Florida State receiver gives jersey to autistic friend

Author: Associated Press
Published:
Courtesy of Florida State University football

ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) – Florida State wide receiver Travis Rudolph reunited with Bo Paske on Monday before the fourth-ranked Seminoles face No. 11 Mississippi.

Rudolph surprised Paske and his mother, Leah, by giving Bo a personalized Florida State jersey during an interview on ESPN at the team’s hotel.

Rudolph befriended Paske, a sixth-grader with autism, during a visit last Tuesday to Tallahassee’s Montford Middle School when he ate lunch with Paske, who was sitting alone. A photo was taken by a school resource officer and was widely circulated on social media as was Leah Paske’s Facebook post thanking Rudolph.

The Paske’s are attending the game after receiving tickets from Florida State. They will have dinner with the team this week but FSU football spokesman Zach Stipe said the logistics are still being worked out.

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