Senior Jarrett Payton rushes for 131 yards and is named Orange Bowl MVP.
By MICHAEL SNYDER
Published January 2, 2004
MIAMI - It never has been easy for Jarrett Payton.
After all, how do you play the same position and wear the same jersey number that your father, Pro Football Hall of Fame legend Walter Payton, immortalized?
Payton's career at Miami has been a series of ups and downs. From freshman phenom to injured question mark to starter at tailback midway through his senior season.
That likely made Miami's 16-14 victory over Florida State in the Orange Bowl on Thursday night sweeter. His performance was one to savor.
Payton never lacked confidence. He gained 97 yards in the teams' first meeting Oct.11 at Doak Campbell Stadium in his first start after Frank Gore tore knee ligaments and was lost for the season but was upset he didn't break 100.
He got his wish in the Orange Bowl.
Payton carried 22 times for 131 yards and was named the game's most valuable player as the Hurricanes defeated the Seminoles for the fifth consecutive time. A fifth-year senior, Payton is one of the few 'Canes that know what it's like to lose to FSU.
Those experiences, just like all the ups and downs, are now memories.
The knocks on Payton, who finished the season with 985 yards. Injury prone. Not tough enough. Turns over the ball. Can't break tackles. No moves. For one night, none of that mattered.
"This was my goal," Payton said. "To be the MVP ... to go out on top."
Payton broke through the middle, slipped Kyler Hall's tackle and ran 37 yards to FSU's 22-yard line on the opening drive. That set up Jon Peattie's 32-yard field goal.
With FSU up 14-3 and Miami facing third and 2 from its 29-yard line, Payton rambled for 46 yards. With a 5-yard face mask penalty, Miami had first and goal at the 10. Payton's backup, freshman Tyrone Moss, capped the drive with a 3-yard run.
"Everything was clicking," Payton said. "My offensive line did a great job."
It was the third 100-yard game of Payton's college career. He'll not go down with the greats who played running back for Miami - players like Edgerrin James, Clinton Portis and Willis McGahee. But on his final night in a 'Canes uniform, that didn't matter.
For a player whose father was nicknamed "Sweetness," the sweetest performance of his career was the last.
