Tuesday, September 25, 2001

LT rushes for 90 yards against Dallas
By Joel Anderson
Associated Press

IRVING — LaDainian Tomlinson was one of the last players in the San Diego Chargers’ locker room after a 32-21 win over the Dallas Cowboys.

From the final whistle to nearly an hour after the game Sunday, the former TCU standout was surrounded by a throng of reporters and friends, all of them clamoring for just a couple of seconds to speak with the Chargers’ star rookie.

David Dunai - Senior Photographer Former TCU tailback LaDainian Tomlinson talks on the sideline of Saturday’s football game against Northwestern State (La.). Tomlinson, now a running back for the San Diego Chargers, was in town to play the Dallas Cowboys Sunday. Tomlinson rushed for 90 yards on 27 carries.

“I’m not really the type to be in front of the TV,” he said as the crowd finally began clearing away from his locker. “I can live without all the spotlight, but I know that it’s all of part of my life.”

The spotlight followed Tomlinson on Sunday as he rushed for 90 yards on 27 carries in his first road game for the Chargers.

It was a personal homecoming for Tomlinson, who grew up in Waco and played college ball at TCU. More than 150 family members and friends came to see him play against the Cowboys, who were Tomlinson’s favorite team as a child.

“It feels good to come home,” he said. “But it’s even sweeter when you win.”

Tomlinson, the fifth overall pick in this year’s NFL draft, followed up his 113-yard debut against the Washington Redskins on Sept. 9 with another strong performance.

Yards were hard to come by in the first half; Tomlinson ran 22 yards.

But in the second half, Tomlinson began to pound away at the Cowboys’ defenders and helped the Chargers control the clock for the rest of the game.

“That’s one of my strengths,” he said. “I didn’t get frustrated because I knew I’d get my chances. We were killing them with the passing game in the first half.”

His strong rushing effort was offset by two fumbles, though. Tomlinson repeatedly mentioned the fumbles after the game, as if to temper his enthusiasm.

“I’ve never been that type of a ball carrier,” he said. “I’ve got to work more on ball security.”

Sunday’s game also gave Tomlinson a chance to play in Texas Stadium for the first time and watch his childhood idol, Cowboys running back Emmitt Smith.

“I kind of savored it a little bit and looked around,” he said. “It kind of got me fired up. This is all really special.”
Chargers coach Mike Riley was impressed with the way his star rookie handled his return to Texas.

“He’s a very grounded guy and a pretty heady kid,” Riley said. “I’m not surprised he did as well as he did. I’m just fortunate to have him on the team.”

Even Smith, who passed Barry Sanders for second on the NFL’s career rushing list on Sunday, took notice of Tomlinson from the other sideline.

“I watched him today and I saw him catch this screen pass at the start of the second quarter,” Smith said, “he jetted out so quick, I said, ’He’s got some wheels!”’