Oct. 24, 2007

By Nakia Hogan
New Orleans Times Picayune

The Tulane sports information department had no idea senior running back Matt Forté's season would take off the way it has.

Forté has three consecutive games with at least 200 yards rushing, including Saturday's Conference USA and school record 342-yards, four-touchdown performance in Tulane's 41-34 overtime victory against SMU in Dallas.

Now the office is scurrying to get the word out about its national rushing leader who has gained 1,261 yards.

Perhaps a bit late to start a legitimate Heisman campaign, Tulane's SID office has instead turned its attention to promoting Forté for All-America honors and the Doak Walker award, given annually to college football's top running back.

To get the word out, the SID office is starting a Web site -- mattforte25.com -- that is expected to be up later this week. The site will feature video highlights, statistics and notes on Forté.

Also, Tulane has sent out brochures to state and national media outlets, detailing all of Forte's feats.

"We are going to try to promote him to the state and national media as much as possible," Tulane assistant athletic director Roger Dunaway said. "Our biggest challenge is without him being someone a lot of people expected to do this before the season is to get him (exposure). With him coming off an injury (last season) and not many people knew what he could do, we are just trying to make the most noise possible for him for the remaining five weeks of the season."

QUICKLY BACK ON TRACK: Almost lost in the euphoria of Tulane's thrilling win against SMU was the play of sophomore kicker Ross Thevenot.

Thevenot, who took a lot of heat after missing a 34-yard field-goal attempt in a 20-17 overtime loss Oct. 6 at Army, was one of the Green Wave's unsung heros as it captured its first win against a Division I-A opponent this season.

He booted a 32-yard kick with six seconds remaining in the first half against the Mustangs, helping the Green Wave tie the score at 17 heading into halftime.

Thevenot then gave Tulane its first lead at 20-17 on a career-long 47-yard field goal early in the third quarter.

"It felt really good to hit (the 47-yarder), especially at that time of the game because it was tied up -- and that was our first possession of the second half," Thevenot said. "It felt really good for me to bounce back after a couple of tough weeks."

KNOWING THE SCORE: Forté was chosen the national Walter Camp Football Foundation and Conference USA Offensive Player of the Week, but he wasn't chosen the Louisiana Sports Writers Association Player of the Week, which was awarded to LSU fifth-year senior quarterback Matt Flynn.

The slight wasn't a big deal to Forté or Tulane Coach Bob Toledo, but Toledo said it shows how little attention the Green Wave (2-5, 1-2 C-USA) generates.

"He rushed for 342 yards and four touchdowns and was named Walter Camp player of the week, and he didn't get the Louisiana Player of the Week," Toledo said. "So what does that tell you? That's not taking anything away from Flynn because he did a great job, and he beat Auburn on a great play. Again, we're in a mid-major conference, and we have to realize that."

INJURY UPDATE: Toledo said starting junior linebacker James Dillard, who injured his shoulder on the first play of the game against SMU, will likely miss the Green Wave's homecoming game against Memphis on Saturday at the Superdome.

Sophomore James McMurchy is listed as the backup at weak side linebacker and could start in his spot.

Also, senior offensive tackle Scott Holt (knee) is out, and senior cornerback Carlis Jackson (quadriceps) is probable.