Sports: Anthony Thomas, 2001, Winn Parish, LA Submitted by Greggory E. Davies, 120 Ted Price Lane, Winnfield, LA 71483 ********************************************** Copyright. All rights reserved. http://usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://usgwarchives.net/la/lafiles.htm ********************************************** From: January 2, 2001 The Town Talk (Alexandria, LA) Florida Citrus Bowl A Class Act Thomas has record setting day in leading Michigan to victory Orlando, Fla. (AP) It was just another selfless gesture in a long list of them for Anthony Thomas. When Thomas broke Michigan's career rushing record he gave the football to his wife, Hayley. "I was very surprised," Hayley Thomas said with an ear-to-ear grin from her front row seat at the Citrus Bowl. Thomas surpassed Jamie Morris' mark of 4,393 yards on an 11 yard touchdown, which put Michigan ahead 21-14 late in the first half of their 31-28 win over No. 20 Auburn on Monday. The two-time Citrus Bowl MVP ran for 182 years and two touchdowns on 32 carries. He finised his career with 4, 472 yards and 56 touchdowns, which also set a school record. Thomas may be the quietest star in college football. When he scored, the ball was never spiked. When he earned a first down, his chest was never pounded. When he was interviewed, it pained him to talk about himself. After Thomas was mobbed by his teammates on the sideline after the record- breaking run, he found his wife in the stands to give her the ball. "It was a spur of the moment type thing," Thomas said. "I just wanted to give her something to let her know how I feel. It was special to me so I wanted her to be a part of it." That was the first time Thomas said the record meant anything to him. All season, as he got closer to the record, he deflected the attention. However, Michigan's offensive line never hid its feeling about the record. They wanted it bad. "It was more for the offensive linemen," tackle Steve Hutchinson said. "I don't think Anthony care too much about it. If he did, he didn't say too much. But as offensive linemen, we don't get too many stats so we wanted to make sure he got that record. "It was special that he was untouched and walked into the end zone." Thomas has always been a favorite of Michigan's coach Lloyd Carr. "I couldn't be more proud of anyone than him," Carr said. "Through all four years, he never changed. All the things he won never changed him. He left a legacy for tailbacks at Michigan." Morris, the man who set the rushing milestone from 1984-87, watched Thomas break his record from the field. "It's cool because he did it on a touchdown," said Morris, a marketing and promotions assistant at Michigan. "I scored on a touchdown when I broke the record, too." "I have no mixed emotions. I'm happy for him because he represents everything that's good about Michigan." Thomas' Michigan Records: Career Rushing: 4,472 yards Game Rushing Attempts: 42 at Indiana, 10-30-1999 (tied) Career Rushing Attempts: 892 Career Rushing Touchdowns: 55 Career 100-Yard Rushing Games: 21 Career 150-Yard Rushing Games: 9 Season 150-Yard Rushing Games: 6 in 2000 Season Average Yards Per Game: 141.0 in 2000 Season Rushing/Receiving Plays: 976 Season Rushing/Receiving Plays: 334 in 1999 Game All-Purpose Plays: 46 at Indiana, 10-30- 1999 Career All-Purpose Plays: 1,007 Season All-Purpose Plays: 345 in 1999 Career Touchdowns: 55 Career Scoring: 336 No. 2 Citrus Bowl: No. 17 Michigan 21, No. 20 Auburn 28 Thomas, Henson helps Michigan overcome Auburn Orlando, Fla. (AP) - Anthony Thomas became Michigan's leading career rusher, then he kept going. Thomas ran for 182 yards and two touchdowns and Drew Henson passed for two Tds as the 17th ranked Michagan Wolverines held on for a 31-28 victory over No. 20 Auburn on Monday in the Citrus Bowl. Henson was 15 of 20 for 294 yards for Michigan (9-3) which has won bowls in four straight years for the first time. The Wolverines were seven points away from an undefeated season and played their last game with the Big Three of Thomas, Henson, and All-America receiver David Terrell. The anticipated duel between Thomas and Auburn's Rudi Johnson instead became a show-down with Tigers' quarterback Ben Leard. Down 31-21, Auburn (9-4) stayed alive when Leard hit a leaping Deandre Green with a 21-yard touchdown pass with 2:26 left. Leard was 5 of 5 for 77 yards on the drive, which covered 89 yards in six plays and 87 seconds. Michigan's Ronald Bellamy then recovered the onside kick and the Wolverines ran out the clock. Thomas, who carried 32 times, was named Citrus Bowl MVP for the second time. Leard was 28 of 37 for a season-high 394 yards and three TDs, both Auburn bowl records. He also threw three interceptions. Johnson, the Southeastern Conference Player of the Year, was limited to 85 yards on 25 carries with a 12-yard TD. Terrell, who is considering skipping his senior year to enter the NFL draft, had four catches for 136 yards and a TD. Michigan's offense racked up 456 yards against the SEC's top defense, but the defense and special teams came up big in the fourth quarter. First, Shantee Orr got a hand on Damon Dubal's 40-yard field goal try in the fourth quarter. Auburn marched to the Michigan 18 on its next series before committing its third turnover. Jeremy Le Seur burst unblocked into the Auburn backfield on a corner blitz, jarring the ball loose from Leard. Shawn Lazarus recovered, but the Wolverines went three-and-out. Orr blocked a 40-yard field goal attempt early in the fourth quarter, ending Duval's string of 11 straight.