Jordan Travis on Florida hiring Jon Sumrall: 'I think it's like a backup plan, sidechick'

Jon Sumrall is not too far from officially joining the Florida Gators. He will play out the season with Tulane, guiding them through the College Football Playoff. Once the Green Wave loses or wins the national championship, Sumrall will make his way to Gainesville. For the most part, everybody is impressed with the hire made by athletic director Scott Stricklin.

Former Florida State quarterback Jordan Travis is not, though. Travis called Sumrall a “backup plan” after Florida lost out in the Lane Kiffin sweepstakes. In his mind, the Gators are hoping Sumrall works out, more than considering him a sure-fire thing.

“I think it’s like a backup plan,” Travis said. “A sidechick you always have around. Just like ‘Ooh, here he is.’ I mean, they wanted Lane Kiffin. They were all-in on Lane Kiffin. I think me and you both thought Lane Kiffin was going to UF. I think it’s just kind of a backup plan, hope it works, and, once again, we’re throwing stuff at a wall, hoping it’s working. That’s kind of the world of college football right now.”

Seeing a Florida State guy not too impressed with a hire made by Florida is not all too surprising. Travis only got two starts in the rivalry during his long career, splitting those results right down the middle.

More on Lane Kiffin sweepstakes after Florida misses out

Of course, Florida was not the only school going after Kiffin. LSU was his ultimate destination, getting set to watch his former team play Sumrall. Ole Miss hosts Tulane on Saturday, Dec. 20, with a spot in the Sugar Bowl against Georgia on the line.

According to a report, Florida State was attempting to make a move on Kiffin as well. Travis might have seen his own program go through a coaching change, welcoming in Kiffin after presumably firing Mike Norvell. Nothing came to fruition there, as the Kiffin era begins in Baton Rouge.

Kiffin will wind up seeing two of these schools on a semi-regular basis. LSU heads to Oxford next season, potentially providing an environment unlike anything we have seen in college football. You know Ole Miss fans will be ready to go.

Florida is not going to back down from Kiffin when LSU comes into town either. There is already a mini-rivalry going on between the two, being SEC crossover opponents for years when divisions were still a thing.