Broussard Gives It Old College Try

Running back Steve Broussard isn’t getting older, he’s getting better.

“I haven’t run like that since 10 years ago when I played at Washington State,” Broussard said Sunday after he ran 77 and 43 yards for touchdowns in the second half of the Seattle Seahawks’ 16-13 victory over the Tennessee Oilers.

The third-string running back came off the bench to put some zip into Seattle’s running attack after it was held to 19 yards in the first half. He had the Seahawks’ first 100-yard rushing performance of the season, gaining 138 yards in six carries.

It was the second 100-yard rushing game of Broussard’s eight-year NFL career.

Seattle’s Dennis Erickson coached Broussard, 30, in two of his seasons at Washington State (1987-88).

“He just outran everybody today, just like he did in college,” Erickson said.

Said Broussard: “I’ve been blessed with speed and I’ve been blessed to stay healthy in my eight years in the league. I made a couple of cuts on quick hitters today.”

Said Oiler safety Blaine Bishop: “After he made those cutbacks, he showed great straightaway speed. And we didn’t make the open-field tackles.”

Broussard, Seattle’s regular kickoff returner, was in the game because backup running back Lamar Smith was ineffective in the first half and starter Chris Warren was sidelined because of a hamstring injury.

The Seahawks (3-3) handed the Oilers (1-4) their fourth consecutive defeat. It was another demoralizing loss in Seattle for the Oilers, who lost at the Kingdome as the Houston Oilers last season when the Seahawks blocked a field goal attempt and returned it for a touchdown with four seconds left.