Jordan Travis thanks Ali Gaye for apology after targeting incident

LSU and Florida State played one of the best games of Week 1, with the Seminoles squeezing out a last-second victory in New Orleans. One of the more crucial parts of the game is when Ali Gaye was ejected after being called for targeting on FSU quarterback Jordan Travis.

On Tuesday, Travis revealed there is no bad blood between the two. In fact, Gaye reached out to Travis after the game to apologize for the hit. Florida State’s signal caller said the gesture “shows that type of person” Gayle is.

“Respect to Ali Gaye for reaching out to me,” Travis said. “I really appreciate that, and it shows what type of person he is. It’s a part of football, and I wish nothing but the best for him.”

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Even with how down the wire and emotional Sunday’s game was for both teams, there is still a respect between Gaye and Travis. Targeting can be such a costly penalty for both players involved — with health and safety coming into effect as well as en ejection.

Both Gaye and Travis are fine after the incident and decided to make the apology public. A couple of classy moments from the LSU and Florida state players after a heated college football contest.

Brian Kelly discusses Ali Gaye after targeting penalty

When LSU takes the field in Week 2, it will be without Gaye to start. He was ejected for targeting in the second half against Florida State and, therefore, will miss the first half of the matchup against Southern on Saturday.

That’s just one ramification of the ejection, though. Brian Kelly said he’s not letting Gaye off easy for the lapse in judgment.

“I’m not giving Ali Gaye a pass on that targeting,” Kelly said. “If you look that up in the dictionary, that’s what targeting is. That was a young man who’s regretful of the decision and how that went about. He’ll sit the first half. He’s got to be better. He knows that.”

Kelly’s answer was in response to a question about whether or not NCAA rules contributed to the targeting call. The NCAA has cut down the amount of contact practices with pads over the last few years, and Kelly was asked that’s a factor in some of the tackling issues. He made it clear tackling is essential and the Tigers work on it on a daily basis.