No Renegade, no Ramblin’ Wreck, lots of ranch dressing: How FSU and Georgia Tech packed for Ireland
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Andrea Adelson, ESPN Senior Writer
In the lead-up to Saturday’s kickoff between Florida State and Georgia Tech, both schools spent 17 months making spreadsheets, filling out documents and triple-checking customs regulations to make sure they packed all the essentials for their transatlantic trip.
Uniforms? Check.
Cleats? Check.
Ranch dressing? Umm, check?
The Ramblin’ Wreck? Sadly, back in Atlanta.
Renegade, Osceola and their flaming spear? If only that pesky quarantine issue had been solved.
Even without their most iconic pregame traditions traveling with them to Dublin, Florida State and Georgia Tech will headline Week 0 with everything they need to play football thanks to an exhaustive behind-the-scenes effort that Georgia Tech director of football operations Josh Thompson describes as “not for the faint of heart.”
In all, the schools combined to bring 238 crates weighing more than 40,000 pounds — packed and shipped on cargo planes last week — filled with everything from game day equipment to sport medicine essentials, protein powder, snacks such as Goldfish and yes, condiments that are not available in Dublin.
“There is no room for error here,” said Jason Baisden, Florida State assistant athletic director for equipment operations. “Once we’re there, we’re there. We can’t come back or can’t call and say, ‘Hey, bring this with you.'”
Both schools started to get ready for this game in March 2023, shortly after it was announced. Florida State director of football operations Bruce Warwick had been part of several overseas games in his previous stops in the NFL, so he already had a good idea about what moving an entire team more than 4,000 miles away would entail.
Beyond packing up all the necessary equipment, passports would have to be secured, multiple in-person site visits to the team hotel would need to be made (including food tastings) and communication with officials in Ireland would have to be precise. Nothing — like assuming that an American biscuit and an Irish biscuit were the same — could be left to chance.
“I had to learn to speak their language,” Baisden said. “Like, it’s not a uniform to them, it’s a kit. It is the English language, but we had to make sure 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, two schools that had previously played in Ireland. Baisden asked for their carnet, a document that facilitates temporary international imports and exports. Essentially, the carnet lists every item that is brought into a foreign country line by line, with exact numbers.
Want to bring snacks for the team? No problem. But every snack, from applesauce to crackers, must be listed. The same goes for rolls of tape, gloves, protein powders. You want to bring it? You have to list it.
At Florida State, Baisden became the point person between departments. In January, he asked the sport nutrition, sport medicine, creative video, weight training, radio broadcast and sports information teams to start identifying what they absolutely had to bring with them.
He described the process as preparing for “an overseas bowl trip.” But the detail with which everything had to be itemized goes far beyond any bowl trip preparation, where schools can just load up their equipment trucks and be on their way. For this trip, Baisden labeled every crate with what it was for — hotel, practice, game.
International travel is why the Ramblin’ Wreck and Renegade and Osceola were left at home. Irish officials had inquired about their availability, and both schools had serious discussions about finding a way to do it.
Renegade, the legendary horse ridden by Osceola before every Florida State home game to plant a flaming spear at midfield, would have had to quarantine on the way back to Tallahassee as required by international regulations. As a result, the horse would have been unavailable for the home opener against 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 led the Yellow Jackets onto the field for every home game since 1961. The Wreck would have to travel on a ship to get to Ireland. The travel time home would have meant 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, but the idea was nixed.
There was plenty more that had to be discussed to get to the finish line. Florida State ended up having to get 85 passports for its players; Georgia Tech had to get 70 in total between players and staff. Perhaps the most unexpected challenge the teams faced was making sure they would be able to use the new technology allowed starting this season — coach-to-helmet communication and iPads on the sideline.
The headset systems coaches use on the sideline in the United States do not work overseas because they use different radio frequencies. Both schools had to rent new systems, and that means a different belt pack for coaches to get used to. Florida State practiced with them during scrimmages so the coaches could start to get a feel for them.
Thompson said the schools had to secure multiple lines of frequency for the communication headsets to work. The iPads required coordination with Aviva Stadium and local vendors for specific fiber lines used to update video in real time. The schools have had weekly calls with the ACC and different vendors to make sure everything is ready to go. Everything will be tested Friday.
“The coaches don’t like change. I don’t like change,” Thompson said. “Everybody is a creature of of habit. I want to walk into the stadium when the team walks in and make sure everything is done. I don’t want to have to be running around panicking, ‘All right, how are we going to handle this?'”
The teams went through different airports to have their cargo flown over, all at the direction of Aer Lingus, the game’s title sponsor. Florida State packed up a truck last week that left for Orlando, where its crates were then placed on cargo aircraft pallets called “cookie sheets” for international travel and then flown to Dublin. Georgia Tech had its cargo go on a plane to Chicago, and then on to Dublin.
Everything flown over arrived before the teams got in Thursday morning. Each team sent an advance group early to open crates and begin sorting items for use at the hotel or stadium. Equipment managers set up their respective locker rooms for Thursday practice. In addition, both teams had hundreds of cases of Powerade and water bottles directly shipped to both the hotel and stadium.
The hotels were chosen for their similarities to normal road hotels. They had to have large enough spaces available for team meetings, but also food that tasted like home. Warwick said grits, for example, were a nonstarter because the chefs could not cook them to specification. Florida State players have an affinity for ranch dressing, A1 steak sauce and Tabasco, items unavailable in Ireland, so those specific condiments were packed.
“The food is the biggest challenge because they like what they like and they know what they know,” Warwick said. “We tried to keep it as Americanized as possible.”
The teams themselves left the United States on Wednesday evening, but even their departures looked different. For domestic game travel, both teams go through TSA security screening at their respective stadiums before boarding buses and heading to their charter flights.
But for an international trip, both teams must go through the regular security line at their respective airports. It is one thing for Florida State to go through its small regional airport in Tallahassee. But just imagine the 289-person Georgia Tech travel party pulling up to Concourse F at Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport in Atlanta and going through security.
Aer Lingus, the title sponsor of the game, had to get special permission to secure a gate. Thompson said he has been assured there will be extra security lanes open to get Georgia Tech through efficiently. He plans to use a “pod system” where he separates the players into groups, with one designated the captain and responsible for making sure everyone has their passports.
Players will be reminded frequently about do’s and don’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 during that time,” Thompson said.
Now picture this upon arrival: Players standing around the baggage carousel, waiting for their player equipment bags. Those bags had to travel with them because both teams practiced all the way up to their departure day. So the bags get checked onto the plane upon airport arrival, for pickup in baggage claim, in addition to their own personal luggage. For this trip, Florida State got its players customized roller suitcases. Both teams will have a light practice at the stadium after they arrive, with the main goal to get everyone acclimated to the five-hour time change. Georgia Tech coach Brent Key, who went to Ireland for a game as a UCF assistant in 2014, said he does not want to make the trip any bigger than it has to be — drawing from his previous overseas experience.
“We overcoached those kids,” Key said, referring to UCF’s 26-24 loss to Penn State. “We tried to give them an experience. We took them to different places, took them on tours and it was just too much stuff when you’re going over 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 plays on a Monday night, coach Mike Norvell decided to have the team stay on Sunday for some sightseeing before returning to Tallahassee.
Though that approach is different, planning the logistics in the lead-up to the game has been identical. The schools have been in constant communication, but there will be anxiety upon arrival, during the game and postgame, too. Everything has to be repacked for travel back home, and at customs Saturday night. In both cases — travel to and from — both schools have to rely heavily on people they have never met to get the job done.
“Anytime and every time I travel, I worry if my bag is going to get there, so you definitely worry about that,” Thompson said. “You’re moving almost 300 people at one time. So you just have to make sure it is correct and right.”
Sports
Stanley Cup conference finals preview: Goalie confidence ratings, X factors for NHL’s final four
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Ryan S. Clark
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Kristen Shilton
The 2025 Stanley Cup playoffs field is down to the final four. The Carolina Hurricanes and Florida Panthers face off in a rematch of the 2023 Eastern Conference finals, while the Western Conference finals are a return bout from 2024 between the Dallas Stars and Edmonton Oilers.
Which two teams will make it to the Stanley Cup Final? Ryan S. Clark and Kristen Shilton are here with intel on all four teams, including goaltender confidence ratings, what we’ve learned so far about each team, X factors and more.
How they got here: Defeated Avalanche 4-3, defeated Jets 4-2
Goalie confidence rating: 9/10
Think about the number of teams that have had to shuffle through goaltenders this postseason — whether because of injuries or inconsistencies. It’s part of what makes Jake Oettinger so vital for the Stars.
No goalie has faced more shots, made more saves and logged more minutes than Oettinger during the 2025 playoffs. Oettinger has provided the Stars with a level of stability that has played a major role in why they’ve advanced to a third straight conference final. He has had several moments this postseason in which his value has been amplified. Maybe the strongest example of that would be the fact that the Stars are 3-0 in overtime, with two of those wins coming in series-clinching games.
What we’ve learned about the Stars so far
Other than that it was worth mortgaging the future to trade for and sign Mikko Rantanen, one of the best wingers in the game, to a long-term contract — and then watch him become the front-runner to win the Conn Smythe?
It’s the fact that the Stars have shown they are adaptable. They opened the first round with questions about getting past the Avalanche given that two of their best players, Miro Heiskanen and Jason Robertson, were out injured. Even now as they’re in the conference finals, the Stars have yet to receive consistent offensive contributions from certain players (see below), and their depth could be greatly tested against what might be the deepest team in the playoffs.
1:07
Thomas Harley sends Stars to West finals with OT winner
The Dallas Stars crowd goes wild as Thomas Harley’s goal seals a 2-1 overtime win to clinch the series over the Winnipeg Jets.
X factor for the conference finals
Will it be the 81% — or will the 19% make its mark? There’s a reason for such a cryptic question, and it comes back to how scoring has worked for the Stars this postseason.
Five players have scored 26 of Dallas’ 32 goals (i.e. 81% of them) entering the Western Conference finals: Rantanen, Roope Hintz, Thomas Harley, Wyatt Johnston and Mikael Granlund.
The remaining 19% have come from key players such as Jamie Benn, Evgenii Dadonov, Mason Marchment and Tyler Seguin. Those four have combined to score five goals this postseason, while Matt Duchene hasn’t scored at all.
Keep in mind they are heading into a series against a defensive structure that shut out the Vegas Golden Knights for two straight games. Again, depth will matter.
Has the experience of the past two years prepared the Stars to take the next step?
A third straight conference finals appearance reaffirms that the Stars are in a championship window. But is this the year in which the Stars reach the Stanley Cup Final and possibly win it all?
The first of their three trips, in 2023, let them learn what it meant to win in overtime given they lost two games to the Golden Knights in the extra frame. Their second trip — last season against the Oilers — saw them struggle to find consistency against a team that could use the whole of its parts after falling into a 2-1 series hole.
This postseason has included winning multiple overtime games, finally winning the first game of a series, fending off an opponent trying to force a Game 7, managing without two of their best players and extending Peter DeBoer’s Game 7 streak to 9-0. But will all of that be enough? — Clark
How they got here: Defeated Kings 4-2, defeated Golden Knights 4-1
Goalie confidence rating: 8/10
Everything the Oilers’ defensive structure accomplished in the regular season was met with the disconnect of inconsistent goaltending. It appeared to be an issue through the first two games of the playoffs, which is why Kris Knoblauch had Calvin Pickard replace Stuart Skinner en route to beating the Kings in the opening round.
But when Pickard sustained an injury, Skinner returned … and shut out the Golden Knights for the final two games of the second round. For all of the criticism Skinner has faced — and continues to face — he has the Oilers four wins away from a second consecutive Stanley Cup Final appearance. But above all, whether it be Pickard or Skinner, the Oilers now have the defensive cohesion that has eluded them at times, which is helpful to any netminder.
What we’ve learned about the Oilers so far
That they might be the best and deepest team in the playoffs. There’s no denying the advantage they have with Leon Draisaitl and Connor McDavid, who are first and second on the team in points this postseason. But this current iteration of the Oilers continues to prove how they are more than just their generational superstars.
Waiver pickup Kasperi Kapanen went from being a healthy scratch at the outset of the postseason to scoring a second-round series-clinching goal. Corey Perry has had one of the strongest playoffs by a player in their age-39 season. More than a dozen forwards have scored at least one goal.
The Oilers once again went through goalie issues, and found solutions on multiple occasions. In total, they have nine players who have scored more than three goals, all while finding defensive cohesion at a time when Mattias Ekholm has been out of the lineup.
0:53
Oilers call series after Kasperi Kapanen scores OT winner
Kasperi Kapanen somehow gets his stick on the puck last on a scramble in overtime as the Oilers clinch the series vs. the Golden Knights.
X factor for the conference finals
Special teams. The Oilers had the best penalty kill in the 2024 playoffs, at 94%, which is one of the best rates in Stanley Cup playoff history. Couple that with what was the second-best power play, and it’s what made the Oilers a threat in every situation last spring.
This postseason, however, has been different. On the whole, their power play is still succeeding at a rate of 25%, which is good enough for sixth among all 16 playoff teams. Their penalty kill is 14th, at 66.7% — by far the worst of the remaining four teams.
Can they make the necessary adjustments? They had the worst power play of any team in the second round, with a 9.1% success rate on the extra-skater advantage, while their PK was tied for the second-lowest mark of the eight teams, at 76.9%.
Is the series win over the Golden Knights a sign of things to come?
The Oilers earned a return to the conference finals by tapping into every part of their roster. But one of the byproducts of using everyone is how they’ve reduced opponents into facing a depth crisis of their own.
The Golden Knights had 11 players finish with more than 10 goals in the regular season, while 11 players had more than 30 points. Against the Oilers, however, star center Jack Eichel was held without a goal, while the trio of Ivan Barbashev, Tomas Hertl and Brett Howden went from scoring a combined 78 goals in the regular season to scoring zero against Edmonton. Even the Golden Knights’ defensemen went from having 35 goals in the regular season to just one goal in the playoffs.
Knowing they have a more than capable blueprint, how will the Oilers use what they did in the second round against what has been a top-heavy Stars team to this point? — Clark
How they got here: Defeated Devils 4-1, defeated Capitals 4-1
Goalie confidence rating: 9.5/10
Frederik Andersen is having an eye-popping playoff run. His absurd numbers — a .937 save percentage and 1.36 goals-against average — lead the entire postseason field of goaltenders, as he has allowed just 12 goals over nine games. And it’s not like Andersen hasn’t been challenged. He turned aside 30 of 31 high-danger chances from Washington in Carolina’s second-round series, and gave up just four even-strength goals in five games.
Andersen also paces all playoff goalies in high-danger saves, while boasting the best goal differential (+15) as well. Basically, if there’s a category to measure goaltending greatness, Andersen is head of the class.
Carolina’s only real concern when it comes to Andersen is availability — he did miss time in the first round against New Jersey with an injury. Andersen’s lengthy injury history has to be in the back of the Hurricanes’ minds, but when Andersen is good to go, there’s not a goaltender playing better than he is right now.
What we’ve learned about the Hurricanes so far
The Hurricanes are like midsummer humidity — absolutely smothering. Carolina’s pressure is a full-team effort, leaving little open ice for any opponent to operate. The Canes have allowed the second-fewest shots on net this postseason (just 24 per game) thanks in large part to the way they have controlled play in the offensive zone and generated an excellent cycle game that has worn down the competition.
The Hurricanes are so good using their sticks to break up plays and rush opportunities, making it hard to even gain their zone. And a stout defense — led by Jaccob Slavin and Brent Burns — doesn’t let anyone linger for long in Carolina’s end.
Add to that an offensive attack led by Andrei Svechnikov‘s eight goals in 10 games — not to mention Andersen’s outstanding performance so far — and it’s no wonder the Hurricanes were first to punch their ticket back to the Eastern Conference finals.
0:56
Andrei Svechnikov puts Canes on the brink with late goal
Andrei Svechnikov lights the lamp to give the Hurricanes a lead late in the third period.
X factor for the conference finals
Rod Brind’Amour. Carolina’s longtime coach brought his team to this precipice just two years ago — and they were swept away in four games. Now he’s facing the challenge of matching wits with another Stanley Cup-winning bench boss, Florida’s Paul Maurice, and it’s critical that Brind’Amour bring his A game.
The Hurricanes have stuck with him for a reason, and Brind’Amour has guided Carolina through a sensational 10 games to date this postseason. This is when the real work starts, though. Whether it’s deploying the right matchups, making adjustments on the fly or simply keeping the pulse of his team in check, Brind’Amour has to make this round his best coaching job yet. And the experience he has with this group in particular is critical.
The Hurricanes have grown since that last conference finals loss. Given this second opportunity in three years to potentially push through to a Stanley Cup Final, Brind’Amour’s leadership is more valuable than ever in ensuring the Hurricanes stick to their game to finally break through.
Does it matter that Carolina hasn’t exactly faced adversity yet in the postseason?
The Hurricanes were dominant in both series to date. Neither of their losses were particularly egregious. Now they’re up against an opponent that has had to claw its way back into the fight a time or two.
Florida has needed to cultivate some desperation in a way Carolina hasn’t, and that can be an asset as the stakes climb higher. How will the Hurricanes respond if things don’t immediately go their way?
We’ve seen it before, where teams cruise through a round (or two) and then crumble against a more urgent opponent that has gained confidence through resiliency. If the Hurricanes wind up in their own heads, that could spell trouble for a team that has made quick work of its playoff assignments to this point. — Shilton
How they got here: Defeated Lightning 4-1, defeated Maple Leafs 4-3
Goalie confidence rating: 8.5/10
Sergei Bobrovsky hasn’t had a flawless postseason — but he does come through in the clutch. That’s what Florida needed most from its No. 1 netminder to reach a third straight Eastern Conference finals.
Bobrovsky especially delivered in the Panthers’ second-round series against Toronto. He recovered from a mediocre start through the first three games — allowing 13 total goals — to give up just four goals in Games 4-7 for a .957% SV% and 1.01 GAA.
That’s the momentum Bobrovsky is taking into this latest clash with Carolina, where he’ll be going toe-to-toe with perhaps this postseason’s best goaltender in Frederik Andersen. Bobrovsky shouldn’t be intimidated by the matchup, though. He has something Andersen doesn’t: Cup-winning experience. Bobrovsky has carried his club through to consecutive Cup Finals and knows how to weather the highs and lows of a long run like this. There’s nothing the Hurricanes can throw at Bobrovsky that should rattle him.
What we’ve learned about the Panthers so far
The Panthers are the definition of killer instinct. It’s ingrained in their game. Their ability to make adjustments that expose an opponent’s weakness without sacrificing their own strengths is impressive.
So is Florida’s depth. The Panthers have had 17 goal scorers in the postseason, including seven defensemen who have combined for 11 tallies. Florida is fourth overall in the postseason field offensively (averaging 3.75 goals per game) but its defensive effort and penalty kill have perhaps outshined the work upfront.
The Panthers have been the second-stingiest team in the playoffs (after, naturally, their next foe in Carolina) with just 2.42 goals against per game, they’ve given up the second-fewest shots (23.8 per game) and they have the second-best penalty kill (89.5%).
Florida has a resilience built from its success over the past two seasons that comes through in the team’s confidence. Regardless of the situation — leading, tied or trailing — the Panthers are calm and collected. The balance they’ve created at both ends of the ice makes Florida tough to crack, and the Panthers don’t offer up opportunities freely. It’s a battle-tested group that knows when and how to strike.
2:09
Panthers throttle Maple Leafs in Game 7 to advance to ECF
The Panthers dash the Maple Leafs’ hopes in Game 7, scoring six goals in two periods to advance to play the Hurricanes.
X factor for the conference finals
The Panthers have benefitted from that aforementioned depth to get this far — but Florida’s stars were eerily quiet in the second round. That needs to change against Carolina.
Matthew Tkachuk had zero goals and four assists against the Leafs, Aleksander Barkov nabbed two goals and five points, while Sam Reinhart has 41 shots in the postseason but just four goals through 12 games. It feels like there could be a breakout performance coming from somewhere.
The Panthers will have to work for every inch of open ice when the Hurricanes deploy their suffocating defense, but the Panthers do have an edge over the competition in terms of elite, top-end scoring talent. But it’s those exact skaters who have to show up for Florida now, in order to throw an elite goaltender like Andersen off his game.
The Panthers do an excellent job getting bodies in front of the net and creating shooting lanes. This is the series where they’ll most need to take advantage of those windows — and see certain skaters put their mark on this postseason push with some key contributions to the scoresheet.
Will Florida have to beat Carolina at its own game?
The Hurricanes and Panthers are essentially 1-2 in every defensive category this postseason, and their special teams are on par. Florida has the edge offensively, but Carolina has enjoyed timely scoring in a big way — think Andrei Svechnikov‘s game-winning goal in the final two minutes of regulation to send Washington packing in the second round — and that can be a weapon too.
The Panthers have an innate ability to adapt when the circumstances dictate it. That’s going to be imperative here. The Panthers pounded Carolina in a four-game sweep during their meeting in the conference finals two years ago. That’s not something the Hurricanes can easily forget, and Florida can lean on that too in figuring out how to dismantle a Carolina team that has made quick work of its first two challengers in these playoffs.
It’s on Florida to crack the code against a team that does many of the same things the Panthers do really, really well. — Shilton
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Kristen Shilton
NHL referee Chris Rooney is hoping to resume duties during the Stanley Cup playoffs after taking a high stick to the eye in Game 7 of the second-round Eastern Conference playoff series between the Toronto Maple Leafs and Florida Panthers on Sunday night.
Rooney was left with a black eye but no lasting damage, sources confirmed to ESPN on Monday. TSN was first to report news on Rooney’s status a day after the game.
The veteran official was injured 13 seconds into the second period of Sunday’s game when Panthers’ defenseman Niko Mikkola caught him with the end of his stick while battling for a puck. Rooney was down on the ice before being tended to by trainers from both teams.
A stretcher was brought out, but the bloodied official was able to leave the ice under his own power. Rooney received stitches for his injury and was ruled out for the rest of the game. He was replaced by Garrett Rank, who was on standby in case a situation like Rooney’s happened.
The East finals begin Tuesday when the Carolina Hurricanes host the Panthers.
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