The Day Nemo Was Found

Nehemiah Broughton came out of the tunnel at Bank of America Stadium on Saturday, Aug. 13 with astonished eyes, looking not just like a kid in a candy store, but like Charlie Bucket when he found the golden ticket that allowed him to visit Mr. Wonka’s chocolate factory.

The Washington Redskins’ rookie running back/fullback looked as in shape as he has ever been, and was ready to show the nation just that as he prepared for his first preseason game ever against the Carolina Panthers in Charlotte.

Those lucky enough to be on the sidelines before the game took note, remarking that the man affectionately known as Nemo looked chiseled and ready to take on all-comers.

One of the first people to talk to Nemo out of the tunnel was The Citadel’s former sports information director, Mike Hayden, who was there with one of his former assistants, Kevin Rhodes.

Hayden mused to the 2005 seventh-round pick that, “it’s almost not real,” to which almost on cue, Nemo in a look of almost surreal pleasure said back, “wait until all the people get here.”

World Meet Nemo

Broughton is very familiar to all those with a vested interest in Southern Conference football.

The Bulldog bruiser was the workhorse for The Citadel over the last few years, making his presence known in whatever stadium the Bulldogs suited up on Saturday’s during the fall.

The Nemosapien, as he was referred to on the cover of The Citadel’s 2004 football media guide, ended his illustrious career with the Bulldogs fifth all-time in rushing with 2,643 yards and fourth all-time in touchdowns with 28.

Brougton, who donned the pads for the Bulldogs from 2001-04, also rushed for the century mark 11 times in his career to sit in fifth place in that particular category as well.

The numbers construe that it is no surprise that the 5-foot-11, 255 pound monster that is Nemo was chosen in the NFL draft.

Yet being such a late draft pick meant that the fullback was going to have to earn everything he obtained, and if he continues to play the way that he did on Aug. 13, then the NFL better watch out.

Nemo only saw playing time in the third quarter in preseason game No. 1 for the Panthers, but those 15 minutes of fame will probably be 15 that he will never forget.

The North Charleston, S.C. native rushed seven times for 28 yards to lead all Redskins rushers on the day.

His defining moment came in his final rush of the night when he bullied his way through for a two-yard touchdown that proved to be the only touchdown of the night for the NFC East team in a 28-10 loss to the Panthers.

The humble Broughton saw the touchdown run though as just another step towards his ultimate goal of making an NFL roster, although slyly putting in that scoring felt pretty good.

“People say that I am very nonchalant, but when you are a football player you have been in the end zone before, just not on this level” said Broughton. “I plan on being in there many more times if I get the chance.”

The Redskins’ romper first experience at the highest level of football was made all the more special by the fact that this is the closest he will ever get to his home town.

In fact, his girlfriend, mother and father and several of his friends made the roughly three hour trek to Bank of America Stadium to see Nemo play.

Nemo’s exploits on the playing field were not confined to the ground though, as he also caught a 15-yard pass from NFL mainstay Mark Brunell and made one tackle on special teams.

Washington head coach Joe Gibbs ? albeit rather loosely ? seemed to take note of Nemo’s performance, remarking that Broughton seemed to have a good game during his postgame shindig with the press.

The three-time All-SoCon selection may have placed himself of the national scale for a night with his performance in the loss, but he knows that he is not there yet and still has a bevy of work to do to make this Redskins team.

When asked what he has to work on the most by Andrew Miller of the Charleston Post & Courier after the game, Nemo said that he has perfect his pass-blocking skills.

“Everybody knows that you can run the ball when you are a running back,” said Broughton. “It is the other things outside of running the ball; catching better, protecting the quarterback. I really need to work on that.”

Sidenote from the Panthers-Redskins Game

• There was a heavy Southern Conference contingent on the field in the Panthers-Redskins preseason tussle on Aug. 13. In fact, two former Southern Conference players started for the teams on the night: both were Western Carolina grads. Three-time Super Bowl champion David Patten suited up at receiver for the Redskins for the first time last Saturday and Panthers mainstay Brad Hoover as usual started at tailback for the Panthers.