By Tom Green
Lionel James, the legendary Auburn running back nicknamed “Little Train” because of his 5-foot-6 stature and unrelenting running style, died Friday following a battle with a lengthy illness, the program announced.
He was 59.
James starred at Auburn during the early 1980s and is 18th on the program’s career rushing list with 2,068 rushing yards from 1980-83. He averaged 6.14 yards per carry for his career, which is fourth in school history.
“Lionel James defined Auburn football for a generation,” former Auburn sports information director and athletics director David Housel said.
James was the Tigers’ leading rusher in 1981 during Pat Dye’s first season as head coach, and he also led the team in all-purpose yards that year. He rushed for 561 yards that season before posting back-to-back 700-yard campaigns as a junior and senior. He also led the team in all-purpose yards during his junior season, with 1,345.
A fan favorite during and well after his time on the Plains, James was a team captain in 1983 and helped lead Auburn to its first SEC championship in 26 seasons. The 171-pounder was part of a backfield triumvirate that also included Auburn legends Bo Jackson and Tommie Agee.
“Pound for pound one of the greatest all-purpose players to play the game of football,” Agee said. “Always put the team first. He was one of the reasons why I came to Auburn. He showed me what the Auburn family, the Auburn team, was all about on my official visit.”
A native of Albany, Ga., James was inducted into the Alabama Sports Hall of Fame in 2006. Auburn’s A-Day offensive MVP award was permanently named after him in 1987
“Lionel was a special person,” said Randy Campbell, who was Auburn’s quarterback during 1983 SEC championship season. “Thoughtful, kind, caring and the ultimate team player. He led by example and made everyone around him a better football player. He could turn a bad play into a great play, like the 87-yard touchdown vs. Georgia in 1982. He should have been tackled at the line of scrimmage but made the guy miss and took it all the way. Little Train played in the greatest group of running backs in Auburn history with Bo, Tommie Agee and Brent Fullwood.
“He was my favorite because he was the underdog. We love Lionel and will miss him very much.”
Following four seasons in Auburn’s backfield, James was drafted by the San Diego Chargers in the fifth round of the 1984 NFL Draft. James spent five seasons with the Chargers and set the NFL record for all-purpose yards in a season with 2,525 yards in 1985. He led the franchise in rushing yards (516), receiving yards (1,027), kickoff return yards (779) and punt return yards (213) while scoring eight touchdowns. His 1,027 receiving yards were an NFL record for a running back at the time, while his 86 receptions that season led the AFC.
He finished his NFL career with 1,061 rushing yards and 2,278 receiving yards, with 16 career touchdowns, including two on punt returns.
After retiring from the league, James returned to Auburn and graduated in 1989. He spent two seasons on Terry Bowden’s staff on the Plains coaching tight ends from 1996-97.
“Who could ever forget the tears in his eyes after the Tennessee game in Knoxville in 1981?” Housel said. “Losing hurt. Those tears and his reaction symbolized the change in attitude about Auburn football. Those tears showed that winning mattered and it was worth fighting for. Lionel James – the Little Engine That Could. All of the things you want to think Auburn football is about, Lionel James summarized. He wasn’t big in stature, but he was big in heart, and he symbolized Auburn football for a generation or more.”