As he entered the lunch room, he noticed student Bo Paske sitting by himself at a table, so he chose to sit down across from him so he wouldn’t be alone, ESPN reported.
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Rudolph said he and Bo had a great conversation, and called him a “great kid overall”. The boy’s name is Bo Paske.
On Tuesday, a number of Seminoles players were visiting Montford Middle School in Tallahassee when wide receiver, Travis Rudolph, spotted the boy by himself and asked if he could sit with him, according to the Orlando Sentinel. Rudolph told reporters he would have no problem scarfing down some carbs with Bo Paske in the future. “Just a really warm person”.
Leah Paske, Bo’s mother, posted a picture on Facebook of the two having lunch that took the social media world by storm. She described her thoughts about the encounter in a moving Facebook post.
“I do remember middle school being scary, and hard.” she wrote. “He doesn’t seem to notice that he doesn’t get invited to birthday parties anymore”, Ms Paske wrote.
“I’m not sure what exactly made this incredibly kind man share a lunch table with my son, but I’m happy to say that it will not soon be forgotten”, Paske added.
For a mother who often worries about her son eating lunch by himself at school, Rudolph saved the day and made Bo one of the more popular kids.
‘Travis Rudolph thank you so much, you made this momma exceedingly happy, and have made us fans for life!’
FSU coach Jimbo Fisher told of his pride in his player.
Bo was diagnosed with autism when he was 3-years-old.
Football player eats lunch with autistic student. “He was super psyched and said it was awesome”, she said. However, when Randolph saw Paske he decided to make a new friend. I had got some pizza.
The child said, “Sure, why not”, Rudolph recalled after practice that day. I don’t know anything about him as a player but as a man he seems to have a lot more going for him than just athletic talent. Bo is a great kid said Rudolph, and he would love to hang out with him anytime.
Paske posted her story on Tuesday 30 August 2016 and within two days it had been shared almost 13,000 times.
Now Ms Paske and Bo have been invited to dinner with the team and possibly a game, and Florida State American football spokesman Zach Stipe said the details are being worked out for the arrangement.
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She also explained that she had anxious feelings about her son starting middle school.
