Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: TUESDAY, December 27, 1994 TAG: 9412280020
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: JACK BOGACZYK
DATELINE: JACKSONVILLE, FLA. LENGTH: Medium
James Stewart stands taller than 6 feet. He weighs 220 pounds. He's the best running back Virginia Tech has faced this season.
He's the career rushing leader for a program that's produced Johnnie Jones, Reggie Cobb, Charlie Garner, Stanley Morgan, Beattie Feathers, Haskel Stanback and Johnny Majors.
Stewart rushed for 2,890 yards in four Tennessee seasons, and he's wrapping up a stellar - if somewhat frustrating - career in Friday night's Gator Bowl against the Hokies.
``There's no doubt in my mind I could have broken the school record at the beginning of my junior year, probably,'' Stewart said. ``I didn't, but the fact I have it now is what's important.''
The senior from Morristown, Tenn., ran for 939 yards as a freshman starter. Then, he lost the job to junior-college transfer Garner, who in two seasons piled up 2,089 yards before moving to the Philadelphia Eagles and starting as a rookie this season.
Stewart won back the job but then shared time with classmate Aaron Hayden. The latter senior's career ended with 2,061 yards -- sixth on the Volunteers' all-time list - and a broken right leg in the 65-0 smashing of Vanderbilt in the regular-season finale.
So, for one game, his last in college, it seems Stewart really is the big man. He's backed up by sophomore Jay Graham. Stewart's 23rd birthday is today, but if the Vols decide to try and control the ball behind a massive and talented offensive line, he should get more carries than his age.
``They're going to try and run the football and run it some more,'' said Phil Elmassian, Tech's defensive coordinator. ``That offensive line is great, the best I've coached against [in his two decades as a college assistant].''
Stewart said he agrees with most observers that a majority of UT's front five will play in the NFL, but, ``My responsibility is still the same. If I take on more carries, well, that's something I welcome. I'm used to sharing time, but it's not like I can't stay on the field if that's what we need.''
Stewart led UT with 84 yards on 17 carries in the Vols' Fiesta Bowl loss to Penn State that finished his freshman year. Two games into the 1992 season, Garner, a Falls Church, Va., native, had taken away the starting job.
Stewart didn't act like a ``Little Man,'' a nickname he was given as a boy of 5 by his father.
``It was frustrating, but you have to deal with that,'' he said. ``It's life. It's not always easy. I didn't sulk or pout about it, and I was still playing.
``That's the way it is at Tennessee. It's the system. We always seems to be using two tailbacks. That's why the record means a lot to me. I had to earn it not only in games, but in practice, too.''
Stewart rushed for 386 yards as a sophomore and 537 as a junior. In each of the last two seasons, he's averaged more than six yards per carry. In the season-ender at Vandy, Stewart surpassed Jones (2,852) as the Vols' all-time ground gainer.
In Stewart, Garner and Hayden, Tennessee has what's believed by the NCAA to be a rushing first - three backs on the same teams rush for more than 2,000 yards in their careers.
The Vols ranked 13th in Division I-A in rushing in their 7-4 season, with a 231.2-yard average per game. Stewart had 93.5 of that.
How impressive is that? The only ranked teams with more were Nebraska (a nation-leading 340), Colorado and Penn State.
Despite the talents and accomplishments of Stewart, Hayden and their former teammate Garner and the Vols' history of having a well-grounded offense, they haven't gotten the attention of former star quarterbacks Andy Kelly and Heath Shuler, or even current freshman starting quarterback Peyton Manning.
``That's Tennessee football, too,'' Stewart said. ``People in Knoxville and the whole state love to speculate on who the quarterback is, on how he's doing, on what he's doing, on who has more ability.
``The tailbacks, we get the ball, get good blocking and run. You've got two guys usually battling and trying to fit into one spot. Not as many people ask about the tailbacks, `Should he be playing or should he be playing?'''
That question seems moot in Tennessee's fifth Gator Bowl appearance. Their big ``Little Man'' has volunteered to carry the load.
by CNB