For all the school and league rushing records set by New Mexico tailback DonTrell Moore, it’s an unofficial one that stands out.
There’s no NCAA entry for “fastest return from anterior cruciate ligament surgery.” If there was, the Lobos senior would probably retire the record pending the invention of a bionic knee.
Moore was injured in the Emerald Bowl on Dec. 30. Six months after undergoing surgery, he was back at two-a-day practices. A month afterward, in his second game back, he helped lead New Mexico to an upset at Missouri with 94 yards rushing. His 121-yard average this season is the best of his stellar career.
“All athletes, when they have serious injuries, you can tell their mental toughness by how hard they are willing to work,” New Mexico coach Rocky Long said. “He worked extremely hard with the doctors and trainers two and three times a day, even before the operation.”
The grueling offseason rehabilitation is one reason Moore makes no apologies for taking one easy academic course this fall. He has already compiled enough credits to graduate in criminology, so he’s just taking a yoga class to keep his eligibility.
“I’ve got it easier than Matt Leinart,” he said, referring to USC’s returning Heisman-winning quarterback who is taking two hours of ballroom dancing.
“Yoga is more helpful,” Moore said. “It’s good for flexibility. It helps a lot of athletes.”
Maybe it’s just a coincidence, but the two leading rushers in the Mountain West Conference, Moore and Colorado State’s Kyle Bell, are yoga devotees. The two meet Friday for what could be the quickest game in the MWC this season if Moore and Bell carry their usual 25 to 30 times a game.
Moore insists that Friday’s is just another game, but he’s not just another runner to the Rams. The 5-foot-10, 211-pound fifth-year senior has averaged 192.3 yards against CSU. As a freshman, he ran for 181. He followed that with a career-best 242 yards in 2003. Last year he gained 154 yards.
“He better donate some of his money to CSU when he signs his (NFL) contract,” CSU coach Sonny Lubick said.
Moore replied: “That’s kind of funny. Coach Lubick is a great guy. I know his sense of humor.”
Moore made a recruiting trip to Fort Collins as a Parade All-American out of Roswell, N.M. CSU was holding out to sign a Phoenix-area running back, Mike Bell, who now is seventh in the Pac-10 in rushing at Arizona. By the time Bell committed, Moore had decided to stay closer to home.
As for his success against the Rams, he said: “It’s a couple of things. The fact their intensity is so high we have to match it and it makes us better. (And), our coaches have done a great job scheming them and our offensive line blocking them.”
Moore needs just 32 yards to become the sixth Division I-A rusher – joining Tony Dorsett, Amos Lawrence, Denvis Manns, Ron Dayne and Cedric Benson – to have four 1,000-yard seasons. He could have it on the Lobos’ first series.
“That’s important to get it because it means we’re having team success,” Moore said.
Footnotes
Lubick said walk-on kicker Jason Smith would probably get an opportunity to kick against New Mexico, although struggling starter Kevin Mark has been more consistent in practice. Mark missed two PATs last week, and his longest field goal is from 34 yards. … Backup defensive end Bob Vomhof had surgery on his outer ear and said he hopes to play. Lubick said center Albert Bimper (hamstring) and defensive tackle Delroy Parke (knee) definitely won’t play.
Natalie Meisler can be reached at 303-820-1295 or nmeisler@denverpost.com
