TCU Feature: LaMarcus McDonald
9/19/2002 12:00:00 AM | Football
Sept. 19, 2002
By Don Dowell
Special players make special plays on special days.
"I got that from Marshall Faulk," explains the speedy senior linebacker from Waco. "When it's supposed to be a big game, you have to show up."
LaMarcus McDonald started showing up in big games and making a huge impact in his first career start. A nationally-televised battle against the Cornhuskers in Lincoln, Nebraska was the perfect stage. The lightening quick and elusive McDonald spent most of the afternoon jetting into the Huskers' backfield, shutting down Eric Crouch and their vaunted option attack with eight tackles, including four for losses.
TCU's defensive playmaker took over the starring role in two of the Frogs' other national TV games as well. The quarterback-seeking missile was chosen the C-USA Defensive Player of the Week after notching 5 1/2 tackles for losses totaling 43 yards in TCU's upset win over conference champion Louisville. In the galleryfurniture.com bowl, McDonald was a one-man wrecking crew, recording a game-high 17 tackles, including six for lost yardage against old SWC foe Texas A&M. He was named to the All C-USA second-team at season's end, and later was one of sixty-four players placed on the "Watch List" for the Bronko Nagurski Award, given to the nation's top defensive player.
"LaMarcus is one of the most exciting defensive players we have," defensive coordinator David Bailiff said. "He has an innate ability to know where the football is. It really doesn't matter what you're doing and how you're trying to hide it, he knows where it is. We need to get him better in the zone coverage. As great as he is against the run and blitzing, we need him to improve against the pass."
"He's a guy that's only really had one complete year of playing football here," head coach Gary Patterson said. "As a football player, he's already up for the Bronko Nagurski Award. He has a chance to be on track to graduate. He has always been straight up with us."
The energetic McDonald, who never stops playing hard or chattering when on the gridiron, has emerged as the fiery, emotional leader of the Frogs.
"I am in the middle and in all the commotion," McDonald said. "So I am always talking and you have to be a leader. But then again, I am only as good as the next man in front of me. If he's not producing, it's going to look like I am not producing. You can't do it by yourself."
"There is no doubt he is an emotional leader," Bailiff said. "He is excited and intense and enthusiastic. He is that way at practice. He is that way at a game. If you are not giving it all at practice, you are going to hear from LaMarcus McDonald, and it may be some choice words, and he's going to tell you twice. You love that about him. He has a charismatic personality, but when it's period one at practice, he's there to get better as a football player, and he's doing it until period 24."
McDonald thinks the preseason accolades and being selected to play in this year's Hula Bowl are nice honors, but he is taking every thing in stride.
"My expectations are even higher," McDonald explained. "The pressure is on, but then again, it's not on. I just feel like I need to go out there and play my game, and play within myself, and everything else will take care of itself. When they offer you the chance to go somewhere and play against the best players in the nation, you have to be honored. That is not my main focus. My focus is this season and contributing as much as possible to my team so that we can come out winners. Hopefully undefeated."
McDonald believes the TCU defense will definitely be improved as the Frogs head into their second season of C-USA play.
"No doubt. All of the coaches and players are more comfortable with each other than we were last year. That was sort of like our first time to go into battle together. Once you've been in the wars one time, your technique is even better the next time. You feel each other and know what each other are thinking. Last year, we didn't know they threw the ball that much in C-USA. We are more comfortable now."
As one might expect, McDonald wants to continue his battles on the field, even when his playing days are over. "Being a player, you always have the love for the game. So hopefully, I might go into coaching. But if not, I want to become a CEO and have my own business."
"In my later years, when I am 60 or 70," McDonald continued, "I will be one of those old teachers that has a story for everything a child does. No matter what you see or go through, the older crowd is always wiser. They always have something to tell you that you can learn from. I want to give back to the community."
The psychology major, who is also earning a minor in education, credits a special TCU professor with helping him with academics and advising him on life in general.
"A wonderful woman by the name of Cathy Block - she's a very smart, intelligent woman. I had her for one of my education classes, and she's helped me a lot while I was here. Very nice. Very inspirational. She keeps it real."
Off the field, McDonald enjoys "chilling out" with his friends and going to movies. He will also battle future opponents on the Play Station II. "They have the college game on there, 2002 NCAA Football. Honestly, I am better in person that I am in that game. They underrated me. He's not fast enough. It's like that in everything that you do, you have to earn their respect. Once you've earned it, they can't take it away from you."
McDonald earned his national respect in just one season as a starter. Now it's time for an encore that he hopes will exceed every Frog fan's expectations.
