The Cardinals' coach puts his trust in Davis.
CURT McKEEVER / Lincoln Journal Star | Posted: Saturday, October 6, 2007 7:00 pm
Sam Keller was still sore and bruised from the loss to Southern California, but things could always be worse.
For instance, instead of being Nebraska's quarterback, Keller could be a member of the Huskers' beaten-down defense that, as he sees it, will have no easy task trying to regain its mojo against Ball State on Saturday.
"This team," Keller said, "will come in and beat you if you let them."
Keller didn't name Cardinals by name. But clearly, he'd seen more than just videotape of their defense, because the one player who would make anybody take notice is sophomore quarterback Nate Davis.
As Ball State offensive coordinator Stan Parrish notes: "This program needed a guy like him to give us a chance."
Davis is a guy who preferred shooting basketballs from the perimeter to throwing deep. But even though he became Ohio's No. 7 all-time scorer while playing for the Bellaire Big Reds, not many NCAA Division I programs put a high premium on 6-foot-2 shooting guards.
Parrish recognized that the kid had special football talents and would fit in in a conference known for producing first-round NFL draft picks Chad Pennington, Byron Leftwich and Ben Roethlisberger.
"He can just flat throw it," Parrish said. "It's a matter of putting him in the right setting, but he's a very talented guy."
During his 14-game senior season in high school, Davis completed less than nine passes a game. One-third of his passes (42) went for touchdowns.
In his Ball State debut last year, he came off the bench to complete 7 of 8 passes — three of them for scores. Five games into the season, Davis, still raw and winging it, made his first start and tossed four TDs.
By the end of the season, heâd tied the school single-season record of 18 TD passes. He also gave second-ranked Michigan a major scare by rallying the Cardinals from a 15-point deficit before losing 34-26. Michigan turned back five plays inside its 10-yard line, and then a final âHail Maryâ play.
"On fourth down, what I saw was pass interference," Davis said. "But we're at 'The Big House,' we're not getting that call."
It's been 11 years since Ball State had a winning season, but with Davis, the Cardinals are on the move.
During a 5-7 campaign last year, their only loss in the final four games was to Michigan.
They're currently 2-1, which illustrates just how trusting coach Brady Hoke has become of Davis.
In a season-opening, 14-13 loss to Miami (Ohio), Hoke opted to bypass a chip-shot field goal at the end of the first half in favor of having Davis try a pass on fourth-and-4 from the Miami 6-yard line. The pass fell incomplete.
Nebraska coach Bill Callahan sees why Hoke would feel safe with Davis.
"He has all the throws, along with mobility, quickness, a quick release and a good understanding of their concept," Callahan said. "He knows where to put the ball. He doesn't take a lot of time to deliver it. He understands how it ties into protection. … We're going to be challenged."
On talent alone, it would seem. Now, throw in the added excitement Davis has for playing on another major stage.
Last week, before a near-capacity crowd in Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium, he was especially sharp while passing for 277 yards and three scores, and running three times for 22 yards and another TD in a 34-31 overtime win.
"It's a great place to go somewhere and win," Davis said of the trip to Annapolis, Md. "That's what we practiced all week for, was to go there and try and get a 'W.'
"We're making a big jump (going to Lincoln, but) it's going to be a great experience. The thing is, we can't get too excited. We're going there to do what we do."
Davis has a speedy wideout — Dante Love — and a big, soft-handed tight end — Darius Hill — as favorite targets. He's quick to note, though, that the Cardinals' running game, which is averaging 185 yards a game, is what sets things in motion.
Given the fact Nebraska just allowed USC 313 rushing yards, stopping the run will be high priority Saturday.
Not just because that's always the Huskers' top goal, but, as tackle Ndamukong Suh offered, "so we can get after the quarterback."
Evidently, Keller had been spreading the word about the Cardinals' playmaker.
Reach Curt McKeever at 473-7441 or cmckeever@journalstar.com.