LaDainian Tomlinson, a senior running back for Texas Christian University, has received national attention as a candidate for the Heisman Trophy. What's not so well-known is that Tomlinson is the spokesperson for the "Score a Goal in the Classroom" campaign in the Dallas-Fort Worth area.

Last year, Tomlinson became the first TCU player to lead NCAA Division I-A in rushing with 1,850 yards.

This year, Tomlinson is TCU's career rushing leader with 4,553 yards, and he is leading the nation in rushing again this season with 1,448 yards on 268 attempts. He also leads the country in scoring with 15 touchdowns for 102 points.

In the middle of a record-breaking season and a campaign for the Heisman, Tomlinson is trying to use his hero status with local children as a way to shine a spotlight on the "unsung heroes" of Dallas-Fort Worth schools.

"The dictionary defines a hero as a person who cares, who does brave deeds -- someone you'd like to be like," Tomlinson said. "Now when I look back on things, my heroes are my family and my teachers -- the people who encouraged me and cared about me, who pushed me to be the very best I could be."

Tomlinson is featured in a five-minute video, "Teachers are the Real Heroes," that was produced and distributed to more than 300 schools, along with posters that permit students to track his yardage throughout the season. Teachers were sent a letter offering suggestions for incorporating Tomlinson's Heisman run into the academic curriculum.

Tomlinson has made personal visits to schools during the weeks after home games this season. While there, he speaks to children about heroes, using examples from his own life and football career.

"If it weren't for my teachers helping me in the classroom and not letting me give up on myself when lots of people didn't give me a chance, I wouldn't have gotten into college," he said. "No matter how great of a running back I was, no college would have given me a scholarship if I couldn't make the grades. That's why I think teachers are the real heroes. They are there for us day-in and day-out."

A radio/TV/film major, Tomlinson is on track to graduate next December. He reminds young students to emphasize academics.

"The only reason I can do what I do on the football field is because of academics," Tomlinson said. "I know I'm here to get an education first, and I'm lucky enough that I get to play football, too."

His professors have noticed his hard work as well. "LaDainian really impressed me with his effort in class," said radio/TV/film faculty member Roger Cooper. "He's a solid student and I enjoyed having him in my class."

Tomlinson, who credits his mother, Lorean Chappell, with inspiring him to succeed, is quick to point out that others have helped him succeed, even on the field.

When TCU head coach Dennis Franchione presented Tomlinson with a plaque to commemorate his winning the NCAA Division I-A rushing title last year, Tomlinson gave it to the team's offensive linemen, who hung it in their meeting room.

When Tomlinson visits schools, he asks the young students to help identify "unsung heroes" at their own schools. He gives students a homework assignment, asking them to write him a letter telling him about someone special at their school, "whether it be a teacher, librarian, custodian or someone who works in the cafeteria."

Letters will be shared with the local media and posted on the Web site that was created for Tomlinson's Heisman campaign, www.LTfor2000.com.

The five best letters will earn that student, their parents or guardian and the selected "hero" and his or her family tickets to a special "Heroes at the Ball Game Celebration" at TCU's November 18 home game against the University of Texas at El Paso.

And whether Tomlinson takes home the Heisman or not, a lot of youngsters in Texas already think he's a winner.