Florida State 39, Virginia Tech 17
Q. Congratulations on the win. Jordan, did you sense you guys would come out the way you did today? I know you wanted to start faster, but that first quarter was pretty incredible.
JORDAN TRAVIS: Yeah, we started really fast today. I think we had one drive in the second half other than -- in the second quarter other than the two-minute drill, so we were efficient with that. I think we were, what was it, three for four, including the two-minute drill?
We came out fast. We just got to stay consistent. I feel like that's our main problem right now, not consistent with everything. Protection, me throwing the ball, receivers running the right route, all little things like that.
The running backs did a great job today, so kudos to them. It's been a tough year for them. They haven't broke out yet like this did today. So proud of Trey, LT, all them, little Rod. Yeah, got to get more consistent.
Q. Late in the game Destyn Hill had a pretty big catch. For him to continue after everything he's been through, stay the course, how big that was for his confidence to get that catch?
JORDAN TRAVIS: Yeah, that was real big. Destyn is a great teammate, great player. He works so hard all the time. Him making a big play like that at a time like that, because we need that had play right there, was a big time play for him, for his confidence.
So happy for him. We are going to keep working. We got to get the ball in his hands more because he's a really talented player when the ball is in his hands, so got to work on that.
Q. Jordan, you talked about wanting to be a little bit more consistent out there and that was a big focus for guys, and you want to play complete game as well. Talk about the first quarter. What kind of position did that put you guys in for opening up to play complete game, and going forward I guess, how good did that first quarter look for accomplishing that?
JORDAN TRAVIS: Yeah, it was almost perfect for us. Obviously couple throws, runs, couple protections we wish we could have back, but we scored all three drives. Just your goal as an offense is to score on every drive you have, and we did that. Put the ball in the end zone.
Yeah, we have to start fast and finish fast. I mean, that's what it comes down to. Today feel like we could have finished better than we did. We can keep talking about it, but we got to start doing it.
Q. Patrick, two parts. First, talk about your play the last couple weeks, taking it to a new level and also defensively starting fast.
PATRICK PAYTON: I feel like my play has been okay. Like getting better every week. That's what my main thing is, just trying to take the parts from the last game that we played and try to better it in this game, and every game after that. Just trying to get better every week really.
Just when it comes to defense, I feel like we had a pretty solid day. Gave up a touchdown, but we had a pretty solid day. I feel like we got to come out and we got to finish faster and better, because we tend to get up on people and kind of take the foot off the gas.
But we have to get better at that.
Q. Jordan, there were two design runs for you I think on the scripted first drive today. Using your legs a bit more than the last two games. Is that something you wanted to be part of the game plan? Or just you got to take what the defense gives you? How does that break down?
JORDAN TRAVIS: Yeah, whatever Coach Norvell calls I run it. No matter what, I trust him. Yeah, there were two good plays. I had an option on both of them, to either pitch the ball or keep the ball. I played man, so I kept the ball.
Yeah, I got to use my legs a little bit more, I know that. Just trying to play that complete game for myself, make the throws, plays with my feet. I feel like I did a better job today with my feet. Just got to be more consistent throwing the ball.
Q. Patrick, Coach Norvell always talks about response. After they returned that kick and it became a game again, obviously the offense scored on the second play and you guys shut them out the rest of the way. Is that the Florida State you guys want to showcase moving forward, like basically finishing off the game like that?
PATRICK PAYTON: Well, we have intent, like we play better when we feel like our back is against the wall or we feel like we have to get a stop or we have to get this. That is what we really have to just eliminate, just going in and just finishing people like full through. Not if we up -- if we up 30 zip or we down by 7, we got to play the same. That's what I feel like we have to improve on.
Q. Jordan, thinking about your ability as a rushing quarterback, which past or present player, whether from FSU or elsewhere, would you say your game most closely resembles, or do you think you're setting a new standard for rushing quarterbacks?
JORDAN TRAVIS: I would say, I mean, Jalen Hurts maybe. I feel like he does a really good job in the system of owning the ball first of all. That's what it comes down to. You have to own the ball as a quarterback. Yeah, uses his feet when he has to and makes throws when he needs to. I would say Jalen Hurts.
Q. For both of you, obviously they scored ten straight points in the first half, got that kickoff return, then Johnny's injury. How much did that Trey Benson 62-yard run pump up the sideline? Davis gave the stat he's the first runner since Dalvin Cook to go for 200 yards at Florida State. What kind of performance does that mean for the team?
JORDAN TRAVIS: I feel like it means a lot. Gives you confidence obviously. When your run game is going like that, I mean, you feel like everything is just rolling; opens up the passing game.
The run game has been slow all year so this is the first game we really broke out like that. Just seeing a smile on Trey's face means a lot to me. Makes me happy, man, because I know how hard he works. No matter what he always has a smile in his face and he is always confident and just works hard.
So happy for him, happy for LT. He had a big run today too. Little Rod got in there and made plays when he had to.
Also starts up front with the offensive line. You can't have a 200-yard rushing game without the boys up front blocking. I'm proud of them, proud of the receivers blocking the perimeter. Special game for Trey.
Q. Patrick, really tough running team. How do you think you guys fared in the rushing aspect of it?
PATRICK PAYTON: I feel like every week, first mindset with every team we play, no matter who we play, is first thing we do is stop the run. Don't let a team come in our house and just run the ball. We try to make a team very one dimensional. Just make them have to pass the ball.
We have some -- we really have the best D-line in the nation. We got a good rotation. I feel like that's just our main goal every time we play. We never let somebody just run the ball on us.
Q. For either one of you, Florida State is 5-0, first time since 2015. I know you all try and live in the moment, one game at a time, but does that mean anything? Been a while since Florida State has had a start like this.
JORDAN TRAVIS: Yeah, when you're winning football games everyone is happy. At the end of the day, our goal is to go 1-0 every week. We take everything day by day. Just win the day. We been doing that as a football team.
Obviously we have so much room for improvement as a football team. Yeah, when you can say you're 5-0 in college football you have to be proud of yourself, pat yourself on the back.
At the end of the day we're not done yet. We come back tomorrow, celebrate tonight, come back tomorrow, we're getting ready to work. We have Syracuse next week, which is a really good team. Have to get better at the end of the day.
They're a really special team. We know who we are as a football team. We just have to play a complete game.
Q. Jordan, the bye week probably couldn't have come at a better time to get some rest. How is the shoulder? Seemed like you were moving pretty well out there with a little bit more confidence. Back to 100% and feel good?
JORDAN TRAVIS: Yeah, I feel amazing. Got hit today and didn't feel too good, but I feel good right now.
FastScripts Transcript by ASAP Sports