Pitt RB has handled demotion with class while finding other ways to contribute
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The grace with which tailback LaRod Stephens-Howling handled his demotion to the second team behind LeSean McCoy earned him the highest praise from his coaches and teammates. For most, he is an example of what it means to be a team player.
"As a coach, you are always looking for older players on your team who do things the right way," said Pitt coach Dave Wannstedt. "You'd like to have guys who are examples and say follow him. And that's what LaRod brings to the table."
Which is all well and good, but nothing did more to soothe Stephens-Howling's soul than celebrating in the end zone Saturday at Heinz Field after scoring the winning touchdown in Pitt's 24-17 upset of then-No. 23 Cincinnati.
"People were saying after I scored my touchdown that I did a little celebration. But I would just say there were a whole lot of things that were bottled up in me that came out, and that was just to let me know that I can still do it and I'll keep on trucking," he said.
Stephens-Howling, a 5-foot-7, 180-pound junior, rushed 13 times for 100 yards, marking his first 100-yard game of the season. McCoy also rushed for more than 100 yards, giving Pitt two 100-yard rushers in a game for the first time since 1988.
Stephens-Howling started three games as a freshman and was a fixture in the backfield last season, rushing for 893 yards in 11 games. But he was injured the week before the third game this season and replaced by McCoy, who rushed for 172 yards and gave the running game the spark it needed. McCoy has remained the starter and has gone from splitting carries to taking the bulk of them.
Losing your job, and to a freshman on top of that, was a tough situation, Stephens-Howling admitted, but the fact that McCoy is one of his best friends on the team made it easier.
"I just wanted to keep a level head through it all and I wanted to make sure I went out there to do my job every week and not lose faith in myself," he said.
For his part, McCoy said Stephens-Howling has been a role model, almost like a big brother.
"Player to player, he has been able to show me things on the field and in the film room, LaRod is always coaching me up," McCoy said. "He has good character. You can tell this because even though this whole thing with me becoming the starter and getting more reps, he has been the same guy. Some guys wouldn't take it as well. And I root for him, not just because he is my teammate and we all want to win, but because he is one of my best friends."
Running backs coach David Walker said he is not surprised that Stephens-Howling has been such a stand-up guy about his situation.
"He's the example of what you are looking for in a student-athlete, a teammate and a friend," Walker said. "You know what you are going to get from him all the time, and it will always be everything he has. Everybody has roles on our team and his has been adjusted a little bit but he has handled it as well as you can.
"He hasn't pouted and he's played at a high level when his number is called. But the bottom line is, we need both guys and we'll give the ball to whoever is hot."
With the demotion, though, came an opportunity. Stephens-Howling is back on the kickoff team as a return man, a job he has had great success with in the past, averaging 30.3 yards a return and scoring on a 95-yard return against Ohio as a freshman. He has 100 yards on five returns this season.
"It feels good to be back there," Stephens-Howling said. "I'm just hoping I can bring more experience to the kickoff return game and I just hope we make some more big plays. I haven't gotten a chance yet to make some big plays but I'm hoping they come. A big kickoff return is exciting but the goal is getting points and winning."
First Published October 25, 2007 12:00 am
