LaMont Jordan's Run To Glory
10/20/1999 8:00:00 AM | Football
Oct. 20, 1999
By DAVID GINSBURG
AP Sports Writer
COLLEGE PARK, Md. (AP) - LaMont Jordan spent the summer hitting the books. This fall, he's mounting a serious assault on the Maryland record book.
Jordan is only 292 yards short of becoming the fourth player in Maryland history to amass 1,000 yards rushing in a season. The junior tailback has run for 11 touchdowns, only four short of the school's single-season record, and needs 114 yards Saturday against North Carolina to pass Rick Badanjek (2,417 yards) and move into third place on Maryland's career list.
His excellent season can be traced back to a difficult summer, when he turned his focus to academics. Jordan secured the grades he needed and emerged with a fresh approach toward football, which suddenly doesn't seem like work anymore.
"I'm having a lot more fun this year," he said Wednesday. "You know how people say you don't realize how much you love something until it's gone? Well, that was almost the case this summer. The scare of possibly not being able to play this season made me realize I was taking football for granted."
Jordan ran for 906 yards and had 87 yards on 14 catches last season, impressive numbers except when compared to his lofty statistics this year: 708 yards rushing through six games and 198 yards on 15 catches. He still has five games left to pad those figures and generate some attention as an All-America candidate.
"All you have to do is open up that first hole and he does the rest. It's nice to watch," Maryland offensive tackle Brad Messina said.
"LaMont is very focused this year. He's much more determined and has a better work ethic," Messina said. "He's going out there, having fun and doing what he loves to do. He's getting better and better with every game."
Jordan will be hard-pressed to top last week's effort against Clemson, when he ran for 177 yards - the most by a Maryland player since 1985 - and became only the fourth Terrapin to score four touchdowns in a game. It was his third 100-yard rushing game of the season and the 10th of his career.
"LaMont had an outstanding game," Maryland coach Ron Vanderlinden said. "I'm not sure how good LaMont can be. I see really good work habits from him this year. He has a determination to be special."
Most of all, Jordan wants to be a winner. He's been nominated for the Doak Walker award, presented to the nation's best running back, but the Suitland High School grad is more interested in seeing the Terrapins record their first winning season since 1995.
"I want to win football games. That's my main goal," he said. "I want us to go to the biggest bowl game we can go to. I figure if we do that, all the personal accolades will come, too."
