Jan 1, 2003
By JOSH DUBOW
AP Sports Writer
TEMPE, Ariz. (AP) – One year ago, Willis McGahee was a fullback for Miamiand Maurice Clarett was enjoying his senior year in high school before going toOhio State.
Both were just blips on the radar screens for followers of theirhigh-profile colleges.
Come Friday night’s Fiesta Bowl, neither running back will be able to hide.Both defenses will be geared up to stop their running, and the back whoovercomes that just might become national champion.
“I think McGahee and Clarett might be the two best running backs in thecountry,” Buckeyes coach Jim Tressel said Tuesday.
“I’ve watched Maurice Clarett every day in practice and in games and he’sextraordinary. I’ve been watching Willis McGahee for six weeks on film and he’sextraordinary. They both are physical, catch the ball well and make big plays.They might both be the biggest reasons the two teams are here.”
What got McGahee and Clarett to where they are now are decisions the twomade more than a year ago.
McGahee played behind NFL star Clinton Portis last year, doing the gruntwork of blocking as a fullback. He didn’t mope around about his misfortune.Instead, he worked and bided his time.
“As a fullback, I had to block a bit more,” McGahee said. “I took what Ilearned from fullback to playing tailback. One thing I learned is that I didn’twant to play fullback anymore.”
When Portis left school early for the NFL and Frank Gore underwent kneesurgery in March, McGahee became a full-time tailback. But his patience made animpact on his coach.
“He could have done two things. One is pout, and two is transfer,” coachLarry Coker said. “Instead he went to work and made himself into a greatplayer. He serves as a tremendous example for our team.”
McGahee dedicated himself to working out in the offseason, even pulling asmall pickup truck for 30 seconds a few nights a week in a parking lot near hisbrother Eugene’s gym, not far from campus.
The work paid off.
McGahee shattered the school record with 27 touchdowns this season. He alsoset school marks in yards rushing (1,686) and all-purpose yards (2,036) and had10 100-yard games. He even caught 24 passes for 350 yards.
“I worked real hard in the weight room and it just carried over fromthere,” McGahee said. “I knew I had it all along in me. It was just a job ofme getting on the field and putting it all together.”
On a team full of offensive stars, McGahee has been the most consistent thisyear, coming through when his team needed him most.
He had 214 total yards against Florida, 172 against Florida State, 171against Tennessee, and 226 against Virginia Tech.
He took a screen pass 68 yards to set up the game-winning touchdown againstFlorida State, had a momentum-turning 69-yard TD run against Pittsburgh andscored a school-record six touchdowns in the season finale against VirginiaTech.
“He is probably their premier player,” Buckeyes defensive end DarrionScott said. “Even when the hole’s not there, he finds a way. The key isstopping McGahee because he makes plays regardless. He’s definitely a cutbackguy first. But he runs hard. He’ll put his head down and run through you,too.”
That could be a description for Clarett as well.
He’s become one of the most valuable freshman running backs in history,transforming a sluggish offense into a championship one.
Clarett has made a lot of news off the field this week, saying schoolofficials lied about the reasons he wasn’t allowed to fly home to attend thefuneral of a friend.
The Buckeyes hope he has as much impact on the field Friday.
One of the top recruits in the country a year ago, Clarett finished highschool a semester early and came to Columbus to get a head start on his collegecareer.
He participated in spring practice and quickly won the starting job inAugust.
“He gave up a relaxing six months of a senior year of high school becausehe had some goals in mind,” Tressel said. “He really didn’t think we wouldstart a freshman if they got here in August and he wanted to be the starter asa freshman. That was a goal.”
Clarett makes the Buckeyes go. He had 1,190 yards rushing and 14 touchdownsto put Ohio State in position to claim its first national title since 1968.
He ran for 175 yards in the season opener against Texas Tech, had 230 yardsin a showdown against Washington State and could have been a Heisman Trophycontender before injuries kept him out of three games.
“Clarett is a playmaker,” Miami linebacker Jonathan Vilma said. “With himin the game, there is always the threat of him breaking one for a touchdown.He’s their go-to guy.”