AUBURN AUTHORITY

Melvin Gordon motivated by Cameron Artis-Payne's remarks

James Crepea
Montgomery Advertiser
Wisconsin running back Melvin Gordon (25) stiff arms Auburn defensive back Jermaine Whitehead (35) during the Outback Bowl between Auburn and Wisconsin at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Fla., on Thursday, Jan. 1, 2015. Wisconsin defeated Auburn 34-31.

INDIANAPOLIS -- Melvin Gordon was motivated by Cameron Artis-Payne's comments about the Big Ten prior to his incredible Outback Bowl outing of 251 yards and three touchdowns,

Following the Samford game, Arits-Payne said he'd like to play against Illinois, Northwestern and Rutgers, and backed it up against leading up to the New Year's Day game, adding Purdue to the fray and said he'd rush for 2,000 yards in the Big Ten.

Gordon used those remarks to fuel his stunning outing.

"I was real motivated," Gordon said. "I felt like he took a shot not just me but all the Big Ten running backs. It is what it is, at the end of the day you have to suit up and you have to go out there and play ball. Talking really don't get you anywhere but I was excited.

"It wasn't just because of him I was motivated. It was our last game, I wanted to win that bowl game. I knew it was my last game. I tried to help this team win a bowl, we hadn't won a bowl in four years. That was enough motivation for me right there."

Artis-Payne had 126 yards and two scores against one of the better rush defenses in the Big Ten in the 34-31 overtime thriller.z

Gordon finished his incredible season with 2,587 yards, just 41 yards shy of Barry Sanders' all-time record, though Sanders played in 11 games to Gordon's 14.

"To even be mentioned in the same sentence as Barry Sanders is an honor," Gordon said. "That's a great person to be second to; great player, phenomenal player. I was 40 yards and it sucked a little bit but it is what it is. It's standing there for someone else to break."