Bieniemy Searches for Running Room : Pro football: Five-foot-7 back tries to force his way into a crowded Charger backfield.

LA JOLLA — First practice of training camp, first carry for running back Eric Bieniemy and the team’s first fumble of the year.

“Not a very auspicious beginning, now was it?” Bieniemy said.

First impressions, however, seldom do Bieniemy justice.

They pegged him as a troublemaker on first glance at the University of Colorado, but when he left most of the school’s rushing records bore his name.

When the Buffaloes took on big and tough Nebraska in his senior season, the Cornhuskers forced Bieniemy to fumble five times. But in the fourth quarter Bieniemy came on to score four touchdowns and lead Colorado to a 27-12 victory.

His introduction to Charger fans last year coincided with a report that the law was chasing him for failing to appear on charges of driving with a suspended license and speeding. By the end of his first day in San Diego, fans were informed that he had also been charged previously for disorderly conduct, leaving the scene of an accident and interfering with a firefighter. So much for the Chargers’ second-round draft pick?

“Everyone has been watching me for the past year to see if I do anything wrong,” Bieniemy said. “But I’m not the bad guy that everybody thought when I was coming out of college.”

First impressions . He’s a shrimp by NFL standards at 5-7. The Chargers have 96 players on the roster and 95 of them are taller than Bieniemy, including pint-sized kicker Carlos Huerta.

“There are some things you can’t measure,” Bieniemy said. “I want people to know I’m a great competitor and I never take no for answer.”

Take this: Unless an earthquake swallows Marion Butts, Ronnie Harmon and Rod Bernstine, there’s no way they are going to give the football to Bieniemy.

“As much as the ground has been shaking lately, who knows?” Bieniemy said. “Hey, realistically it probably won’t happen, but then you never know.”

The lasting impression . Tell him he has no chance of carrying the ball this season, and then watch him run over linebackers in a hurry to prove you wrong.

He has been in San Diego since March and has camped in the weight room. He went to mini-camp, stayed for more work, attended a second mini-camp and then remained at the stadium for more practice.

Now he’s here at UC San Diego with the rookies because he’s trying to catch the attention of the coaches. He reported for work almost 15 pounds lighter than last season because he wants to demonstrate that he’s quick enough to run pass patterns. He also has asked to return kickoffs.

He is convinced that Coach Bobby Ross will make room for him in the lineup. He says the offense will be more wide open this year. He hears Ross talk about the two-back attack, and he said, “I smile.”

His lack of playing time last season--three carries--was a comedown after his final season in college, when he was the nation’s No. 2 rusher.

“It’s a humbling experience,” Bieniemy said. “Every day I realize it is ‘Welcome to the NFL.’ You go from high school to college and there are great players. You go from college to the pros, and there are great players. You think, ‘Where do I fit in?’ Well, I want to be one of the great players.”

He remained the good soldier through an uneventful rookie campaign. He always was a solid practice player, though there was no guarantee of playing time. He returned to college during the off-season to finish work on his degree.

“I have to work that’s the way I have been raised,” he said. “If I don’t get that degree my mother is going to kill me. You see, my mother is very feisty. She never gives up to anybody, and that’s the way I am. My mother has always been my idol; that’s where I get my competitiveness.

“I don’t believe anyone on any day can beat me at anything.”

How else do you explain his amazing success? He has a funny body with those oversized thighs, but in college defenses were not laughing. Twenty-one times he rushed for more than 100 yards. He scored 42 career touchdowns and finished third in Heisman Trophy voting.

“I’m putting a lot of pressure on myself,” Bieniemy said. “As a personal goal I want to earn respect from other players. I have to work myself into the lineup some how, some way.

“I’m competing with three great backs, and they are great because they have produced for some time now. But then that makes me a better player, because I want to be better than they are. To do that, every time I’m out there I’ve got to be flawless. It doesn’t make a difference if they make a mistake because they have proven themselves.”

Charger Notes

Wide receiver Yancey Thigpen is making a strong bid to be the team’s fourth wide receiver. “He has not had a bad day,” Coach Bobby Ross said. . . . Quarterback Bob Gagliano struggled early, but looked sharp Saturday afternoon. . . . Defensive coordinator Bill Arnsparger doesn’t say much on the field, but he had harsh words for linebacker Steve Hendrickson after a blown coverage. . . . Safety Delton Hall delivered a jarring blow to the back of wide receiver Jimmy Raye and forced him to drop the ball. “He’s had about 10 of those (hits) so far,” Ross said. . . . Running back Peter Tuipulotu and safety James Fuller have been impressive.

Ross has praised the pass rush of George Thornton and Chris Mims. Thornton has battled a weight problem and must weigh in at 295 on Wednesday. He will be fined $50 for each pound above that total and will be required to lose a pound a day thereafter or be fined again. . . . Ross called tight end Derrick Walker a very “underrated player,” and praised safety Anthony Shelton. . . . Wide receiver Anthony Miller has made several spectacular catches. He appears recovered from arthroscopic knee surgery.

The Chargers will not practice this morning, but will be on the field at UC San Diego again at 3:40 this afternoon. They practice twice Monday and will face the Rams in a Tuesday morning scrimmage at UC Irvine.