There are now 75 days left until Florida State football’s debut in 2018. As part of the offseason, we’re doing a countdown that highlights players, games, and specific moments from FSU football history.
On Tuesday, it was the 1976 season, which was the Bobby Bowden’s first-ever at FSU.
Today, it’s Travis Rudolph and his 75-yard touchdown against Syracuse in 2015 that left the crowd at Doak Campbell Stadium on their feet.
Travis Rudolph had a good-not-great career at FSU, contributing immediately as a freshman in 2014 and maintaining a starting spot until he left for the NFL Draft after the 2016 season.
His time in Tallahassee was always filled with the anticipation that he would become the star No. 1 receiver. While he was the top target in 2015 and 2016, Rudolph never turned in a 1,000-yard season and never became a dominant wideout.
But for at least one game in 2015, he was exactly that.
The Halloween match-up between FSU and Syracuse looked like it would be another close game for the Seminoles. With Dalvin Cook sidelined due to injury, Florida State did not want to get into an offensive shootout. Florida State was also having to play without starting quarterback Everett Golson, who was battling concussion symptoms. So when the Orange went up 7-0 early in the game, some fans began to worry about how FSU would respond.
The momentum completely shifted with around eight minutes to go in the first quarter. On a 1st-and-10 from his own 25, FSU quarterback Sean Maguire dropped back in the pocket and saw Rudolph in the middle of the field. The pass was a bit behind Rudolph, so the sophomore receiver slowed down and high-pointed the ball.
He beat out two defenders and turned to the end zone about 30 yards away. The other defensive backs arrived, but Rudolph used a couple of juke moves to get past them. Finally, he topped it off with a vicious stiff arm at the 10-yard-line before diving in for a touchdown. The 75-yard score had Doak Campbell shaking with noise.
Florida State would go on to win that game 45-21, thanks in large part to Rudolph’s play. He went for 191 receiving yards and three touchdowns. None were more impressive than the first score that totally flipped the game.
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