Mike Norvell explains the evolution of his relationship, comfort level with Jordan Travis

Florida State is 2-0 and coming off the heels of a wild upset victory over LSU last weekend, Seminoles head coach Mike Norvell and quarterback Jordan Travis are clicking on all levels during the early portion of the season.

“Well, one of the things I always like to ask quarterbacks, ‘what do you see?’ Because they’ll give me perspective,” Norvell said. “Are his eyes going the same as where my eyes are going? You just see his growth and understanding. I mean, that doesn’t mean he’s make every right decision, but it’s still a way for us to be able to better communicate and efficiently communicate throughout the course of games.

“And that’s where you’re always talking about – yes, [Travis and I are] able to speak the same language. And so when I hear what he saw and he gives me a better understanding, sometimes that’s right, sometimes it’s wrong, but it helps us work through and I just love the mindset of what he’s bringing to to each practice.”

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Travis went 20-of-32 for 260 yards and two touchdowns while taking two sacks in the 24-23 win over LSU this past weekend, on top of his 207-yard performance in Week 0’s 47-7 routing of Duquesne. He’s also been the ignition behind some highlight reel plays through the Seminoles’ first two games.

Early in the second quarter against the Tigers, down 3-0, the Seminoles dialed up a reverse flea flicker, and, in one of the best plays of the game, Travis took the snap in the shotgun and handed the ball off to ‘Noles running back Treshaun Ward. Ward then handed the ball off to receiver Mycah Pittman, who came back into the FSU backfield on a reverse. Pittman then pitched the ball back to Travis, who pulled up at the 48-yard line and threw a deep strike to Ontaria Wilson in the end zone.

“It’s something that as a play caller, I think it’s pretty cool that you know what your guys see,” Norvell said. “Some things they see well, some things maybe they don’t … sometimes there are some great plays schematically that might be just wonderful, but if the guy playing quarterback, or the offense in general doesn’t see the same, sometimes it’s just best not to run it.

“All of those things work through relationships, and I always tell people, if there’s something you don’t like, you have to be able to speak up to that, because, ultimately, I’m going to have his back in what he does, but they’re also going to have mine.”