There was an article on ESPN.com which I read earlier today, which I think got switched out. It did have some catchphrases that some view as uncomplimentary, but didn't make light of Hester "only" running two yards on that last carry. It said that he "willed" his way into the endzone, which to me isn't that bad because it's not saying that he got lucky, or "walked" in as they sometimes say, it meant that he faced an immense obstacle but still succeeded. They also said he was a "sledgehammer" of a running back, which I like because the connotation is something strong and powerful, that strikes with amazing force.
Those types of phrases, or something like this guy works hard every day, I don't mind as much, as long as its not really a backhanded compliment, like "what he lacks in talent, he makes up for with heart..."
EDIT:
I found the ESPN article, here are portions of it:
...That spirit is so strong around this LSU team that they don't see coach
Les Miles' decision to go for it on fourth down five times as gambling.</span><br style="font-style: italic;"><br style="font-style: italic;">"I just think of it as confidence," says </span>
Jacob Hester, the Tigers' sledgehammer of a running back who barreled his way to 106 yards</span>...</span><br style="font-style: italic;"><br style="font-style: italic;">
Indeed. For most of the night, it appeared Florida's hulking sophomore QB, </span>
Tim Tebow,
would have all the answers for the Tigers. In the first half, whenever
LSU made a big play on defense or stuffed one of the Gators'
misdirection calls, Tebow was there to make an even bigger play,
hushing the boisterous LSU crowd and regaining momentum. Tebow's stats
weren't sparkling (12-for-26 for 158 yards, 16 carries for 67 yards, 3
TDs, 1 INT), but he did manage to allow Florida to go 6-of-9 on third
downs against the nation's toughest defense. After the game, Jackson
gave the Gators quarterback perhaps his biggest compliment:
</span><br style="font-style: italic;"><br style="font-style: italic;">"He's like a bigger Hester with a throwing arm," said Jackson, who had two of the Tigers' five QB hurries.
Hester's unrelenting, punishing runs sparked the Tigers, trumping
Tebow</span>. The 230-pounder from Shreveport even was successful in his own
fake: After he bulled his way into the end zone to put LSU ahead with
1:09 remaining</span>, he lay on the field and clutched his knee. "A little
acting," Hester sheepishly admitted. "My helmet broke."</span><div style="font-style: italic;" ="sp-inlinePhoto"><div style="width: 275px;">Les Miles' team will retain the top spot with the win, but USC's loss leaves a hole at No. 2.</div></div>Hester
explained that he had too much sand logged in his chin strap snap and
wouldn't have been able to be on the field for the Tigers' extra-point
attempt, so he faked the injury to buy some time. Like pretty much
everything else in the second half, it worked out perfectly for LSU.</span><br style="font-style: italic;"><br style="font-style: italic;">
Edited by: Electric Slide