huskeraddict
All-Conference
FROM THE AUGUST 21, 2006 ISSUE OF SPORTS ILLUSTRATED
In the fall of 1994, Zac Taylor sat in the top row of Memorial Stadium in Norman, Oklahoma and watched the top ranked Nebraska Cornhuskers beat the Sooners 13-3. Taylor, who was 11 at the time, marveled at the Huskers' option running attact and the mammoth offensive line that mowed down everything in its path. An aspiring quarterback, he wished he had the speed to one day play for a national power. "I run like a 5.8 40, so I never thought Nebraska would be a place I could play," says Taylor, a native of Norman whose father, Sherwood, was a defensive back for Oklahoma from 1977-'79, "but then Coach [bill] Callahan came and changed the whole offense,"
Callahan replace Frank Solich in January 2004, installed the West Coast offense and in February '05 lured Taylor to Lincoln. Now, for the first time in five years, the Huskers enter the season as a favorite to win the Big 12 North. Sixteen starters return from a team that finished with a 3-game winnign streak, including upsets of Colorado (30-3) and Michigan (32-28) in the Alamo Bowl. But the defining moment of Nebraska's season-and the Callahan era to date-came at the start of that run, a 27-25 win over Kansas State on Nov. 12. That's when the pass-happy offense started clicking and and, as Taylor puts it, "the light came on for everyone." "Everything started to slow down for me against K-State," says Taylor, a 6;2", 210 pound senior who threw for 220 yards and 2 TDs that day before leaving with a concussion. "I finally felt like I had chemistry with my receivers." Over those last 3 games Taylor completed 59% of his passes for 779 yards and 7 TDs. Who needs foot speed to run the Nebraska offense? Taylor began his college career at Wake Forest (after redshirting in 2002, he served as the Demon Deacons' backup QB in '03), then made a stop at Butler County (Kans.) Community College, where he passed for nearly 3,000 yards and 29 TDs and caught the attention of Callahan. Now Taylor's right arm is the key to the Cornhuskers' season, and he'll be throwing to perhaps the most talented receiving corps in school history. The two top wideouts from last year-Nate Swift (45 receptions) and Terrence Nunn (43 receptions)-have been joined by Maurice Purify, a 6'4" 210 pounder who was a JUCO All-American at City College of San Francisco. "Maurice can be a difference-maker for us," says offenseive coordinator Jay Norvell. "Zac's going to have a lot of weapons, and he's got the talent in his arm to make things happen. He can make throws that guys in the NFL can't."
Nebraska, which has not been to a BCS bowl since 2001, will find out quickly if it's ready to rejoin the national elite: On Sept. 16 the Huskers travel to Los Angeles to play USC. "It's taken some time," says Taylor, "but we feel like this is the year that we're going to bring Nebraska back to the top." -Lars Anderson
In the fall of 1994, Zac Taylor sat in the top row of Memorial Stadium in Norman, Oklahoma and watched the top ranked Nebraska Cornhuskers beat the Sooners 13-3. Taylor, who was 11 at the time, marveled at the Huskers' option running attact and the mammoth offensive line that mowed down everything in its path. An aspiring quarterback, he wished he had the speed to one day play for a national power. "I run like a 5.8 40, so I never thought Nebraska would be a place I could play," says Taylor, a native of Norman whose father, Sherwood, was a defensive back for Oklahoma from 1977-'79, "but then Coach [bill] Callahan came and changed the whole offense,"
Callahan replace Frank Solich in January 2004, installed the West Coast offense and in February '05 lured Taylor to Lincoln. Now, for the first time in five years, the Huskers enter the season as a favorite to win the Big 12 North. Sixteen starters return from a team that finished with a 3-game winnign streak, including upsets of Colorado (30-3) and Michigan (32-28) in the Alamo Bowl. But the defining moment of Nebraska's season-and the Callahan era to date-came at the start of that run, a 27-25 win over Kansas State on Nov. 12. That's when the pass-happy offense started clicking and and, as Taylor puts it, "the light came on for everyone." "Everything started to slow down for me against K-State," says Taylor, a 6;2", 210 pound senior who threw for 220 yards and 2 TDs that day before leaving with a concussion. "I finally felt like I had chemistry with my receivers." Over those last 3 games Taylor completed 59% of his passes for 779 yards and 7 TDs. Who needs foot speed to run the Nebraska offense? Taylor began his college career at Wake Forest (after redshirting in 2002, he served as the Demon Deacons' backup QB in '03), then made a stop at Butler County (Kans.) Community College, where he passed for nearly 3,000 yards and 29 TDs and caught the attention of Callahan. Now Taylor's right arm is the key to the Cornhuskers' season, and he'll be throwing to perhaps the most talented receiving corps in school history. The two top wideouts from last year-Nate Swift (45 receptions) and Terrence Nunn (43 receptions)-have been joined by Maurice Purify, a 6'4" 210 pounder who was a JUCO All-American at City College of San Francisco. "Maurice can be a difference-maker for us," says offenseive coordinator Jay Norvell. "Zac's going to have a lot of weapons, and he's got the talent in his arm to make things happen. He can make throws that guys in the NFL can't."
Nebraska, which has not been to a BCS bowl since 2001, will find out quickly if it's ready to rejoin the national elite: On Sept. 16 the Huskers travel to Los Angeles to play USC. "It's taken some time," says Taylor, "but we feel like this is the year that we're going to bring Nebraska back to the top." -Lars Anderson
