Article by Dan Tortora
Syracuse University used to be known as "RBU".
Jim Brown.
Ernie Davis.
Floyd Little.
Larry Csonka.
Joe Morris.
Just to name a few.
Not to mention homegrown talent Robert Drummond.
Coming to Syracuse as a running back was an incredible honor.
It meant you were joining a band of brothers that had expectations.
High ones.
Then there was a lull.
A time where the team did not focus on the run, on their identity, on who they have been for so long.
Jerome Smith was the last Orange running back to attain 1,000 yards rushing in a season, and that was almost a decade ago in 2012 (1,171 yards).
Then came the pandemic, and Abdul Adams and Jarveon Howard opting out. Behind them was Jawhar Jordan, Jr.
Sean Tucker was fourth on the depth chart when opportunity called.
On a 1-10 season, Tucker was clearly the brightest spot, rushing for 626 yards on 137 attempts, averaging almost five yards per carry (4.6), with four touchdowns on the ground.
Fast forward to 2021, where Tucker, through seven games had over 900 yards rushing and had already reached the 1,000-yard mark for all-purpose yards in the home loss to the Clemson Tigers on Friday, October 15. He achieved that feat on the first play versus the Tigers, needing five yards and gaining seven to get to 1,002 all-purpose.
Heading into his eighth game of this season, Tucker needed 52 yards to attain 1,000 total rushing yards.
He rose to the occasion once again, gaining all the yards he needed, and then some, on Syracuse's first drive of the match-up, elevating to that magic number 1,000 on a 28-yard score, ending the drive with a touchdown and 1,007 rushing yards.
Tucker would end this game, a 41-36 victory visiting the Virginia Tech Hokies, with 112 rushing yards, giving him 1,060 on the season, with four games yet to play.
This also marked Tucker's sixth-straight game with at least 100 rushing yards and sixth game of eight played this season where he had at least one rushing touchdown.
Tucker is averaging 6.1 yards per carry over Syracuse's eight games in 2021, and has accumulated an average of at least five yards per carry in six of those eight contests.
To say Tucker brought "RBU" back would be an understatement.
He brought life back to an offense desperately in need of it.
You are looking at the torch-bearer for a new era of Syracuse Orange football.
A era that can link history to the present, building toward a future where Syracuse is Syracuse again, and the nation has no choice but to get to know the name Sean Tucker, a player who is no secret anymore, who defenses game plan for, and still cannot stop.
You are watching history in the making.
It would behoove you to pay attention.
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