Posted: Tue Oct 23, 2007 5:38 pm
As for all the talk about the recruiting process for Forte:
The top individual game for rushing yards came against a C-USA defense. SMU (33) surrendered 342 yards to Tulane's Matt Forte (34). (The Mustangs have earned a potentially historic distinction, giving up a 300-yard rushing game and a 300-yard receiving game in the same season. Which helps explain why they're 1-6.)
But it would be wrong to simply scoff at all the missed tackles in C-USA. It's worth appreciating offensive talents like Avery (No. 2 nationally in receiving yards) and Forte (No. 1 by a good distance nationally in rushing yards).
Forte is averaging 180 yards per game and has the season's only 300-yard games -- two of them, the explosion against SMU but also a 303-yard performance against Southeastern Louisiana. It's been a pretty fair season -- and a pretty fair career -- for a senior who was almost universally unwanted coming out of Slidell, La.
"I never imagined having even one 300-yard game," Forte said Monday.
He grew up idolizing Emmitt Smith, even wearing his number and the words "Emmitt Jr." on the back of his jersey in little league. College coaches failed to see the resemblance.
Forte and his dad sent out 15-20 videotapes of his high school work to Division I-A schools around the country and got almost no response. Virginia Tech was nice enough to write back and say he looked good, but the Hokies already had all the running backs they needed. LSU "had a thousand running backs," Forte said with a laugh.
His only scholarship offers were from the Green Wave and in-state Division I-AA schools McNeese State and Northwestern State. That at least made choosing Tulane fairly easy.
Forte was a part-time starter his first two years and then took over the job last year before a knee injury shelved him for the last three games. The 6-2, 225-pounder entered his senior year with 2,138 rushing yards -- and could double that this season alone.
"He's supposed to be 220-225 pounds, but he is fast," said the next C-USA coach who has to deal with Forte, Memphis' Tommy West. "I haven't seen anybody catch him from behind. You don't run for 300-plus yards by accident. That's unbelievable."
It takes a durable back to pound it like Forte against defenses designed to stop you. He's had four games with at least 32 carries and says he's ready for more, thanks to a rigorous offseason conditioning program.
Tulane split its squad into two groups for daily weight and conditioning workouts during the summer. Forte often worked out with both groups, building the stamina he's shown this fall.
"Once the defense wears down, it's like putting a hot knife through butter," he said. "I can't wear down -- I won't let myself."
Matt Forte has five more opportunities to wear down C-USA defenses. More huge numbers could follow.
http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/columns/ ... ortCat=ncf
The top individual game for rushing yards came against a C-USA defense. SMU (33) surrendered 342 yards to Tulane's Matt Forte (34). (The Mustangs have earned a potentially historic distinction, giving up a 300-yard rushing game and a 300-yard receiving game in the same season. Which helps explain why they're 1-6.)
But it would be wrong to simply scoff at all the missed tackles in C-USA. It's worth appreciating offensive talents like Avery (No. 2 nationally in receiving yards) and Forte (No. 1 by a good distance nationally in rushing yards).
Forte is averaging 180 yards per game and has the season's only 300-yard games -- two of them, the explosion against SMU but also a 303-yard performance against Southeastern Louisiana. It's been a pretty fair season -- and a pretty fair career -- for a senior who was almost universally unwanted coming out of Slidell, La.
"I never imagined having even one 300-yard game," Forte said Monday.
He grew up idolizing Emmitt Smith, even wearing his number and the words "Emmitt Jr." on the back of his jersey in little league. College coaches failed to see the resemblance.
Forte and his dad sent out 15-20 videotapes of his high school work to Division I-A schools around the country and got almost no response. Virginia Tech was nice enough to write back and say he looked good, but the Hokies already had all the running backs they needed. LSU "had a thousand running backs," Forte said with a laugh.
His only scholarship offers were from the Green Wave and in-state Division I-AA schools McNeese State and Northwestern State. That at least made choosing Tulane fairly easy.
Forte was a part-time starter his first two years and then took over the job last year before a knee injury shelved him for the last three games. The 6-2, 225-pounder entered his senior year with 2,138 rushing yards -- and could double that this season alone.
"He's supposed to be 220-225 pounds, but he is fast," said the next C-USA coach who has to deal with Forte, Memphis' Tommy West. "I haven't seen anybody catch him from behind. You don't run for 300-plus yards by accident. That's unbelievable."
It takes a durable back to pound it like Forte against defenses designed to stop you. He's had four games with at least 32 carries and says he's ready for more, thanks to a rigorous offseason conditioning program.
Tulane split its squad into two groups for daily weight and conditioning workouts during the summer. Forte often worked out with both groups, building the stamina he's shown this fall.
"Once the defense wears down, it's like putting a hot knife through butter," he said. "I can't wear down -- I won't let myself."
Matt Forte has five more opportunities to wear down C-USA defenses. More huge numbers could follow.
http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/columns/ ... ortCat=ncf