Ameer Abdullah thinks of himself as a circumstance-free rather than circumstance-based football player.
That is, no matter the adversity he’s facing, Abdullah prides himself on rising above those issues and overcoming the odds.
“I try to do my best with what I’m given,†the Nebraska senior running back said. “That’s the kind of person that I want to be remembered for here — a guy who genuinely cares about the well-being of the team rather than himself.â€
It’s why Abdullah is as frustrated with his team’s standing — an 8-3 overall record, third-place standing in the Big Ten West Division and no chance of winning a conference championship — as he is with his gimpy knee.
“The way things have been the last two weeks,†Abdullah said, “that hurts much more than me being injured and statistically finish how I wanted to finish.â€
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Neither finish — team or individual — is what Abdullah envisioned as Nebraska (8-3, 4-3 Big Ten) enters its regular-season finale Friday at Iowa (7-4, 4-3).
He doesn’t mince words, either.
“It sucks. It definitely does suck,†Abdullah said. “But God does everything for a reason. I have been frustrated the last couple of weeks, to be honest.
“The way I started my year off was really good, but like I said, God does everything for a reason. I know good will come from this. I’ve learned a lot about becoming more resilient, being a guy who has to fight through adversity.â€
Abdullah’s Heisman Trophy campaign — remember #FearAmeer? — was alive and well through the season’s first two months. He entered November as the nation’s leader in rushing yards, all-purpose yards and points scored, and his 1,249 rushing yards through eight games marked the third-highest such total in Nebraska history.
His season turned Nov. 1 against Purdue, on a fumbled fourth-down shotgun snap from inside the Purdue 1-yard line in the first quarter.
“It was kind of a freak accident,†Abdullah said. “I think Tommy (Armstrong) dropped the ball on a snap, I picked it up, and I saw a crease maybe I could get through. I actually ran into Tommy, so I kind of stumbled off track, and I fell over and I think it was big number 14 (tackle Ra'Zahn Howard) — he was like 340 pounds — fell on my left knee.â€
Abdullah left the game with a sprained knee, and admittedly hasn’t been near 100 percent since.
“I’m just giving it what I got every Saturday. I’m getting better with each day,†Abdullah said. “I haven’t had the proper time to let myself rest, but we don’t have time right now. We got to keep grinding.â€
In large part because of his injury, Abdullah's chances for major national postseason awards have greatly dwindled. His rushing average of 128.9 has fallen to fourth among Big Ten running backs, behind Melvin Gordon, Tevin Coleman and David Cobb, meaning All-Big Ten honors are also in question.
But Abdullah’s attitude and approach in difficult times certainly are not.
“I think he is a warrior. I really do,†Nebraska coach Bo Pelini said. “He’s been less than 100 percent in the last couple weeks and hasn’t blinked an eye. I think it shows the character he has.
"To me, Ameer embodies everything you want a student-athlete to be. I believe that in every way. In his life, how he approaches every day, how he competes. He’s a pretty special guy.â€
He would need big games against Iowa and in a bowl game, but Abdullah is still within 386 yards of Nebraska’s career rushing record of 4,780 yards, set in 1983 by Heisman Trophy winner Mike Rozier. He needs 83 yards to join Rozier as the only Huskers with two 1,500-yard rushing seasons.
Regardless of his statistical records or postseason accolades, Abdullah is thankful for the relationships he’s built with Pelini, and especially with assistant coach Ron Brown.
“I’ve been coached by the best position coach I’ve ever had, Coach Brown,†Abdullah said. “The relationship I’ve built with him, he’s like a father for me. Leaving him is definitely going to hurt. I am going to keep him in my life.
“My experience here at Nebraska has been great. This season, things have gotten away from us a little bit, but I know the character of this team, and I know the resolve of this team, and I know we are going to finish things strong. We just have to take a deep breath and realize that we can only control what we can control today.â€
Briefly
Abdullah was named one of three finalists for the Doak Walker Award on Tuesday. Wisconsin's Gordon and Indiana's Coleman are also finalists.
Abdullah is the third Nebraska running back to be named a finalist for the Doak Walker, which goes to the nation's top running back. Calvin Jones was a finalist in 1993 and Ahman Green in 1997.
"It's definitely an honor. It's a blessing considering my circumstance this year," Abdullah said. "But God works in strange ways. It's an honor to be mentioned with great guys like Tevin Coleman and definitely Melvin Gordon. Anytime you're in that conversation, you can hang your hat on that."