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Payton had spirit of Sweetness in him
By Bruce Feldman
ESPN The Magazine
MIAMI -- Three months ago, when Jarrett Payton made his first career start for Miami, the spirit of Sweetness magically gave him the energy and endurance to run over Florida State. On Thursday night, in Payton's last college game, the spirit of Sweetness gave the kid speed -- more speed than he's ever had -- and Payton, once again, carried the underdog 'Canes to a victory over FSU.
Payton, son of the late Hall of Fame running back Walter Payton, slashed his way through the 'Nole defense for 100 first-half yards en route to a 22-carry, 131-yard MVP performance in the Hurricanes' 16-14 Orange Bowl victory. It was an even better effort than his 97-yard day in a downpour against the 'Noles last October.
"This game to me was a test," said Payton, a fifth-year senior, "because I didn't want people to think that first game against FSU was a fluke."
Payton said last month he returned home to Chicago and went to a party full of FSU grads who razzed him that he got lucky because it was raining in the first game. "So now I showed 'em because it wasn't raining tonight," he said.
The 'Canes were fueled by two huge plays. The first came midway through the second quarter with FSU leading 14-3. The 'Noles had the momentum. Then Payton knifed into a gaping hole before darting outside and down the left sideline. FSU's star linebacker Kendyll Pope had the angle on Payton, but the 220-pound tailback burst past him for a 46-yard gain. Three plays later, the 'Canes scored.
The second big play came late in the fourth quarter with UM nursing a 16-14 lead. The 'Canes had a fourth-and-one from their own 32 and were in punt formation. Only the snap went to D.J. Williams, the up-man who sprinted 32 yards up the middle for a first down. "That was such a gutty call by Coach [Larry] Coker," said former UM all-American Cortez Kennedy, who watched from the Miami sideline. "It was like a Bobby Bowden call."
"It was a great call," said Bowden.
The run and the fake, coupled with another terrific effort by the Miami defense (holding FSU to 206 total yards) were enough for the Hurricanes to notch a fifth-straight win over the 'Noles. But the real key was Payton's ability to spark the offense just enough.
"He's all heart," Miami tight end Kellen Winslow II says of Payton. "He dedicates so much to his dad and means so much to this team. You can't be more proud of J.P. It was a great way for him to go out."
Payton's night, particularly the 46-yard burst, was a memorable parting shot for a class act. "Man, I never saw J.P. look as fast as he did tonight," said UM offensive tackle Eric Winston.
Ironically, Payton's speed was the one thing skeptics knocked this season. They pointed to a long run he broke against Tennessee, only to be caught from behind. The cynics said Willis McGahee or Clinton Portis would never have been caught. Neither would Frank Gore. Payton's explanation for his new-found wheels were fresh legs thanks to not having played in a game in a month, and because of UM's renown speed program under coach Andreu Swasey. "Running with Swasey the past few weeks definitely made me faster," said Payton.
"That is the way it's supposed to work," Swasey said chuckling.
Through film study, Payton knew he was going to have to change his approach for this game. Most of the season, he said he's been keeping his runs inside. "But I noticed they spill like crazy, so I knew I had to bounce things outside," he said.
Payton did just that, and he probably even bounced his way up a few rounds in the NFL draft. And bounced the Miami program into the off-season on a high note.
Bruce Feldman is a senior writer for ESPN The Magazine. His first book Cane Mutiny: How the Miami Hurricanes Overturned the Football Establishment comes out in the fall of 2004. He can be reached at bruce.feldman@espn3.com.
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JARRETT PAYTON -34-
Miami Hurricanes
AT MIAMI: A fifth-year senior who will be in his final season with the Hurricanes in 2003... will battle for the starting job at tailback...
played extensively in 2002 at tailback after playing both tailback and fullback in his Miami career... provides a complete package of skills... son of the late Walter Payton, former Chicago Bears running back and member of the NFL Hall of Fame.
2002 (JUNIOR): Played extensively at tailback and as a starting kickoff return man... averaged 20.7 yards per kickoff return... at tailback, rushed for 223 yards on 50 carries, with a long run of 37 yards against Virginia Tech... rushed eight times for 17 yards and caught one pass for seven yards in the Fiesta Bowl against Ohio State... was UM’s tailback during all of the overtime and much of the fourth period against the Buckeyes following the departure of injured starter Willis McGahee... carried three times for 45 yards and returned four kickoffs for 96 yards against Virginia Tech... rushed 11 times for 51 yards at Syracuse... returned one kickoff for 15 yards at Tennessee... rushed six times for 24 yards, made a 16-yard reception and returned one kickoff for 21 yards at Rutgers... had one carry (minus-one yard) against West Virginia... rushed six times for 33 yards and returned a kickoff 13 yards against Connecticut... had five carries for 20 yards against Boston College... rushed six times for 18 yards at Temple... had four carries for 16 yards in the win at Florida... missed the opener against Florida A&M with a back injury.
2001 (SOPHOMORE): Returned to action after missing all of spring practice with a foot injury suffered when he cut his foot on coral while scuba diving... saw extensive action as a third-year sophomore, moving to fullback from tailback... was a potent threat at fullback behind starter Najeh Davenport... played in eight games during the regular season and gained 26 yards on 14 carries with two touchdowns... caught three passes for 19 yards... scored touchdowns against Rutgers and Troy State.
2000 (REDSHIRT): Sat out the season with a redshirt year... decision to sit out the season was not medically related... suited up for several games and made three road trips, but did not see any playing time.
1999 (FRESHMAN): Saw action in seven games... rose to second-team on the depth chart at various points during the season... rushed for 262 yards on 53 carries for a 4.9 average... rushed for one touchdown and had a long of 40 yards... totaled six catches for 48 yards (8.0 average) with a long of 29 yards... returned two kickoffs for 44 yards with a long of 25 yards... finished fifth on the team in total offense with 37.4 yards per game... rushed nine times for 32 yards in his first collegiate action against Florida A&M... carried three times for 11 yards at East Carolina... had a key 25-yard kick return at Boston College... rushed a career-high 20 times for 87 yards against Rutgers... also had three catches for nine yards against the Scarlet Knights... earned Compaq’s Most Inspirational Play of the Week for his 16-yard touchdown run against Rutgers... netted 51 yards on 11 carries and two catches for five yards against Syracuse... posted a career-long run of 40 yards against Temple... finished the game with 115 yards of total offense on 81 yards rushing (nine carries) and 34 yards receiving (two catches).
This is a short biography of Jarrett
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HIGH SCHOOL: St. Viator...No. 58 overall by The Sporting News...
named the No. 5 athlete in the Midwest Region by PrepStar...played quarterback, tailback and receiver in high school...timed at 4.3 in the 40 and can bench press 300 pounds...named to the Chicago Sun-Times and Daily Herald All-Area teams as a senior...Reebok All-American...
Catholic Metropolitan All-Conference and MVP selection...accounted for 2,842 all-purpose yards as a senior...passed for 1,088 yards and rushed for another 1,345 yards as a senior...on defense, picked off two passes in limited time...spent his first two years on the varsity soccer team...led squad to third-place finish at the state championships his final season of soccer...coached in football by Kevin Kelly.
PERSONAL: Born 12/26/80...liberal arts major...full name is Jarrett Walter Payton...chose Miami over Wisconsin, Penn State, Notre Dame and Indiana...son of Connie and Walter Payton.
JARRETT PAYTON’S CAREER HIGHS:
RUSHING
Carries – 20 (vs. Rutgers, 1999)
Yards – 87 (vs. Rutgers, 1999)
TD – 0
Long – 40 (vs. Temple, 1999)
RECEIVING
Receptions – 3 (vs. Rutgers, 1999)
Yards – 34 (vs. Temple, 1999)
TD – 1 (vs. Temple, 1999)
Long – 29 (vs. Temple, 1999)
Statistics
Stats from 1999 thru 2003. |
Photos
Photos collected, some I've created. |
Links
Links to Miami Hurricanes, Walter Payton and others.
 
 
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Dipayton34@yahoo.com
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