Julius Jones was drafted by Yosemite Sam and played in the dying days of the Bill Parcells Reunion Tour (plus a year under Wade Phillips), before being picked up by the Seahawks and playing under two truly awful squads coached by Holmgren and Mora. JJ played behind some good lines, but spent two and a half years in offenses led by Vinny Testaverde and Drew Bledsoe before Tony Romo got going.

On the other hand, Ryan Grant was picked up by the Packers and enjoyed the last year of Favre before Aaron Rodgers began his rule (long may he reign). The lines were pretty good, and the QBs were who they were. Hell when Grant got hurt they were able to reanimate the corpse of Ahman Green and squeeze some yards out of him. For a time back then, it felt like the Packers could plug in any decentish back and get production (see Green, Ahman; Jackson, Brandon; Gato, Samkon).

I guess to me the talent differential just all comes out in the wash when you have one guy in a better situation/system.

You really should. I don't know why reporters never wrote about it before, but this changed the entire context surrounding someone who has been erratic and made questionable decisions about how to relieve stress:

https://www.ndinsider.com/football/mom-s-spirit-facing-terminal-illness-inspires-dexter...

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that no other runner has ever set a school record for yardage in a game and NOT gotten the most carries on his team.

Entirely screwed up. Of course, the 2 OL pulling in their direction probably had a lot to do with that. It was a good play call. They hadn't tested the DBs ability to clean up a rushing play until then. Was glad to see it.

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Sometimes I rhyme slow sometimes I rhyme quick.

careers is one of the great enduring mysteries of this sport.

there doesn't seem to be a Ryan Grant equivalent.

Never forget:

https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/boxscores/2003-10-11-pittsburgh.html

The parallels are there -- undeniable talent; seeming immaturity on and off field leading to less on field use than the talent would warrant; one big mistake; a sort of rededication during the period away from the team/field; breakout performances upon return to the field.

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The 2007 ND-UCLA game was a once in a lifetime experience, I hope

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"2020 ... Let's win it all ..."

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Everybody was up. I guess they were going for a big knockout. Surprise!

It’s a classic redemption story. Supremely talented kid makes mistakes, on the field and off. He gets his playing time limited, and then he gets suspended outright. Which way will he go? Will he keep screwing up, or will he take personal account and get back on the right track? Lots of kids keep spiraling (see Redfield, Max). Some mail it in. Some quit.

Dexter deserves all the credit in the world for his perseverance.

One short of Josh Adams' school record.

I would almost say "singlehandedly", but there is no "singlehandedly" in football.

Up 17-16. Pinned down on your own 5. Prior four drives for the offense were:
3 plays for -2 yards
1 play, INT
7 plays for 22 yards ending in a fumble
8 plays with a botched punt snap, netting 18 yards on the drive with no punt (effectively a turnover)

One 95 yard run later, the ND is back to a comfortable margin and the stadium goes silent. Next four drives: TD, punt, TD, TD.

His TD run against Stanford wasn't quite the turning point, but it definitely set the tone for the rest of the day.

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At night, the ice weasels come.

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I saw a guy who didn’t seem to focus on the little things and wasn’t nearly the complete back or teammate that Josh Adams was.
I realized he was quick but the predictions that we would be a different team when he came back seemed overblown to me.
We are a different team with Dex. He not only can break one with pure speed but he runs hard and is playing with great purpose. He is doing the little things.
He took his punishment with maturity and is making the most of his opportunity now.
I give both Kelly and Dex credit here.
Right now, we’ve done everything right this year.
I happy for Dexter and glad I was wrong.