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Whenever Tyrell Fenroy needs encouragement, he can simply glance down at the Superman logo tattooed on the outside of his left shoulder.
Around his neck hangs a silver chain with the same symbol, always within his reach when he needs comfort and support.
"I just picked this up at a store back in the spring," Fenroy said, holding the chain in his hands. "That's my motivation when I get down."
As UL's football team prepares for its season opener at 6 tonight, Fenroy is primed to run into the record books again for the Ragin' Cajuns. The senior running back needs 65 yards to become the program's all-time leading rusher, passing the current mark of 3,335 yards set by former UL quarterback Brian Mitchell from 1986-89.
"A lot of people have been mentioning it (the record) around town," said Fenroy, the first Cajun running back to post a 1,000-yard season. "But to be honest, I haven't even thought about it, not even once.
"I'm more focused on this being my last season and trying to help my team go down to Southern Miss and get a win."
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Joshua Parrott •
jparrott@theadvertiser.com • August 30, 2008
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But as much as Fenroy tries, he cannot avoid all the attention.
With 3,271 career yards, the senior ranks second among active running backs, behind only Boise State's Ian Johnson (3,417). The quiet leader needs 780 yards to surpass ex-North Texas star Patrick Cobbs (4,050 yards from 2001-05) as the Sun Belt's career rushing leader
Fenroy topped 1,000 yards last season for the third time in his career, becoming only the 16th player in NCAA history to accomplish that feat in each of their first three years. That put him in the same company as former college greats Herschel Walker, Tony Dorsett and Ron Dayne.
Another 1,000-yard season would make the 5-foot-10, 205-pounder the seventh player to do so four times.
UL's 2008 football media guide features Fenroy standing in the on-campus swamp, Cypress Lake, holding a football. Next to Fenroy, listed as an All-America candidate, is a sign that says "Caution, alligator habitat. Keep pets out of the lake. Watch children. Do not feed alligators. Please feed Fenroy the ball. Thank you."
That cover was a tribute to Mitchell, who was featured on the cover of the team's 1989 media guide in the same location.
Fenroy was scheduled to attend the Sun Belt Football Media Days in July in New Orleans, but he declined the invitation. He said he did not want to be the center of attention at the event, so the Cajuns instead sent senior quarterback Mike Desormeaux.
"He (Fenroy) is very deserving to be on the cover," Desormeaux said after first seeing the media guide. "I hope by the end of the year he really is an All-America candidate.
"I think that could very well happen if he stays healthy and has the kind of year we think he's capable of having."
Others outside of Acadiana have started noticing Fenroy.
Several scouts from NFL teams, including the Green Bay Packers and New Orleans Saints, have attended Cajun practices in August to see Fenroy. He was the subject of recent stories by both USA Today and ESPN.com. On Thursday, Fenroy was included on the Doak Walker Award Watch List.
UL head coach Rickey Bustle was surrounded by talented players during his time as an assistant coach at Virginia Tech (1987-93, '95-2000). At Tech, Bustle coached multiple running backs drafted by NFL teams, including Ken Oxendine, Marcus Parker, Shyrone Stith, Jarrett Ferguson, Lee Suggs and Kevin Jones.
According to Bustle, Fenroy deserves to be included in the same category as those players.
"He's one of the most steady players I've ever been around," Bustle said. "This is my 31st year (as a college coach), and he's one of the best running backs I've ever been around. There's no question he could have played for us (at Virginia Tech)."
It's been quite a run for Fenroy, who played his prep ball at Class 3A St. Charles Catholic in LaPlace. Overlooked because of his size coming out of high school, Fenroy signed with the Cajuns after considering Ole Miss, Arkansas State and Central Michigan. He rushed for 1,053 yards as a true freshman to earn second team All-Sun Belt honors. As a sophomore he ran for 1,197 yards - the second-most in school history behind Mitchell's 1,311 yards in '89 - and was a first team all-conference pick.
After picking up 1,021 yards on the ground last season and being a first team all-league selection, Fenroy enters this season in position to shatter Mitchell's record.
Gerald Broussard was an assistant at UL during Mitchell's career and recently returned as the new defensive line coach. So far, Broussard has seen similarities between Fenroy and Mitchell.
"They're both human bricks that don't get hurt and can take a pounding," Broussard said. "They don't take a lot of licks, but they deliver a lot of licks.
"It's going to be neat to see it when Tyrell (breaks UL's record) because I was here when Brian did it."
When asked how he will react if he breaks the record, Fenroy admitted he would be excited but cares more about winning games in his final college season. If the record falls, Fenroy will give praise to the blocking of his offensive linemen for their part in his success.
Fenroy struggles to comprehend what he's accomplished after going largely unnoticed.
"I'm kind of shocked and surprised, but I've put the work in off the field," he said. "I love to be the underdog.
"It makes me go out there and work harder."
And when he needs some motivation, he always knows where to look.
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