Sun Sentinel Palm Beach Edition
FSU’s Cook feels he’s on home field
Running back calls Hard Rock ‘Doak South’
FORT LAUDERDALE — Travis Rudolph will never forget one of his first full conversations with his now close friend Dalvin Cook.
Before Rudolph, Florida State’s leading receiver, even announced which of three colleges he planned to attend, Cook had a hunch.
“He told me, ‘I’m going to the school that you’re going to, and I’m going to be the best running back there,’ ” Rudolph recalled. “And he owned up to it.” Cook, a junior who could be selected in the first round of the upcoming NFL draft, will lead No. 11 FSU (9-3) against No. 6 Michigan (10-2) in the Orange Bowl game Friday night.
Cook has yet to formally announce whether he will stay in school or jump to the NFL. He also isn’t taking the time, at least publicly, to reminisce much about his accomplishments at Florida State.
“There’s still work to be done,” Cook said when asked about his college career, during which he has become FSU’s career leader in rushing yards and rushing touchdowns.
“I don’t want to say everything. There are still things I can still put my hands on, and still
put a print on, and put my stamp on, saying, ‘Dalvin Cook did this.’ It’s a lot of stuff that can be done.”
A win over Michigan would be Florida State’s first bowl victory since winning the 2013 national championship game over Auburn. It would also be Cook’s first bowl victory at the school after FSU fell to Oregon in the 2014 Rose Bowl and to Houston in the 2015 Peach Bowl.
Cook, who topped Warrick Dunn’s school rushing record and Greg Allen’s rushing touchdowns record, also has a chance to own the Atlantic Coast Conference rushing record. He is sitting 284 yards shy of breaking Ted Brown’s mark of 4,602 career yards (1975-78).
“Being at this big-time university, it’s always a blessed feeling to be on top of the record books and on top of the guys that played before me,” Cook said. “The tradition around here at Florida State is a unique thing. I take pride at being at the top of the list.
“If there are more records to be broken, I’m going to try and do them this game.”
Cook has the opportunity to finish his college career in a New Year’s Six bowl game and in a stadium just minutes away from where he grew up in Miami Gardens.
“We call it Doak South,” Cook said, comparing Hard Rock Stadium to FSU’s Doak Campbell Stadium.
“That’s Doak South. Being in that stadium in front of my family, I always get that extra boost to go play. Being in front of my family, in front of my friends and being in my hometown. There’s no better feeling than that.”
Michigan’s second-ranked defense will also be ready for the challenge of upstaging Cook and the Seminoles.
Whether it’s his last game for the Florida State Seminoles or not, Cook says he is trying to soak in the Orange Bowl experience while it lasts.
“I still haven’t made my decision yet,” Cook said in a steadfast manner. “We’re just enjoying our time and enjoying each other.”
Those closest to him are savoring the moments a little more.
“I’m just very proud of Dalvin for everything he accomplished at Florida State, and hats off to him for being the best running back at Florida State,” Rudolph said. “We’re definitely looking forward to this being possibly the last game.”