Former University High star Tomlinson takes place in Texas Sports Hall of Fame

Thursday, March 05, 2009

By John Werner

Tribune-Herald staff writer

Growing up in Waco, LaDainian Tomlinson often drove by the Texas Sports Hall of Fame but never stepped into it.

On Wednesday night, Tomlinson entered a door that came by special invitation only.

TSHOF CLASS OF 2008

This story is part of a series of profiles on the 2008 class of the Texas Sports Hall of Fame that will be inducted on March 4.

The class includes San Diego Chargers All-Pro running back LaDainian Tomlinson, former Dallas Cowboys linebacker Lee Roy Jordan, former Texas Longhorns fullback Steve Worster, former Dallas Mavericks guard Rolando Blackman, former Texas Longhorns back Bill Bradley, soccer star Kyle Rote Jr., and deceased Texas Longhorns basketball coach Abe Lemons.

Former University High School star LaDainian Tomlinson was inducted into the Texas Sports Hall of Fame on Wednesday night along with six other players and coaches. (Jerry Larson photo)

Tomlinson was inducted into the Texas Sports Hall of Fame with six other players and coaches. The 29-year-old former University High School football star is the only active player in the 2008 induction class and is by far the youngest new member.

“There’s nothing like being from Waco and now being part of the hall of fame,” Tomlinson said. “Being born and raised in Texas, it’s special to come back and be inducted in front of family and friends. I think it also shows people in this community that if you shoot for something, you can do it.”

Joining Tomlinson in the new class were former Texas Longhorns football star Bill Bradley, former Dallas Cowboys linebacker Lee Roy Jordan, former Longhorns fullback Steve Worster, ex-soccer player Kyle Rote Jr., former Dallas Mavericks basketball player Rolando Blackman and deceased Texas Longhorns basketball coach Abe Lemons.

Tomlinson made a name for himself as a senior at University when he set a city record with 2,554 yards in 1996. Then he went to TCU, where he set a school record with 5,263 career rushing yards, including an NCAA single-game record of 406 yards against Texas-El Paso in 1999.

But his career has really exploded with the NFL’s San Diego Chargers, where he has rushed for 11,760 yards and garnered 126 touchdowns in eight seasons. Tomlinson said the Texas Sports Hall of Fame is the first he’s been inducted into, but a date in the Pro Football Hall of Fame could be in his future.

Through his success, Tomlinson has stayed humble and has given back to communities he’s lived in, including Waco, Fort Worth and San Diego.

“LaDainian is one of the biggest stars in the NFL, but you wouldn’t know it by the way he acts,” said Bradley, who coached San Diego’s secondary the past two years. “He’s a good-hearted person and a great running back. A career like his doesn’t just happen — it takes good work habits. He’s got a lot of football left in him.”

Tomlinson hopes to break former Dallas Cowboys star Emmitt Smith’s NFL career rushing record of 18,355 yards, and he wants to do it in San Diego.

“I don’t want to finish my career without taking a shot at Emmitt’s record,” Tomlinson said. “There’s no question that I’d love to end my career with the Chargers. It would be really special to do what (former Chicago Bears running back) Walter Payton did and play with one team the whole time.”

After leading the NFL with a career-high 1,815 yards and 28 touchdowns in 2006 and 1,474 yards in 2007, Tomlinson rushed for a career-low 1,110 yards last season. He missed most of the Chargers’ two playoff games last season with a groin injury as Darren Sproles starred at running back.

Tomlinson has three years remaining on his contract, but the club reportedly wants to restructure the terms. The Chargers have the option of releasing him, but Tomlinson hopes it doesn’t come to that.

“You never know what’s going to happen, but I want to stay with the Chargers,” Tomlinson said. “I feel like I’ve got a lot left in me. I’m optimistic about staying in San Diego, but I’m also realistic. I know it’s a business, and some things are out of my control.”

Though he’s been retired from the NFL for more than 30 years, Lee Roy Jordan enjoys watching Tomlinson play on Sundays.

“LaDainian’s a phenomenal athlete, and the things he’s done at San Diego are awesome,” Jordan said. “He reminds me a lot of Emmitt Smith because he can do everything. I don’t know if I could have tackled him. I’d probably be grabbing at air.”

jwerner@wacotrib.com

757-5716

Commenting is open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. M-F, except on Tuesday when it's open until 9 p.m.

Post a comment