How do you get 60,000 people to pay $8 each to attend a glorified spring football scrimmage? Perhaps some drama and intrigue surrounding the quarterbacks will help.
the Lincoln Journal Star | Posted: Friday, April 13, 2007 7:00 pm
How do you get 60,000 people to pay $8 each to attend a glorified spring football scrimmage? Perhaps some drama and intrigue surrounding the quarterbacks will help.
It worked for Nebraska in 2004, when 61,000 exhaled at once as Joe Dailey unleashed a long pass — an incompletion — to begin the West Coast offense era.
It worked the following year, when 63,000 showed up to get a sneak peak at newcomer Zac Taylor, who wowed the masses by throwing for 357 yards … in the first half.
Today, another large, curious crowd will gather to watch transfer Sam Keller take his first snaps in a Husker uniform. It will be his first game action of any kind since October of 2005, when he played at Arizona State. “My heart is going to be thumping,” Keller said.
Many believe the starting job belongs to Keller. Nebraska coaches tell a different story, saying Joe Ganz, last year’s backup, is very much in the hunt.
For players and coaches, Saturday's annual Red-White game is only part of the battle that figures to continue through August.
For fans, though, it’s a much bigger step. It’s a chance to analyze, form opinions and gather first-hand ammunition for summer-long debates that must last until Sept. 1.
Here’s a closer look at the Keller-Ganz battle to tide fans over until 12:30 p.m. Saturday, when another quarterback debate begins.
Sam Keller
He's the man: The hype surrounding Keller’s arrival last August should be reason enough to anoint him the starter, right? Keller’s sudden transfer from Arizona State and decision to spend his final year of collegiate eligibility at Nebraska created a mini-circus.
A quarterback with NFL potential? One who’d thrown for 2,165 yards and 20 TDs in only seven starts the previous season? Strong arm? Quick release? And just when the Huskers were set to say goodbye to two-year starter Zac Taylor?
Nebraska fans, after wiping their chins, accepted the strapping Keller with open arms. Today, they, along with the media, will see the senior in action for the first time.
Keller’s main goal this spring has been to familiarize himself with Nebraska’s version of the West Coast offense, develop on-field relationships with his teammates, and to perform while also learning.
“It’s just a matter of polishing again, like the little things — my feet, my mechanics, my reads, reading defenses,” Keller said. “You can never get too good at those things. I’ve just got to get back up to where I was.”
Which, by the way, was a pretty darned good Pac-10 quarterback.
Visor and clipboard?: Keller’s impressive physical attributes will mean little to coaches if Keller doesn’t manage the offense to their liking.
In fact, a big, physically-gifted quarterback, although nice, is not necessary to operate this offense. The quarterback, offensive coordinator Shawn Watson said, is in charge of making smart decisions and distributing the ball to playmakers.
That, of course, means knowing and understanding the offense, inside and out. In that regard, Keller is still playing catch-up with his competition.
Snapshots: Look for Keller to be tested hard Saturday, Watson said.
“We want to see exactly the management aspect of the offense,” Watson said. “Because that’s the No. 1 thing. You can’t be creative until you got it, until you know what you’re doing with the football. We want to see who manages.”
If Keller does that, it’s hard to bet against him, given his experience.
Joe Ganz
He’s the man: Remember the big recruiting hoopla with Ganz? That’s OK. There really wasn’t any. Ganz was a relatively unknown quarterback who joined Bill Callahan’s hastily-arranged recruiting class of 2004.
Three years have passed. Quarterbacks have come, quarterbacks have gone. Ganz has remained headstrong throughout. Now, the junior appears to be doing more than simply holding his own in a starting battle.
In last Saturday’s major scrimmage, offensive coordinator Shawn Watson noted Ganz led the offense to three touchdowns.
“You know, he did a nice job running our offense,” Watson said. “Nothing spectacular.”
Doesn’t have to be flashy. Just productive — and consistent. It’s why the steady Ganz has earned praise from coaches and been able to at least keep pace with Keller.
“If you’re making your reads, if you’re getting the ball out on time, you’re making the right checks, the offense looks better,” Ganz said. “It’s going to be consistent. So the offense goes as the quarterback goes.”
Visor and clipboard?: Ganz has made many strides since his arrival three seasons ago. Still, he’s yet to build an impressive game resume.
Of course, Ganz hasn’t had many chances. He attempted only 13 passes in five games last season. His memorable touchdown throw against Colorado came on a special teams trick play.
Keller, meanwhile, has faced the likes of LSU and USC.
Snap decisions: Ganz and Keller will play together Saturday on the No. 1 offense. It’s hard, but try not to read too much into which guy goes under center first. Both will get plenty of opportunities.
“One thing about spring games,” Watson said, “they’ve always revealed competitors. That’s what you really want to see, because that’s going to be the key ingredient to a championship team.”
Ganz seems the competitive type, and he’s built a strong team relationship in his three seasons. Both are strong qualities, but it’s likely going to take a little extra something for him to surpass Keller.
NU's other quarterbacks in the mix
Beau Davis: Davis, like Ganz, was a late recruit after Bill Callahan was hired in January of 2004. But since that fateful night in Lubbock, Texas, we’ve not seen much of Davis, a 6-4, 180-pound junior from Venice, Calif. He’ll play today with the No. 2 offense. What to expect? Hard telling. Callahan has said Davis “has shown a lot of good things” this spring and often mentions Davis when discussing the quarterback race.
Patrick Witt: Sam Keller isn’t the only first-look quarterback on the spring roster. Witt could give fans a glimpse into the distant future. The 6-foot-4, 220-pound true freshman graduated high school a semester early to get a head start on learning Nebraska’s offense. Spring practice scuttlebut indicates Witt has performed extremely well. But is he a prospect for this fall? Watch today and judge for yourself. Witt’s on the No. 2 offense.
Zac Lee: We won’t see Lee on Saturday. The junior college transfer is rehabilitating his knee after having surgery. Lee has been doing some light running and light throwing. "Obviously, it's difficult, but I feel like I'm about where I need to be,” Lee said. “I don't want to rush anything, especially with a knee injury. I'll just take it as it goes." Lee played one season at San Francisco City College, where he threw for more than 3,400 yards and 35 touchdowns.
Spring game facts & figures
Kickoff: 12:30 p.m., Memorial Stadium
Satellite TV: NFL Network, 8 p.m. (NFL Network is not available on Time Warner Cable)
Radio: 1400 AM
Tickets: $8 adults, $4 youths and senior citizens. Children age 6 and under and youth with a drug-free pledge card will be admitted free. drug-free pledge cards can be picked up between 11 a.m. and 12:10 p.m. at the columns east of Memorial Stadium.
Pregame: The Husker Nation Pavilion will open at 9:30 a.m. with activities for the entire family. The national champion NU volleyball team will sign autographs from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. Other Nebraska teams will also be on hand to meet fans.
Recent Spring Game crowds:
2006 — 57,415
2005 — 63,416
2004 — 61,417
2003 — 33,419
2002 — 31,420
2001 — 30,414
2000 — 22,415
More fun and games: Along with the spring game, Saturday’s schedule of events includes a home softball game and spring exhibition matches for the volleyball and soccer teams.
* Fresh off Thursday’s 7-2 win at Creighton, the Nebraska softball team takes on No. 11 Texas at 2 p.m. at Bowlin Stadium. Fans with ticket stubs from the football game or youths with drug-free pledge cards will be admitted free.
* NU’s national champion volleyball team makes its own spring appearance at the Coliseum in a 3 p.m. match against Colorado State. Tickets are $8 for adults and $4 for students and senior citizens, with seating on a first-come, first-served basis.
* Admission is free to the Nebraska-Kansas women’s soccer exhibition at the Nebraska Soccer Field outside Memorial Stadium. The game begins at 3:30 p.m.
Checking out the place: Recruiting coordinator Ted Gilmore anticipates that about 80 prospects will be on hand for the scrimmage, even though today is a national testing day for the ACT standardized exam.
The highest-profile recruit expected to be in Lincoln? That would be Blaine Gabbert, a 6-foot-5, 230-pound dual-threat quarterback from Ballwin, Mo., a suburb of St. Louis. Gabbert, who reportedly runs the 40-yard dash in 4.65 seconds, has received scholarship offers from Nebraska, Alabama, Iowa, Missouri, Kansas State and Oregon, among others.
In addition, defensive end Riley Reiff, a 6-6, 235-pound defensive end from Parkston, S.D., is expected to be in attendance. In fact, recruiting analysts speculate that Reiff could verbally pledge to NU this weekend. Reiff also is considering offers from Iowa and Minnesota.