hack
All-Conference
'It's the most fun I've had,' Taylor says after winning drive
BY MITCH SHERMAN
WORLD-HERALD STAFF WRITER
Huskers 28, Aggies 27 - Nov. 11, 2006
COLLEGE STATION, Texas - Zac Taylor said a lot of things Saturday in the aftermath of Nebraska's 28-27 win over Texas A&M.
One 14-word sentence, though, captured his true feelings above all else.
"I've laid awake in bed for 23 years," Taylor said, "thinking about a game like this."
The senior quarterback surpassed Dave Humm as the all-time NU record-holder for career passing yardage. Taylor moved ahead of Vince Ferragamo as the Huskers' single-season leader in touchdown passes.
Clearly, none of it mattered as much to Taylor as the result of an 11-play, 75-yard drive that took 96 seconds, ended in a 9-yard TD pass to Maurice Purify and allowed Nebraska to clinch its first Big 12 North Division title in seven years.
Taylor, a two-year starter out of Norman, Okla., stamped his name on this victory by leading the most important scoring march of his career. He completed 5 of 11 passes on the decisive drive, connecting with four receivers as the Huskers operated smoothly despite the absence of timeouts.
"It's the most fun I've had," Taylor said. "If that's my finest moment, I'll let you be the judge. But it's definitely the greatest feeling. It means the world to us to come into this place and win."
His teammates said Taylor was in complete command.
"That dude was totally calm, totally poised," center Brett Byford said. "He was in control of everything. When you have a leader like that, it helps everybody else not worry as much."
The Huskers were plenty worried after Taylor threw his fourth interception of the season (in 287 attempts) with less than three minutes to play as the Aggies led 27-21. NU held A&M to 5 yards and blocked a field goal, giving Taylor one more chance to leave a lasting mark.
"Who else's hands would you want the ball in?" Nebraska coach Bill Callahan said.
The coach has a point.
Taylor has now thrown for more career yardage (5,193) than any other player in NU history. His 22 touchdown passes this year are a school record by two.
Taylor's 2,540 passing yards this season place him second on the single-season charts, behind only his 2,653 yards last year. He figures to shatter that record and push the 3,000-yard mark in the Huskers' three remaining games.
On Saturday, Taylor absorbed four sacks but completed 21 of 35 passes for 267 yards and two touchdowns.
"Zac's prepared a long time," Nebraska offensive coordinator Jay Norvell said. "You get lucky when preparation meets opportunity. This was his opportunity.
"I just told him in the shower, 'Buddy, it doesn't get any better than this.' To be away on the road in a game that we needed and to be behind against a hostile crowd, I couldn't be any happier for him and more proud of him."
Linebacker Corey McKeon offered an interesting take on Taylor: "That Zac Taylor kid, he likes to muff around in the second half, look like we're playing bad. He likes to keep it close. It's just his style. He doesn't like to blow teams out. I don't like it. It's bad for my blood pressure."
The Huskers could joke because they won - because Taylor brought them back when it looked bleak.
"The records, I was aware of it," the quarterback said. "It's a great honor, but I wouldn't be thinking about it if we had lost the game. It wouldn't have meant much to me. And honestly, I wouldn't have wanted to win this game any other way."
BY MITCH SHERMAN
WORLD-HERALD STAFF WRITER
Huskers 28, Aggies 27 - Nov. 11, 2006
COLLEGE STATION, Texas - Zac Taylor said a lot of things Saturday in the aftermath of Nebraska's 28-27 win over Texas A&M.
One 14-word sentence, though, captured his true feelings above all else.
"I've laid awake in bed for 23 years," Taylor said, "thinking about a game like this."
The senior quarterback surpassed Dave Humm as the all-time NU record-holder for career passing yardage. Taylor moved ahead of Vince Ferragamo as the Huskers' single-season leader in touchdown passes.
Clearly, none of it mattered as much to Taylor as the result of an 11-play, 75-yard drive that took 96 seconds, ended in a 9-yard TD pass to Maurice Purify and allowed Nebraska to clinch its first Big 12 North Division title in seven years.
Taylor, a two-year starter out of Norman, Okla., stamped his name on this victory by leading the most important scoring march of his career. He completed 5 of 11 passes on the decisive drive, connecting with four receivers as the Huskers operated smoothly despite the absence of timeouts.
"It's the most fun I've had," Taylor said. "If that's my finest moment, I'll let you be the judge. But it's definitely the greatest feeling. It means the world to us to come into this place and win."
His teammates said Taylor was in complete command.
"That dude was totally calm, totally poised," center Brett Byford said. "He was in control of everything. When you have a leader like that, it helps everybody else not worry as much."
The Huskers were plenty worried after Taylor threw his fourth interception of the season (in 287 attempts) with less than three minutes to play as the Aggies led 27-21. NU held A&M to 5 yards and blocked a field goal, giving Taylor one more chance to leave a lasting mark.
"Who else's hands would you want the ball in?" Nebraska coach Bill Callahan said.
The coach has a point.
Taylor has now thrown for more career yardage (5,193) than any other player in NU history. His 22 touchdown passes this year are a school record by two.
Taylor's 2,540 passing yards this season place him second on the single-season charts, behind only his 2,653 yards last year. He figures to shatter that record and push the 3,000-yard mark in the Huskers' three remaining games.
On Saturday, Taylor absorbed four sacks but completed 21 of 35 passes for 267 yards and two touchdowns.
"Zac's prepared a long time," Nebraska offensive coordinator Jay Norvell said. "You get lucky when preparation meets opportunity. This was his opportunity.
"I just told him in the shower, 'Buddy, it doesn't get any better than this.' To be away on the road in a game that we needed and to be behind against a hostile crowd, I couldn't be any happier for him and more proud of him."
Linebacker Corey McKeon offered an interesting take on Taylor: "That Zac Taylor kid, he likes to muff around in the second half, look like we're playing bad. He likes to keep it close. It's just his style. He doesn't like to blow teams out. I don't like it. It's bad for my blood pressure."
The Huskers could joke because they won - because Taylor brought them back when it looked bleak.
"The records, I was aware of it," the quarterback said. "It's a great honor, but I wouldn't be thinking about it if we had lost the game. It wouldn't have meant much to me. And honestly, I wouldn't have wanted to win this game any other way."
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I mean with all the shifting and motion before the snap, and the way he controls the team when he changes the play at the LOS looks like just the way a Pro QB would do it.