Mike Norvell discusses how team is adapting after Jordan Travis injury
In the wake of Jordan Travis‘ season-ending injury, Florida State is trying to adjust in time to salvage the rest of the season. There’s a whole lot on the line.
The Seminoles currently sit at No. 5 in the College Football Playoff rankings, with a definite shot to get back into the top four spots with a regular-season finale against Florida followed by an ACC Championship Game against Louisville.
But it will take the rest of the team rallying.
“I think they’ve done a great job of just trying to bottle up all of the emotions,” coach Mike Norvell said on ESPN on Tuesday night. “It was a very emotional night. Anytime you lose your leader — just such a great player and person that Jordan is — it has a huge impact on us. Ultimately, our hearts are with him. It was something constantly on our minds throughout the course of the game.
“But I was so proud of our team with how they responded. Kept their composure and were able to finish off that game. Really have come to work Sunday night and today in practice. Give incredible effort, a ton of energy. It’s a big game for us this but we want to make sure we finish for Jordan and all of the work he has put in.”
It’s going to be incredibly difficult to replace Jordan Travis’ production. He was a bona fide Heisman Trophy contender, even if he wasn’t quite a front-runner.
Through 11 games this season Travis had accounted for 2,755 passing yards with 20 touchdowns and two interceptions. He had also run for 176 yards and seven scores.
Replacing him will have to be a team effort, even though Tate Rodemaker is the guy who will step in.
“It’s a charge for our football team,” Norvell said. “Because that’s what we are. Ultimately, we got great players in all three phases and I think we’ve shown that over the course of the season. We’ve got to control the things that we can control. We got to go out, continue to improve, continue to get better.”
Rodemaker isn’t exactly an inexperienced youngster, either. He’s been at Florida State for four years and has watched Jordan Travis closely.
He has thrown for 767 yards with seven touchdowns and five interceptions, though three of those interceptions came during his first playing season.
“We’ve got a lot of confidence in Tate and the job that he’ll do,” Norvell said. “He’s got a great supporting cast around him. But this is a football team. This is a team that has faced adversity all season. Over the course of the year, we’ve had to rise on different occasions.
“All of those things have prepared for this point to go and cap off an undefeated regular season and knowing we have a conference championship game the following week.”