His leg might have been broken, but his love for the game was not.
Tyrell Dortch, filled with energy and anticipation and nearly two years removed from the last time he saw game action on the Spartan Stadium grass, darted onto the field Saturday afternoon seemingly with new life. Dortch spent the last 1 1/2 seasons recovering after breaking two bones in his leg while playing as a defensive back against Wisconsin on Oct. 27, 2001.
But Saturday he proved why in his second chance, new head coach John L. Smith named him the team's No. 1 tailback.
Dortch lit a fire in MSU's backfield, gaining 58 yards on 16 carries. Add in that two of those carries were busted-up plays that resulted in a last-second pitch from senior quarterback Jeff Smoker to Dortch - with the running back being penalized with the negative yardage - and Dortch had a solid 70-plus-yards rushing day.
He also became one of seven receiving weapons for the Spartans, catching three balls for 39 yards.
All this from a guy who didn't think he'd ever be able to walk again.
"I think about what I went through just to make it to this point," Dortch said. "Just putting on the uniform again, seeing the stadium filled and everyone being out there, it all hit me at one time.
"I don't think I got over 100 (total yards), but I think I played well."
Despite allowing just three sacks, occasionally the Spartan offensive line was caught collapsing many more times. And - just Dortch's luck - those seemed to be the plays designed for an up-the-middle run.
But once Dortch started running around the tackles, the yardage meter began to rise.
"He was hitting the holes really hard," MSU right tackle Steve Stewart said. "As soon as the holes opened up, I mean, he was in them."
Stewart said the offensive line did almost all it could to make the holes bigger for Dortch this time around.
"It meant a lot for the whole offensive line to see him back," Stewart said. "We saw how he went down. We all wanted to see him do well when he came back."
Senior right guard Paul Harker, who also helped clear Broncos from the right side, said nerves were the last thing on Dortch's mind during the pregame.
"He wasn't nervous at all. He was very anxious," Harker said. "He got a little rambunctious in the locker room because of the fact he hasn't played a game in two years, and he wants to get it going and he wants to do good, and he did."
The junior tailback's presence forced Western Michigan to keep seven and eight defenders lined up in the box. The result: More open air for senior quarterback Jeff Smoker to rifle completions to his cabinet of receivers.
With the game clock ticking down from eight minutes in the third quarter and the Spartan offense starving for its first second-half points, Dortch seemingly put all the faith he had in his previously broken leg.
A quick dump over the middle from Smoker caught Dortch right in the numbers.
Dortch quickly began dashing upfield, realizing the only thing within 10 yards of him was Spartan Stadium oxygen.
As he jetted toward the endzone, Dortch used a hard stop-and-go cut, utilizing 6-foot-6, 228-pound sophomore wide receiver Matt Trannon as a blocking tool.
The cut left Bronco linebacker Paul Tithof in a trail of dust, just enough to blind him from the Trannon hit that was about to come.
"I saw Tyrell Dortch catch the ball, and I was going to try and help him out, not just stand there and watch the play," Trannon said. "Tyrell was coming and (the defender) was coming this way, but he wasn't really looking toward me - and I clocked him."
Following the 21-yard reception which included arguably the hardest cut the running back made all day, Dortch was OK. So were the Spartans, who added to their lead with a 31-yard field goal by Dave Rayner to go up 26-14. It was all the insurance MSU would need in the 26-21 win.
"I haven't grasped the speed of the game yet. I'm still overwhelmed by it," Dortch said. "But the whole game, I wasn't concerned with my leg. I was concerned with winning the game.
"All around, it's a great feeling. On top of that, we got a win."
