In the 2014 season finale, LSU then-freshman running back Leonard Fournette bulldozed a Texas A&M University safety on his way to a 22-yard touchdown late in the second quarter, solidifying his case as a rising star in college football.
In the 2015 season finale, Fournette fought for a two-yard gain midway through the third quarter, cementing his case as one of the best rushers in program history. With 159 yards against the Aggies in Saturday’s regular season finale, the sophomore tailback bulldozed the Tiger single-season rushing record, eclipsing Charles Alexander’s mark of 1,686 yard in 1977.
For LSU coach Les Miles and Fournette’s teammates, it was mission accomplished.
“He ran hard,” Miles said. “I don’t know if he ran harder tonight than any other time.”
Despite a difficult three weeks for the Tigers, when Miles dealt with questions about his job security, the coach realized Fournette was on the cusp of a 38-year old record in the days leading up to the game, needing just 104 yards to enter LSU lore.
Knowing Fournette’s unselfish nature, Miles approached Fournette about the record first and later brought it to his team. All hands were on deck.
“I also said to him, as a sidepiece, ‘Our football team wants you to win this,’” Miles said. “‘We want you to have that record because of how you play, who you have been and how selfless you are as a teammate here. We want this for you.’ He said, ‘Well OK.’ I took it up with the unity council and the team once.
“I think that is a nice piece to have. A group of men turn and selflessly say, ‘OK, Leonard, let’s see if we can get this done.’”
In the grand scheme, Fournette’s season was historic one that will get overlooked nationally.
Up until Alabama junior running back Derrick Henry’s 271-yard outing against Auburn on Saturday, Fournette led the nation in rushing yards for the majority of the season, having played one less game than his counterparts. He buoyed himself atop the projected Heisman Trophy odds, looking like the clear favorite after the first eight weeks of the season.
Though he had three straight 200-yard games, the New Orleans native fell just short of the LSU single-game record, having the would-be record breaking run erased by a penalty against Syracuse. Still, Fournette, who leads the nation in rushing yards per game, was the darling of the public eye, heading into the head-to-head with Henry and the Crimson Tide.
Three weeks later, Fournette had lost his once-vice grip on the Heisman, seemingly buried behind Henry and other candidates who had notable performances in that span.
Excluding the Alabama game, Fournette’s numbers in the three-game losing streak were above average, but the pace he set for himself at the beginning of the season coupled with the double-digit losses clouded many’s views. Subpar performances from his offensive line and quarterback didn’t help, but Fournette refused to place blame.
Then the rumors of Miles’ firing made a difficult month of November more arduous.
“It’s been hard — not just about coach Miles, but when you lose three,” Fournette said. “We had a talk, and for some people it wasn’t easy for them. It’s hard to deal with, but that’s character. Instead of us pointing fingers, you try to fix it. That’s what I have to say about this team.
“I can say, it’s been one of the longest few weeks of my life. It was hard for everybody.”
With their backs against the wall, Fournette, Miles and the Tigers pulled off a 19-7 win against Texas A&M on Senior Night. Fournette got the record in the third quarter and was honored on the field in the fourth quarter following a Miles-like, 80-yard drive — 12 runs, 1 pass and a four-yard touchdown from his workhorse.
Even with sophomore quarterback Brandon Harris having one of his statistical worst outings of the season, the Aggie defense couldn’t stop the LSU ground attack of Fournette and freshman Derrius Guice. On that drive, passing wasn’t a necessity for the Tiger offense.
“We didn’t need to,” Alexander said.
“The game itself was an imperfect fistfight,” Miles said. “The guy who delivered our body blows was Leonard Fournette.”