Nov. 1, 2007

By Eric Bailey
Tulsa World

Link To Tulsa World Website

SMU mixed hard hits with taunting words when it tackled Tulane running back Matt Forté early in their football game.

"The first two plays weren't too good of runs and, at the time, I was the nation's second-leading rusher," Forté said. "They said 'Second-leading rusher? You're not good.' "

Forté then stormed for a Conference USA record 342 rushing yards and four touchdowns in a thrilling 41-34 overtime victory against the Mustangs.

"After the game, that's when you get your respect from them," Forté said.

Forté, a 6-foot-2, 223-pound senior, already has the attention of Tulsa, which will play the Green Wave on Saturday afternoon.

Just looking at Forté's numbers is a scary read for defensive coordinators. The senior:

Leads NCAA in rushing yards (1,539), rushing yards per game (192.4), and all-purpose yards per game (218.38).

At his current pace, would finish with 2,309 rushing yards, which would rank third-highest in NCAA history behind Barry Sanders (2,628) and Marcus Allen (2,342).

Owns three of the top four rushing performances in the nation this season (342 vs. SMU, 303 vs. Southeastern Louisiana and 278 vs. Memphis).

And, with a 200-yard performance against Tulsa, would tie Allen, Sanders and Jamario Thomas with five straight 200-plus rushing games.

Tulsa coach Todd Graham has worn out the video tape watching Forté's runs this season.

"We're going to play the best running back that we've played all year long this week," Graham said. "It seems like everyone has a great tailback, but this one is really special. He's very big and very powerful. He's a great runner."

Forté seemed destined for Tulane since birth. His father Gene Forté was a defensive tackle for the Green Wave and is the biggest in fluence in the running back's life.

"He was my coach since I was six years old and has always given me advice," Forté said. "He'd always tell me I've been where you're going, and the advice that I give you, take it and listen to it."

Tulane was Forté's only Division I offer, and he proved worthy in his first season, rushing for 216 yards against Army.

He averaged 59.5 yards per game in his sophomore season and was just reaching his stride last season, averaging 95.4 yards per game, before a knee injury ended his year.

Last spring, he spent time rehabilitating his knee while getting to know new head coach Bob Toledo.

The knee injury didn't get to his head, Forté said.

"You can't think that you're hurt," Forté said. "Once I got released, I told myself I was healed and played like I never had a knee injury."

Next, he realized that Toledo was going to build Tulane's offense around him.

"I've been saying it all along -- and people say I'm nuts and, of course, we're not winning -- but if he was at UCLA when I was there, he'd be a Heisman Trophy candidate," Toledo said. "But we're not winning right now, and he's not getting the recognition that he deserves."

That seems to be OK with the humble Forté.

"It's been fun individual-wise because a lot of people look at the stats, but as a team, you want to win games," Forté said. "That's what I try to do every week."

Tulane has been on the cusp of winning, but has lost three of its last four games by a combined nine points.