Corey Clark: It shouldn't have ended like this, but what a great career for Jordan Travis

Thank you, Jordan Travis.

I know I’m a media member. And even though I cover Florida State, I’m supposed to remain impartial.

Well, I’m not. Not when it comes to that kid. And not when it comes to what he did for this program.

So, thank you, Jordan Travis.

Saturday night was the end of this part of his journey. It was such an awful ending. A painful, gut-punch of an ending. While Florida State coach Mike Norvell didn’t offer an actual update on his status after Saturday’s game, I think we all understand Travis has taken his last snap for the Florida State Seminoles.

A sad conclusion to a sensational career.

All day, before the game, I had this whole column planned out in my mind. I was going to use this opportunity to compare him to Jameis Winston, who had his jersey retired after the first quarter. And who also was wearing a Jordan Travis jersey all day.

I was going to write how fitting it was that the 2013 national championship team was being honored on the same night this senior class was being honored. Because both meant so much to this program.

I’m not writing that anymore.

Instead, I’m writing about the emotions of Saturday night. How one awful tackle, one horrible replay (you can quit showing it, CW!) and one cart ride to an ambulance completely re-engineered the expectations of this season. While also absolutely hammering home just how important, how beloved Travis is and will forever be in Florida State history.

I’ve been coming to FSU football games since 1984. I’ve never heard the stadium as quiet as it was Saturday when Travis didn’t get up.

I was here for Wide Right I. But even when that field goal missed the mark, there were thousands of Miami fans cheering. So it wasn’t dead quiet.

Saturday night was dead quiet.

It was as if all of the Seminoles’ dreams, hopes and goals for this season were completely broken.

Now, I’m not saying that’s true! You were terrific, Tate. Go get ’em! You can absolutely beat these next two teams. Heck, you’ve already beaten one of them. You can do it again!

But we all know Saturday night’s 58-13 blowout win was not about Rodemaker. Even as well as he played. No, Saturday night was about the quarterback who transferred in from Louisville with little fanfare and left as one who will be remembered forever.

It’s not fair that his career ended like this.

Life isn’t fair. I get it. And there are greater tragedies than an injury. We’ve all lived that. We know real pain. We know real anguish.

But man, this was as bad as I’ve ever felt for a player I’ve covered.

I couldn’t speak when it happened. I was just sitting there, like many of you were I’m sure, grasping for words or clear thoughts that just wouldn’t come.

Even now, as I’m writing this hours after the injury, I’m still having a hard time processing what happened.

“It was emotional,” Norvell said in his postgame press conference. “And it was emotional for everybody.”

Yes, it was.

Jordan Travis had come so far, and we all watched every step of the way. From a third-stringer behind James Blackman and Alex Hornibrook to a Heisman Trophy candidate and the author of a 17-game winning streak.

He heard boos earlier in his career. On Saturday, during the Senior Day pregame festivities, he was given (by far) the loudest ovation of the night.

It was absolutely deserved. And it was supposed to be one of the highlights of his career, of his life really, to be cheered like that. Appreciated like that. By a fan base that owes him so much.

He was crying after he hugged Norvell.

And just a few minutes later, he was on the cart. With both teams enveloping him.

As he rode toward the ambulance, Travis touched his heart and pointed to the crowd. He then wiped away more tears. He was crying again. And I’m sure he wasn’t alone in the building. Because he knew, like we all did, that his college career was over.

I hope he heard the crowd chanting, “Jordan … Travis … Jordan … Travis,” as he was being evaluated by medical personnel and as he was loaded onto the cart. I hope that always rings out in his ears.

I hope he understands what he means to this program. What he has meant to so many people.

There’s a chance Norvell was going to turn this thing around anyway. There’s a chance, at some point, he would have his team ranked in the Top 5 and put together a winning streak like this.

But there is no chance, none, that it would have happened this quickly without Jordan Travis.

Florida State is here, right now, at this moment, with a chance at an undefeated season and a berth in the College Football Playoff because of Jordan Travis.

Now, the chances of winning the national championship likely took a major hit without his services. We all understand that. But this team is here. Now. Because of his leadership, his ability, his toughness, and his complete and total impact on this program.

It’s bittersweet how he got hurt, too, of course.

With his team trailing 13-0 to a below-average FCS team, looking lifeless on both sides of the ball, Travis decided to take matters into his own hands. He pulled the ball on a keeper and raced through the North Alabama defense for a first down. And then he was pulled down. And he stayed down.

And Doak Campbell Stadium, for more than a few minutes, felt like a memorial service.

It wasn’t, of course. Life will go on. Travis is still with us. And he can still go make an NFL roster, and this team can still go win a championship.

But for now, because of how it ended, I wanted to use this column to share my appreciation — I’m sure all of our appreciation — for the career of one of the all-time greats in Florida State history.

It was a pleasure, truly, to watch what he became. And to cover this program with him at the helm.

So, once again, and for one final time, thank you, Jordan Travis.

Contact senior writer Corey Clark at [email protected].

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