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Joe Exotic responds to Jordan Travis' Tiger King troll, backs Graham Mertz

IMG_0985by: Griffin McVeigh09/26/23griffin_mcveigh
Jordan-Travis-4-1
Jordan Travis (13) drops back to pass against the Oklahoma Sooners in the first quarter during the 2022 Cheez-It Bowl at Camping World Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-USA TODAY Sports

Jordan Travis has enjoyed facing off against the Tigers this season. Four games into the year, Florida State has wins over LSU and Clemson, propelling the program into the College Football Playoff conversation. Travis is even looking to cash in on the victories via NIL, making up Tiger King shirts per On3’s Pete Nakos.

Well, the Tiger King himself did not enjoy Travis attempting to take the throne. Joe Exotic said if anyone from the state of Florida was going to be dubbed the Tiger King, it would be Florida Gators quarterback Graham Mertz. Travis is a little further down the list for Exotic.

“Hey (Jordan Travis) if I had to pass the Tiger King crown to anyone it would be to (Graham Mertz) of the (Florida Gators)! How can you claim to be king of anything when you’re not even king in your own state? Fk (Florida State Seminoles), Go (Florida Gators),” Exotic said via Twitter. “#tigerking #Gatornation #chompchomp #therealtigerking”

Exotic even found a way to get a Gators’ hat on his head for the picture. Unfortunately, the photo of Mertz was not the most updated, showing the quarterback still in his Wisconsin. Maybe next time, a fresh-looking Mertz can emerge in his new colors.

Graham Mertz, Jordan Travis potentially battling for title of Tiger King

To this point of the season, Mertz has not faced off against any teams with the Tigers nickname. In fact, to this point of his career, Mertz has not faced off against any Tiger team. The Big Ten does not have any members with the name, nor did Wisconsin face one in a bowl game.

Mertz will have an opportunity later in the season to live up to Exotic’s expectations. Florida is set to travel to Baton Rouge on Nov. 11, facing off against the LSU Tigers — a team Travis already has a win over. Get a win and Mertz will move to 1-0 against Tigers.

And then there will be the head-to-head matchup against Travis two weeks later. Florida State will head to Gainesville for what could be an important Sunshine Showdown. Florida could be in a position to play spoiler at the end of the regular season.

Maybe more than just a football game will be on the line. The true Tiger Kind could emerge when the clock strikes zero in the Swamp — if Joe Exotic allows it, of course.