Lawrence to honor Monroe at TC game

MonroeRetired NFL All-Pro Rolland ?Bay? Lawrence is scheduled to attend the Tabor College football game Saturday against Bethel College in Hillsboro.
Lawrence will be present to congratulate current senior James Monroe Jr. for surpassing the all-time career rushing record he set nearly 40 years ago.
Former Tabor football players are invited to a come-and-go reception in JavaJays in the student center after the game.
LawrenceWith 197 rushing yards, 34 carries and a 44-yard touchdown Oct. 19 during Tabor?s 20-19 win over Friends University, Monroe secured the all-time career rushing title with 3,198 yards. Lawrence set the original mark of 3,008 yards in 1973.
?I did not know I had broken the record, I wasn?t thinking about it,? Monroe said. ?We won the game, and that?s the most important part. It was a team effort.?
Monroe currently is ranked fourth in the NAIA, averaging 145 yards per game.
Monroe said as a freshman he was aware of Law?rence?s record.
?After my first year at Tabor, I had slightly over 400 yards and I thought there is no way I could break that,? he said. ?So I stopped thinking about it and played ball.?
In fall 1969, Lawrence came to Tabor from his home in Franklin, Pa., to play football. The second leading rusher on the team his freshman year, Lawrence was selected First Team All-KCAC as a sophomore.
During his junior year, Lawrence set the school record for most rushing yards. As a senior, he was selected First Team All-District 10 and Honorable Mention NAIA All-American.
Lawrence left Tabor College after graduating in 1973 to play for the Atlanta Falcons. He had a distinguished career with the Falcons from 1973 to 1981 and was named All-Pro in 1976 and 1977.
?A good team and a strong line attribute to successful players and these types of records,? Lawrence said. ?I congratulate Mr. Monroe for the hard work and accomplishments he has made on the field. He is clearly a talented and humble young man with a supportive cast in front of him.?
Since retiring from the NFL, Lawrence has had a successful professional career as a teacher, coach, vice principal and principal for Vision Quest, a youth placement facility in Franklin.

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