Jordan Travis explains how preseason camp at UNF prepares FSU for the season: 'It's like an away game'

The Florida State football team traveled to the northeast corner of the state to hold a couple of practices on North Florida’s campus in Jacksonville. The days were long, the weather’s hot, and the work was hard for FSU players during their stint at UNF. But star quarterback Jordan Travis says times like these are what build character for the team.

“Yeah, just Jacksonville. I feel like Jacksonville just tells you how your season’s gonna go every single year,” Travis shared following the Seminoles final practice there.

FSU fans ought to be excited with how this year’s trip to J-Ville went because the starting QB reports back that he and the team had a great attitude at practice despite some challenging conditions.

“You can come here and have a bad mindset and come out here in this heat and have your head down and complain,” said Travis. But that’s not how it went this year.

“I feel like this football team did an amazing job this year just coming to work every single day with a smile on our face. I mean, sleeping in those dorms are not fun, I tell you that. This heat is not fun either, but these guys have a positive mindset and we worked our tails off every single day. It started with yesterday. I mean, just the energy everyone brings.”

It also helps that the team is very connected, per Travis.

“And obviously, just that brotherhood and the bonding you can do in a place like this. We’re all in the same apartment building, we’re with each other all day, it’s really big and I feel like we’re growing as a football team and growing as people every single day.”

He was then asked if he thinks the coaching staff chooses to make this trip because of the bond it can build and the adversity it presents. Travis’ answer:

“That’s the point. There’s probably a lot of points closer to the valley. But I mean, I feel like it’s obviously for the staff. I mean, we gotta move equipment. It’s like an away game. We got to prepare that way.”

Travis continued, explaining why the challenges of being on the road for practice are similar to when they’re on the road for a real game.

“Obviously adversity, not being comfortable, because you’re not going to be comfortable in life. You got to be comfortable being uncomfortable, so that’s what we’re focused on. And keeping a positive attitude, keeping our head held high, smile on our face no matter where we’re at. We’re at Florida State University and every opportunity to come out on the football field and play for the Seminoles is a blessing from the man upstairs.”

Travis seems to be in a great frame of mind as the Seminole practices grow more intense.