L.T. presented with Doak Walker trophy
Tomlinson says award from SMU a personal victory

By Kelly Morris
Associate Sports Editor

The Doak Walker Award is named after Southern Methodist’s 1948 Heisman Trophy winner and three-time All-American.
But senior tailback LaDainian Tomlinson said the award outweighs the petty idea of the cross-town rivalry between SMU and TCU.

“It’s funny because before they announced who won the (Doak Walker) Award, I was sitting there at the college football award show thinking to myself that our biggest rival is giving this award out,” Tomlinson said. “My mind was racing, and I was really nervous. When they finally said my name, I thought, ‘Oh my God, SMU isn’t biased.’”

Although Tomlinson first received the Doak Walker Award Dec. 7, he was formally presented with the award at a banquet Tuesday at the Fairmont Hotel in Dallas.

Tomlinson said winning the award was a personal victory.

Kelly Morris/ASSOCIATE SPORTS EDITOR Doak Walker Award winner LaDainian Tomlinson admires the trophy during a news conference Tuesday at the Fairmont Hotel in Dallas. Tomlinson was formally presented with the trophy at the banquet later in the evening.

“I was very happy,” Tomlinson said. “I set out to win the award ever since I became a tailback at TCU.”

Since the close of the 2000 football season, Tomlinson said he has kept very busy.\“It’s been a whirlwind lately,” Tomlinson said. “Everything has been going very fast up to this point. Practicing with the Green Bay Packers gave me a look into how it’s going to be in the NFL.”

Also honored at the banquet was former Heisman Trophy winner and three-time All-American Pete Dawkins of Army. Dawkins was presented with the third-annual 2000 PricewaterhouseCoopers Doak Walker Legends Award for his work both on and off the field.

Dawkins turned down an opportunity to play in the NFL with the Baltimore Colts to attend Oxford University as a Rhodes Scholar.

Dawkins said if given the chance, he would love to be in Tomlinson’s position.

“If I were to be reincarnated, I would love to come back as L.T. and play in the NFL,” Dawkins said.

Former Dallas Cowboys fullback Daryl Johnston, who played along side Dallas Cowboys tailback Emmitt Smith for many seasons, said he can see many similarities between Smith and Tomlinson.

“LaDainian’s size draws comparisons to Emmitt Smith,” Johnston said. “I’m very impressed with (Tomlinson’s) ability, and he might have a little more breaking speed than Emmitt.

“He’s coming into the NFL at the perfect time because he fits the prototype of the multifaceted running backs that are in the NFL right now like Marshall Faulk.”

Despite what critics are saying, Johnston said Tomlinson will fare well in the NFL draft.

“Some people don’t expect L.T. to go high in the draft because of his size,” Johnston said. “But he has proven to everyone that he can compete at this level. What’s inside a player is far more important than what (critics) are saying.”

Kelly Morris
k.l.morris@student.tcu.edu