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A lifelong Seminole fan from Michigan visits FSU, meets Mike Norvell by chance during tour
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- A lifelong Seminole fan from Michigan visits FSU, meets Mike Norvell by chance during tour
Fate or coincidence?
Bill Clark, a lifelong Florida State fan from Michigan, describes it as being "super lucky."
The fact is, Clark recently had "The Seminole Experience" of a lifetime during a tour when he met FSU football coach Mike Norvell by chance in the Moore Athletic Center.
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The handshake, photograph opportunity and quick conversation happened only after a string of events that included a postponed tour due to stormy weather, an unknown time zone change and bathroom break.
"Honestly, I got super lucky to run into coach (Norvell); we weren't even suppose to go in there at that time," Clark told the Tallahassee Democrat in a telephone interview.
"Coach could not have been nicer or more personable. I was really impressed with his demeanor and energy. Even when we walked out (of athletic center) and the doors shut behind us, I could still hear him in there, hooting and hollering. He's really a high-energy guy.
"I can see why any young man would want to play for him."
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Clark, 45, lives in Jackson, Michigan, located 40 miles west of Ann Arbor and 35 miles south of hometown Lansing.
Yes, Clark is a lifelong fan of the Michigan Wolverines, has attended home games and toured the football stadium. Yet, the service technician for a window company also is a die-hard fan of the Seminoles from afar, thanks to an uncle who has long cheered for FSU, too.
Clark was a teenager when his all-time favored Seminole Charlie Ward led the program to its first national title in 1993.
Lifelong FSU fan Bill Clark of Michigan shakes hands with Seminoles football coach Mike Norvell.
FSU fan Bill Clark always wanted to visit Florida State
Clark's passion for the Seminoles hasn't wavered over the years. And a bucket-list item of his was to visit FSU for the first time.
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That happened last week, when Clark, girlfriend Jaime and her 11-year-old son Logan vacationed in Destin for spring break.
When Clark saw online that FSU, in partnership with REVELxp, offers tours of its athletic facilities, he booked a 90-minute tour at $20 each and connected with assistant general manager Jackson Dietz.
The football gods also were involved.
"So many things had to happen for Bill to meet coach Norvell," Dietz said.
First, Clark's initial tour was postponed two days by stormy weather in the Florida Panhandle.
Then, as Clark, Jaime and Logan made the 160-mile drive from Destin to Tallahassee on I-10 last Thursday, Clark was unaware of the change from Central Standard Time to Eastern Standard Time. He shockingly realized he was going to be an hour late for his tour.
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"I had a panic attack, thinking the trip was ruined," Clark said and laughed.
Clark telephoned Dietz, who adjusted the tour's start time for the trio and tour guide.
The group met at the Bobby Bowden statue in front of the Moore Athletic Center, and made stops at the softball, soccer and baseball facilities and the Sod Cemetery near the football practice fields.
A bathroom break was needed prior to the tour of Doak Campbell Stadium, so the group walked into the Moore Athletic Center. And there stood Norvell, whom Clark assumed was talking to a recruit and his family.
Clark asked his tour guide if he could say hello to Norvell when the coach finished his conversation.
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"He said, 'Go for it,' " Clark said.
"He was great. Not only did I shake his hand, coach asked if I wanted a picture with him as well. I will never forget that day and moment as long as I live."
Neither will Clark's girlfriend, who snapped a few photographs of the two. Be it fate, coincidence or "super lucky," it was a life-changing, random fandom moment for Clark.
Clark's story has connected with fellow FSU fans, too.
His social media post on Noles Only, a public group on Facebook, that featured photographs and explained his meeting with Norvell has received 3,600 'likes' and more than 250 comments.
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"When he saw coach Mike Norvell, I saw a reaction I've never seen out of him. He acted like a kid in a candy store," Jamie said.
"We were both very impressed on how open and personable coach Norvell was. The willingness he had to hold a conversation with a total stranger and to take pictures was truly remarkable. From the moment he shook his hand good bye,
"Bill has been talking about this experience nonstop to everyone."
This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: FSU fan from Michigan meets Mike Norvell on an unlikely tour
