TCU's LaDainian Tomlinson Named Winner of the 2000 Doak Walker Award Presented by Vectrix
12/9/2000 12:00:00 AM | Football
DALLAS (SMU) - TCU running back LaDainian Tomlinson, who finished his collegiate career by winning his second consecutive NCAA rushing title, was named the winner of the 2000 Doak Walker Award Presented by Vectrix. The announcement was made by Mark Lynd, CEO and Founder of Vectrix, last night on ESPN's Home Depot College Football Awards Show.Tomlinson rushed for a school record 2,158 yards as a senior for the Horned Frogs, becoming only the eighth player in NCAA history to rush for at least 2,000 yards in a season. The Waco, Texas native's 5,263 career rushing yards are the most in Western Athletic Conference history. Tomlinson's running was a major reason why TCU finished the regular season with a 10-1 record and a Top 15 ranking as the Frogs earned their second straight Mobile Alabama Bowl bid.
"LaDainian did incredible things on the field this year, but his work with teachers and students throughout Dallas/Fort Worth was as impressive," said Skeeter Walker, widow of Doak Walker and member of the National Selection Committee. "He exemplifies Doak's spirit of sportsmanship and citizenship and is an excellent representative for the Award and for college football."
Besides volunteering with the Boys and Girls Clubs of Fort Worth and the TCU Community Outreach Program, Tomlinson visited area elementary schools and was featured on billboards as part of the "Teachers are the Real Heroes" campaign. He also starred in a motivational video for the "Score a Goal in the Classroom" program that was shown to area elementary school students.
The Doak Walker Award National Selection Committee consists primarily of 163 national media members and former running backs. The committee placed Tomlinson ahead of semifinalists Damien Anderson of Northwestern and Anthony Thomas of Michigan.
Tomlinson will receive the award at the Doak Walker Award Presentation Banquet on Tuesday, January 30, 2001, in Dallas. Former Army running back and 1958 Heisman Trophy winner Pete Dawkins will also be honored as the 2000 PricewaterhouseCoopers Doak Walker Legends Award winner.
Vectrix will present Texas Christian University with a $20,000 check in Tomlinson's name.
Doak Walker Award Recipients 2000 LaDainian Tomlinson Texas Christian University 1999 Ron Dayne University of Wisconsin 1998 Ricky Williams University of Texas 1997 Ricky Williams University of Texas 1996 Byron Hanspard Texas Tech University 1995 Eddie George Ohio State University 1994 Rashaan Salaam University of Colorado 1993 Bam Morris Texas Tech University 1992 Garrison Hearst University of Georgia 1991 Trevor Cobb Rice University 1990 Greg Lewis University of Washington
