Thursday, December 30
All-Americas lead young Gophers
Associated Press
EL PASO, Texas --Tyrone Carter stands all of 5-feet-9, yet
teammates and opponents look up to him.
Carter, an All-America senior strong safety, was the cornerstone
of Minnesota coach Glen Mason's reconstruction project.
"He's been really the heart and soul of our entire football
team. When we didn't have much to hang our hat on, we all hung it
on Tyrone Carter," said Mason, whose 12th-ranked Gophers (8-3)
face Oregon (8-3) in the Sun Bowl on Friday, Minnesota's first
postseason appearance since 1986.
Carter had 127 tackles this season as he carried Minnesota to
its best season in 32 years and its highest ranking in 37 seasons.
Carter won the Jim Thorpe award after becoming the NCAA Division
I all-time tackling leader among defensive backs with 511. His 397
solo stops were four shy of the all-time, all-position NCAA major
college mark.
How did a guy that short who has to eat extra helpings of steak
and potatoes to keep tipping the scales at 184 pounds lift an
entire program on his back and carry it back to national
respectability?
And how does he hit so hard?
"It all comes from my heart," Carter said. "All my life,
people have been saying you're too small to do this and too small
to do that. But I just set my mind to it and overcame that."
And it's rubbed off.
Linebacker Sean Hoffman admits he tries to hit like his
diminutive teammate.
"I don't care if a guy weights 150 pounds, if he has heart, he
is a player," Hoffman said. "He makes plays."
Mason has often called Carter the toughest football player he's
ever been around. But in the weeks leading up to Friday's bowl
game, it dawned on him what Carter's presence truly meant.
"It just really hit me between the eyes in the last couple of
weeks," Mason said. "I've never been around a player that's been
more respected by his teammates."
Carter got a standing ovation when he was named the team MVP.
"And the way our team reacted when he got the Thorpe award?"
Mason said. "There is no jealousy from anybody within our
organization on the accolades Tyrone Carter gets because they
respect that young man tremendously."
So do opponents.
Oregon coach Mike Bellotti said it's useless to draw up a game
plan for the high-scoring Ducks (35.1 points a game) to avoid
Carter because he'll find his way to the ball anyway.
"I just love to be around the ball and make plays," Carter
said. "I feel if I'm around the ball, I can make things happen."
Bellotti just hopes Carter can't be around quarterbacks A.J.
Feeley and Joey Harrington, wideouts Tony Hartley, Marshaun Tucker
and Keenan Howry and tailback Reuben Droughns all day in the game
that is sponsored by Wells Fargo.
Bellotti is equally concerned about junior center Ben Hamilton,
who teamed with Carter to give the Gophers their first pair of AP
All-Americas since 1941.
Hamilton recorded 66 knockdown blocks despite missing a game
with a knee injury as the Gophers set school records for total
yards in a season (415.4 per game) and points (348) during the
modern era.
Bellotti, whose Ducks are playing in their fifth bowl in six
years, said Hamilton and Carter offset the Gophers' lack of bowl
experience.
Hamilton anchors an offensive line that tore holes for running
back Thomas Hamner and quarterback Billy Cockerham, both of whom
rushed for 10 touchdowns.
"Ben's probably one of the best athletes we've seen on film
this year and certainly the best center," Bellotti said.
"You just watch him and go, 'Wow! He can do some things.' "
So can Carter.
