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Ganz ready for QB challenge
BY STEVEN M. SIPPLE / Lincoln Journal Star
Tuesday, Feb 27, 2007 - 12:05:18 am CST
Joe Ganz
Quarterback Joe Ganz has entered Nebraska’s spring practice season the past two years intent on competing for playing time. However, he has never been in serious competition for the starting job.
“Obviously, the stakes are a little higher now,” Ganz said.
How high? Well, Ganz wants the Nebraska starting position in 2007 “as badly as anything I’ve ever wanted in my life,” he said. “But I can’t focus on all that. I have to focus on being prepared and being consistent and letting the chips fall where they may fall.”
Ganz and transfer Sam Keller will enter spring practice March 21 as the leading candidates to succeed Zac Taylor under center. The Huskers, who had a 9-5 record last year, are set to wrap up their winter conditioning program next week.
The 6-foot-4, 230-pound Keller, who sat out the 2006 season after transferring from Arizona State last August, is widely regarded as the leading candidate to replace Taylor. After all, Keller left ASU with 3,018 passing yards, including 2,165 in 2005 in seven games as a starter.
Ganz, a 6-1, 200-pound junior from suburban Chicago, appeared in four games as a reserve last year. He completed 7 of 13 passes for 122 yards and three touchdowns. He was Nebraska’s top backup for much of 2005, but did not see game action. He was the team’s offensive scout team player of the year in 2004.
Keller said last week that Ganz has an edge going into spring practice because of his keen knowledge of the offense. “Joe’s a sharp kid,” Keller said. “He can rattle off these plays and get the offense going, and that’s where I need to get.”
Said Ganz: “I think Coach (Bill) Callahan is the only one who’s really mastered our offense, but I know it pretty much inside and out.”
The respect Ganz has earned among teammates also will help his cause. Nebraska coaches have said players like to play for Ganz.
“I have to win over my teammates,” Ganz said. “It’s going to be hard for the coaches not to play the guy who the players get behind.
“But in the long run, you have to perform on the field.”
Ganz has impressed coaches with his proficiency of making plays when the offense breaks down. For instance, Ganz, a star shortstop in high school, is a good scrambler.
Can he make all the necessary throws?
“I wouldn’t have been Zac’s backup last season if the coaches thought I couldn’t make all of the throws,” Ganz said.
In addition to Ganz and Keller, Nebraska’s group of quarterbacks this spring will include junior Beau Davis and incoming recruits Zac Lee and Patrick Witt. However, Lee, a transfer from San Francisco City College, has been slowed by offseason knee surgery.
Most of the attention will be on Keller, a situation Ganz doesn’t mind — he’s used to being in the background.
“It does add a little fuel to the fire,” Ganz said of competing against higher-profile quarterbacks. “But I don’t pay too much attention to who’s getting all of the attention.”
Ganz’s main objective is to ensure Nebraska’s offense continues to improve. The Huskers averaged 414.6 yards last season after averaging 320.3 in 2005.
Ganz hopes he’s the one directing the show come fall.
“I’m happy with my career here,” he said. “But I came here to be the guy (starting at QB), and I really want to be that guy.”
Ganz ready for QB challenge
BY STEVEN M. SIPPLE / Lincoln Journal Star
Tuesday, Feb 27, 2007 - 12:05:18 am CST
Joe Ganz
Quarterback Joe Ganz has entered Nebraska’s spring practice season the past two years intent on competing for playing time. However, he has never been in serious competition for the starting job.
“Obviously, the stakes are a little higher now,” Ganz said.
How high? Well, Ganz wants the Nebraska starting position in 2007 “as badly as anything I’ve ever wanted in my life,” he said. “But I can’t focus on all that. I have to focus on being prepared and being consistent and letting the chips fall where they may fall.”
Ganz and transfer Sam Keller will enter spring practice March 21 as the leading candidates to succeed Zac Taylor under center. The Huskers, who had a 9-5 record last year, are set to wrap up their winter conditioning program next week.
The 6-foot-4, 230-pound Keller, who sat out the 2006 season after transferring from Arizona State last August, is widely regarded as the leading candidate to replace Taylor. After all, Keller left ASU with 3,018 passing yards, including 2,165 in 2005 in seven games as a starter.
Ganz, a 6-1, 200-pound junior from suburban Chicago, appeared in four games as a reserve last year. He completed 7 of 13 passes for 122 yards and three touchdowns. He was Nebraska’s top backup for much of 2005, but did not see game action. He was the team’s offensive scout team player of the year in 2004.
Keller said last week that Ganz has an edge going into spring practice because of his keen knowledge of the offense. “Joe’s a sharp kid,” Keller said. “He can rattle off these plays and get the offense going, and that’s where I need to get.”
Said Ganz: “I think Coach (Bill) Callahan is the only one who’s really mastered our offense, but I know it pretty much inside and out.”
The respect Ganz has earned among teammates also will help his cause. Nebraska coaches have said players like to play for Ganz.
“I have to win over my teammates,” Ganz said. “It’s going to be hard for the coaches not to play the guy who the players get behind.
“But in the long run, you have to perform on the field.”
Ganz has impressed coaches with his proficiency of making plays when the offense breaks down. For instance, Ganz, a star shortstop in high school, is a good scrambler.
Can he make all the necessary throws?
“I wouldn’t have been Zac’s backup last season if the coaches thought I couldn’t make all of the throws,” Ganz said.
In addition to Ganz and Keller, Nebraska’s group of quarterbacks this spring will include junior Beau Davis and incoming recruits Zac Lee and Patrick Witt. However, Lee, a transfer from San Francisco City College, has been slowed by offseason knee surgery.
Most of the attention will be on Keller, a situation Ganz doesn’t mind — he’s used to being in the background.
“It does add a little fuel to the fire,” Ganz said of competing against higher-profile quarterbacks. “But I don’t pay too much attention to who’s getting all of the attention.”
Ganz’s main objective is to ensure Nebraska’s offense continues to improve. The Huskers averaged 414.6 yards last season after averaging 320.3 in 2005.
Ganz hopes he’s the one directing the show come fall.
“I’m happy with my career here,” he said. “But I came here to be the guy (starting at QB), and I really want to be that guy.”
