Section B · Page 4
The University Daily Kansan
Thursday, October 14, 1999
Big 12 Football
Former backup leads Aggies
Linebacker J.J. Johnson prepares to sack Randy McCown. The game last year jump-started McCown's career and placed him in the starting role for the rest of the season until he broke his collarbone. KANSAN file photo
By Michael Rigg
sports@kanson.com
Kansas sportswriter
For Kansas football fans, last season's 24-21 loss to Texas A&M was a glimmer of light in an otherwise dismal start to the season.
For Aggie quarterback Randy McCown, however, last season's game against the Jayhawks was his first step on the road to national prominence.
Making his first start at quarterback after Branndon Stewart was benched, McCown and the Aggies found themselves trailing the Jayhawks 21-17 late in the fourth quarter.
While Kansas appeared to have control of the momentum, McCown was in the midst of a horrendous nine of 18 performance. Suddenly, McCown took the Aggies — and the game — by the reigns and officially came of age.
"I just told the guys, 'let it go.' McCown said after the game.
Suddenly, McCown transformed from a frazzled and inexperienced career backup into a team leader. McCown led Texas A&M on an 11-play, 75-yard touchdown drive that effectively ended the game and jumpstarted McCown's career.
McCown led the Aggies to a 102-regular season record last season before missing the final two games of the season with a broken collarbone. McCown was limited to a spectator as Stewart led the Aggies to their defining win of 1998 — a 36-33 win against the top-ranked Kansas State Wildcats in the Big 12 Conference Championship Game.
During the summer, McCown's collarbone healed and he was back at work, leading the Aggies through summer workouts in the scalding Texas sun.
This season, his numbers have improved from last year. McCown has passed for more than 250 yards in three of the Aggies first five games, leading Texas A&M to a 4-1 record. In comparison, McCown failed to reach the 200-yard barrier in any of his 10 appearances in 1988.
In fact, McCown's notable improvement in the past year has impressed even Aggie coach R.C. Slocum.
"Randy's overall performance has been good." Slocum said.
Kansas coach Terry Allen knows
that the makeup of the Aggies offense has changed drastically from last season's near-victory, and those changes begin and end with McCown.
"The key to their offense has been Randy McCown." Allen said. "He's their playmaker, he's their senior leader, and he's been pretty good."
Despite McCown's marked
improvement since last season. Slocum said his quarterback still had two major losses he tried
to do too much and had a run first, pass later mentality.
"Randy's biggest fault is that he takes on too big of a burden and tries
to do too much," Slocum said. "He has a competitive spirit and tries too hard sometimes instead of making the plays that he can make and doing what it takes to go on."
Take the Aggies 21-19 loss to Texas Tech two weeks ago. Twice the Aggies had the chance to take a lead in the fourth quarter, only to have drives ended by McCown's interceptions.
"The nature of the position is tough." Slocum said. "When things don't go well, the quarterback draws a lot of attention."
McCown surely will on Saturday, especially since he has become a big-time player since the Jayhawks last saw him.
Edited by Matt Gardner
MANHATTAN — Nobody's ever going to mistake Joe Hall for a wide receiver. Even after shedding 42 pounds since the summer, he's still Division I's builker running back.
The Associated Press
Wildcats to bulk up backfield
But people aren't mistaking Kansas State's 6-foot-2, 285-pound junior for an offensive lineman anymore, either — not after he's proved he has not only the size to play backback but the moves to play halfback as well.
That's just what the No. 9 Wildcats will need him to do Saturday, when they play host to Utah State with leading rusher Frank Murphy sidelined by ankle surgery.
Hall, a transfer from Palomar (Calif) Community College, is listed as the backup to both halfback David Allen and fullback Johnmo Lazetich. Already this season, he has rushed for 137 yards and two touchdowns in four games, averaging 5.5 yards per carry.
"The emergence of Joe Hall and his ability to play two positions lightens the load a little bit," Coach Bill Snyer said.
Hall actually had designs on the halfback's job from the start.
"I had the choice to either being the third running back starting out or split time at fullback with Johnno," said Hall, who started Kansas State's second game against Texas-El Paso when Lazetich was injured in the season opener. "I didn't want to end up sitting the bench, regardless, so I decided that playing
fullback would be the best thing for me."
Now, with Murphy out indefinitely, Hall's versatility has paid off in more playing time.
"We needed to get Joe in the game whether at fullback or tailback," offensive coordinator Ron Hudson said. "And you can see why we recruited him out of California. The guy's a load. He's 285 pounds and he can run that fast, you have to take advantage of that."
Hall, who runs the 40-yard dash in 4.6 seconds, has been large all his life. In ninth grade, Hall said he weighed 240, but he has always played running back.
After taking 17 credit hours at Kansas State during the summer to become eligible to play, Hall arrived at the Wildcats' camp weighing 397 pounds.
But Hall's size beltes his agility, which he credits to playing basketball in his off-time.
"When I came in people looked at my weight and thought I was an offensive lineman," said Hall, who would like to play at 260 pounds eventually.
"Obviously I have a little power," Hall said. "I have a little bit more speed for somebody with my size. I think people are surprised when I can get away from them. But, most of the defensive backs close their eyes when they see me coming."
"I try to make some moves out there. If I just wanted to run over people, I would have been an offensive lineman."
Cornhuskers ready for weekend off
The Associated Press
LINCOLN, Neb. — Nebraska can afford to look ahead this weekend.
Actually, the No. 3 Cornhuskers don't really have a choice. Nebraska (6-0 overall, 2-0 in the Big 12 Conference) doesn't play a game Saturday for the first time since opening the season six weeks ago.
With a defense that's holding opponents to a little more than nine points per game and an offense that scored 11 touchdowns in its last two games, the 'Huskers are rolling. Coach Frank Solich hopes the week doesn't take away any momentum.
Three of those coaches will face Nebraska in its next four games. First up is Texas next Saturday. The Longhorns (5-2) snapped Nebraska's 47-game win winning streak last year. They also have this weekend off
"This team has improved and I like where it's at right now." Solich said. "But there are a lot of other coaches out there saying the same thing — that they like where their football team is at right now in the season, too, and there's many of those in this conference yet and we have to play them."
The 'Huskers then travel to Kansas (2-4, 0-2) on Oct. 30 before returning to Lincoln for games against Texas A&M and
Kansas State, two teams with the potential to be in the Top 10 when they visit Memorial Stadium. Kansas State (5-0, 2-0) is already there at No. 9 and A&M (5-1, 4-1) is No. 13.
The 'Huskers are, for the most part, healthy for halfway into the season, and Solich hopes to keep it
that way. Nebraska started out the week working out in sweats and does not plan to hold full-contact drills until next week.
Linebacker Eric Johnson, out since Sept. 18 when he strained a knee ligament against Southern Mississippi, returned to practice Tuesday and hopes to play at Texas next week. Fullback Willie Miller and No. 2 quarterback Jeff Perino, who sat out Saturday's 49-14 win against Iowa, are also practicing again.
"We've played six games now and you get a lot of bumps and bruises accumulated. I think it's going to help our team get over that," Solich said. "I think this team is smart enough to know that if you don't use every week to get better, then you're probably getting a little worse. You can't afford that when you have the kind of schedule that we've got."