would have been unavailable for the home opener against Georgia State on Aug. 31. There had been discussion about using an Irish “cousin”of the Wreck, a Peugeot-type stand-in from Dublin, however the concept was nixed.There was plenty more that had to be talked about to get to the goal. Florida State wound up having to get 85 passports for its players; Georgia Tech had to get 70 in overall in between players and staff. Possibly the most unforeseen challenge the groups dealt with was making sure they would have the ability to use the new technology allowed starting this season– coach-to-helmet interaction and iPads on the sideline.The headset systems coaches use on the sideline in the United States do not work overseas because they utilize various radio frequencies. Both schools had to rent new systems, and that suggests a various belt pack for coaches to get utilized to.

Florida State experimented them throughout skirmishes so the coaches could start to get a feel for them.Thompson said the schools had to secure numerous lines of frequency for the communication headsets to work. The iPads needed coordination with Aviva Stadium and local vendors for specific fiber lines used to upgrade video in genuine time. The schools have had weekly calls with the ACC and different vendors to make certain whatever is ready to

go. Whatever will be checked Friday. Florida State Sports” The coaches don’t like modification. I do not like change,”Thompson stated.”Everyone is an animal of routine. I wish to walk into the stadium when the group walks in and make certain whatever is done.

I do not wish to need to be running around panicking,’All right, how are we going to handle this?'” The teams went through various airports to have their cargo flown over, all at the instructions of Aer Lingus, the game’s title sponsor. Florida State packed up a truck recently that left for Orlando, where its dog crates were then put on freight aircraft pallets called” cookie sheets”for worldwide travel and after that flown to Dublin. Georgia Tech had its freight go on an airplane to Chicago, and then on to Dublin.Everything flown over arrived before the teams got in Thursday early morning. Each team sent an advance group early to open cages and begin arranging items for use at the hotel or arena. Devices managers set up their particular locker spaces for Thursday practice. In addition, both groups had hundreds of cases of Powerade and water bottles straight delivered to both

the hotel and stadium.The hotels were chosen for their similarities to typical road hotels. They needed to have large adequate areas available for group meetings, but likewise food that tasted like home. Warwick said grits, for example, were a nonstarter due to the fact that the chefs might not cook them to requirements. Florida State players have an affinity for ranch dressing, A1 steak sauce and Tabasco, items unavailable in Ireland, so those specific condiments were loaded.”The food is the biggest challenge due to the fact that they like what they like and they know what they know,”Warwick stated.”We attempted to keep it as Americanized as possible.”The groups themselves left the United States on Wednesday night, however even their departures looked various. For domestic game travel, both groups go through TSA security screening at their particular arenas before boarding buses and heading to their charter flights.But for a global journey, both groups need to go through the regular security line at their respective airports. It is one thing for Florida State to go through its small local airport in Tallahassee. But simply envision the 289-person Georgia Tech take a trip celebration bring up to Concourse F at Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport in Atlanta and going through security.Aer Lingus, the title sponsor of the game, needed to get unique permission to secure a gate. Thompson said he has actually been guaranteed there will be extra security lanes open up to get Georgia Tech through efficiently. He prepares to use a” pod system “where he separates the players into groups, with one designated the captain and responsible for ensuring everyone has their passports.Players will be reminded frequently about do’s and do n’ts if they are bringing carry-ons, including the size of allowable liquids.”I can’t wait to see when I’m the last person that goes through the TSA line what all was taken throughout that time,”Thompson said.Now image this upon arrival: Players loafing the luggage carousel, waiting on their player equipment bags. Those bags needed to travel with them since both groups practiced all the method approximately their departure day. So the bags get inspected onto the airplane upon airport arrival, for pickup in baggage claim, in addition to their own individual travel luggage. For this journey, Florida State got its players customized roller luggage. Both teams will have a light practice at the stadium after they show up, with the primary goal to get everybody adjusted to the five-hour time modification. Georgia Tech coach Brent Secret, who went to Ireland for a game as a UCF assistant in 2014, said he does not wish to make the journey any larger than it needs to be– drawing from his

previous abroad experience.”We overcoached those kids,”Key stated, describing UCF’s 26-24 loss to Penn State.”We tried to give them an experience. We took them to various places, took them on tours and it was simply excessive stuff when you’re reviewing there to play football game.

Do you know what makes a great experience? Winning.”To that end, Georgia Tech will fly home after the game as it has a tight turnaround to the following week. Because Florida State uses a Monday night, coach Mike Norvell decided to have the team stay on Sunday for some sightseeing before going back to Tallahassee.Though that approach is various, preparing the logistics in the lead-up to the game has actually been identical. The schools have actually remained in constant communication, but there will be stress and anxiety upon arrival, throughout the game and postgame, too. Whatever has to be repacked for travel back home, and at customizeds Saturday night. In both cases– travel to and from– both schools have to rely heavily on individuals they have actually never ever satisfied to finish the job.” Anytime and every time I travel, I fret if my bag is going to get there, so you

certainly fret about that,” Thompson said.”You’re moving nearly 300 individuals at one time. So you just need to make sure it is appropriate and ideal.”