A purple and white legend known primarily for his famous initials and stellar football career returned to TCU’s campus Friday afternoon.
“L.T.” is back. At least for the weekend.
College Football Hall of Fame inductee and TCU alumnus LaDainian Tomlinson said he enjoys being back at his alma mater for the weekend.
“It always feels great to be back,” Tomlinson said. “Every time I come here, it reminds me of the days I walked these hallways.”
The hallways of the athletics complex have changed a bit since the Heisman finalist walked through them in the late 90s.
“Well, not exactly these hallways,” Tomlinson joked.
Tomlinson found out he was getting inducted to the College Football Hall of Fame in June, but said he didn’t initially expect it.
“It was unexpected to me,” he said.
Not many others would be surprised by Tomlinson’s nomination. The 5-foot-10 running back rushed for a school-high 5,263 yards in his career with the Frogs.
“Really and truly, I didn’t even think about going in.” Tomlinson said. “Initially, I really couldn’t believe [it].”
Tomlinson was not highly recruited out of high school and committed to the first school that offered him a scholarship: TCU.
“Even when I got here, I was their last recruit,” he said.
The signing paid off in a big way, as L.T. still holds 14 of TCU’s 17 rushing records, including the most rushing yards in a single game with 406, which is also an NCAA record.
“I always had a chip on my shoulder, but it was a little bit bigger than others’,” Tomlinson said. “I always believed I could play at this level. It was just about going out there and proving it.”
The speedster is widely regarded as one of the greatest running backs in the history of football, both in college and the NFL. Tomlinson won the 2006 NFL MVP trophy after scoring a record-breaking 31 touchdowns that season.
Tomlinson is expected to be back on campus until Sunday while he hosts his Elite Football Performance Clinic for student-athletes from sixth to 11th grade.
“We try to educate the parents and the student-athletes on how the recruiting process works,” Tomlinson said. “We want to help them get to college.”
Tomlinson also helped out the TCU women’s basketball team Friday, dousing players Donielle Breaux and Zahna Medley with ice-cold water for the team’s “Chillin 4 Charity” fundraiser.
The fundraiser is a nationwide campaign for breast cancer prevention research where coaches and players challenge each other to donate money and get dunked with freezing water.
Below is the team’s “Chillin 4 Charity” video, which they shot Friday.
The original L.T. even got to meet his nickname’s successor: Latricia “L.T.” Lovings. The Fort Worth native finished her career as one of TCU’s all-time greatest defenders, amassing an incredible 321 career blocks.
Be sure to keep an eye out Monday on TCU 360 for more in-depth coverage regarding Tomlinson’s camp. Above is a slideshow from Friday afternoon’s session with the media and “Chillin 4 Charity” filming.
