Ryan Silverfield said Monday he knows Memphis football's trip to Florida State on Saturday isn't "Silverfield vs. Norvell," but talked glowingly about his relationship with Mike Norvell ahead of the game.

"I wouldn't be standing here today if it weren't for Mike Norvell," Silverfield said at his Monday press conference. "I do laugh, I was supposed to be on that plane with him to be at his introductory press conference down in Tallahassee. And it's crazy how things work, and how him and I even came into each other's lives."

Norvell, of course, was Memphis' coach until 2019, when he left for Florida State and Silverfield took over as coach of the Tigers. Saturday (11 a.m., ESPN) will be their first chance to coach against each other.

"Him and I probably won't talk this week," Silverfield said. "Maybe we'll send a jab or two via text message."

The two coaches are still close, Silverfield said. Silverfield was the only assistant to stay with Memphis throughout Norvell's tenure, and Norvell promoted him multiple times during that four-year stretch.

Saturday's game has been circled for years on the calendar of every Memphis fan, not only because it represents an opportunity to play a Power Four opponent but because it's a chance to face an old friend in Norvell.

"The basis of our cultures, the basis of a lot of things are very, very similar," Silverfield said. "And I give him a lot of credit for that. I just hope that ours is a little bit stronger come Saturday."

Though Florida State is 0-2 after a disappointing start to the season, Silverfield said he expects the Seminoles to be much-improved after an open week. Florida State entered the season ranked No. 10 and are now unranked. Memphis, meanwhile, cracked the US LBM Coaches Poll at No. 25 and is 2-0 after blowout wins over North Alabama and Troy.

And the mind games have already begun, with Silverfield saying he knows what Norvell will do after his press conference and predicting when Florida State will run a trick play.

"Mike will be on his way to his radio show tonight, and he's going to be listening to this press conference," Silverfield said. "I already know it right now. He'll be sitting in his car, listening to this press conference. I already know the second series of the game, he's going to run a trick play. We know each other like the back of each other's hands."

Reach sports writer Jonah Dylan at jonah.dylan@commercialappeal.com or on X @thejonahdylan.

This article originally appeared on Memphis Commercial Appeal: What Memphis coach Ryan Silverfield said about facing Mike Norvell