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Dunn's Homecoming A Success With TD, Win

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By ADAM ADKINS

The Tampa Tribune

Published: September 15, 2008

TAMPA - It had been six seasons since Warrick Dunn suited up as a Buc for a meaningful game at Raymond James Stadium, but it didn't take long for him to make an impact in his old stomping grounds.

Dunn turned in a solid performance in Sunday's 24-9 victory against the Atlanta Falcons, combining for 70 yards of total offense and a touchdown on 14 touches to help the Bucs (1-1) even their record on the season.

"It's good to be back," said Dunn, who spent his first five seasons in the NFL with the Bucs after Tampa Bay drafted him out of Florida State. "It's good to play in this stadium with the fans and the crowd. It's a little different, but it's been good so far."

It's understandable why Dunn might have felt a little different Sunday. Atlanta was the team Dunn left the Bucs for following the 2001 season. He spent six seasons with the Falcons and had many former teammates and friends across the field on the opposite sideline.

"It's like playing against your friends," Dunn said of going against his old Falcons teammates. "Sometimes when you're kids and you go out and you compete, you're competing against your friends and you want to beat your friends."

Dunn's biggest contributions toward beating his friends came on the Bucs' second scoring drive.

His first big play came when the Bucs faced a third-and-10 from Atlanta's 20. Dunn caught a shovel pass from quarterback Brian Griese and scampered 12 yards to give the Bucs a first-and-goal.
Three plays later, after Tampa Bay seemingly had shot itself in the foot with a pair of penalties and was staring at a third-and-goal from the 17, Dunn bailed the Bucs out of a jam by turning a simple draw into a 17-yard scoring run to give Tampa Bay a 14-0 lead.

It was Dunn's first touchdown of the season and his 27th as a Buccaneer, tying him with Mark Carrier for sixth on the franchise's all-time list.

"It was a fantastic run," fellow backfield mate Earnest Graham said. "You're going to see that the rest of the year.

"The guy has a lot of fight in him. If you give him space, he's going to make some plays. He's been doing that for the last decade. I mean, the guy has over 10,000 yards in his career, and that's for a reason - he's a dang good running back."

Dunn was Tampa Bay's most effective rusher before Graham (game-high 116 yards on 15 carries) broke out late and sealed the game with a 68-yard scoring run with 3:08 left in the game. And while most might not know it, Dunn had a hand in the game-clinching play, even if it doesn't show up on the stat sheet.

"I don't think I make that run without seeing him make that run a series earlier," Graham said. "I asked him about the cut and he said it was there, so when I got a chance to make that cut, I did. I think that's a credit to him."

Reporter Adam Adkins can be reached at (813) 657-4533 or aadkins@tampatrib.com.

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