5-foot-4 Spartan back putting up big numbers

By Stephen Tsai
Advertiser Staff Writer

•	Game facts What: Western Athletic Conference game Who: San Jose State vs. Hawai'i When: Saturday, 6:05 p.m. Where: Aloha Stadium. Admission: $19 sideline, $15 south end zone, $15 north end zone adult, $11 north end zone senior citizen (65-older), $11 north end zone students, $3 UH Super Rooter. Parking: $3.

In fact, it was five minutes ago.

"Nobody believes I'm a football player," said Ferguson, whose team plays Hawai'i Saturday at Aloha Stadium.

But after rushing for 196 yards on 10 carries against Tulsa last Saturday, "Little Ferg" has become a big man on campus.

"He's producing on the football field," coach Fitz Hill said.

Ferguson recalled that "before this past week, nobody knew I played football. When I walked around campus, people walked right by me. Now, a lot of people are stopping to introduce themselves."

The Spartans' introduction to Ferguson came on a recruiting Web site. They learned that Ferguson could run 40 yards in 4.3 seconds, bench press 225 pounds and touch a basketball rim. Not bad, they thought, for a player estimated to be about 5 feet 7.

During a visit to his Los Angeles high school, they discovered that Ferguson was actually 5 feet 4. "I never thought that size really mattered," he said.

He told the San Jose State coaches, "I didn't know you had to be 6-2 to make plays." Soon after, he was offered a scholarship.

"He's very confident," Hill said.

Ferguson expected to redshirt this season, but was surprised to learn he was included on the travel roster for the season-opener at Southern California.

Soon after arriving at the stadium, "I had walked out of the gate," he recalled. "I tried to walk back in, but the security guard stopped me. I told him I was a football player, but he wouldn't let me in. I had to show him my shirt. He looked at it and said, 'Oh, OK, you can go in.'"

Ferguson was buried deep on the depth chart. But Saturday, when starting tailback Deonce Whitaker left with a sprained knee and Clarence Cunningham struggled, Ferguson was summoned. He averaged 19.6 yards per carry, boosting his season's per-carry average to 8.2.

He also earned the distinction as the smallest player to compete in an NCAA Division I-A game this season. Akron running back Junior McCray also is 5-4, but 17 pounds heavier than Ferguson.

"A lot of people think football is a big man's sport," Ferguson said. "I have to fight a lot of criticism because of my size. I usually overcome it. I'm not scared of anything on the field."

Ferguson said his father was apprehensive until he attended a high school game. "I ran for 230 yards and scored four touchdowns," Ferguson said. "After that, he was convinced I was big enough to play."

During his spare time, Ferguson coaches a Pop Warner team. Many of the players are taller than Ferguson.

"It motivates them," he said. "They know that if I can play, they can play, too."