Published Thursday | December 29, 2005
Zac survives Michigan sack attack
SAN ANTONIO - Zac Taylor has never taken such a pounding.
The Nebraska quarterback was sacked 33 times this season before Wednesday. Oklahoma got to him nine times, a school record for an NU opponent.
But Taylor had it easy before the Alamo Bowl. Michigan repeatedly pounded the 6-foot-2, 210-pound junior - to the point that Taylor could have been excused for checking out early at the Alamodome.
He did just the opposite, connecting on a pair of huge passes late in the fourth quarter as the Huskers rallied from 11 points down to beat the Wolverines 32-28.
"Those are the biggest guys I've ever seen in my life," Taylor said. "When they hit you, they just lay it on you. They can bring it. But we're all-day fighters. We're not going to give up until the end."
Taylor was sacked five times and blasted to the turf on numerous occasions.
Often, the hits delivered by Michigan linebackers and linemen drew gasps from the partisan Nebraska crowd. Taylor rose to his feet each time, though, finishing with 14 completions in 31 attempts for 167 yards, three touchdowns and a pair of interceptions.
And his last throw of the year may have ranked as his most important.
Taylor found Terrence Nunn in the back of the end zone for a 13-yard TD with 4:29 to play. Nunn's second touchdown, on a third-and-6 play, came immediately after Taylor stepped up in the pocket to hit tight end J.B. Phillips for a 10-yard gain.
"Terrence just split the safeties," Taylor said. "It was an easy read for me."
Nothing else came easily for Taylor, who was hammered from the outset by the Wolverines.
Inside linebacker Dave Harris, a 251-pound senior, ran untouched through the Nebraska offensive line, connecting with Taylor just as the QB hit Nunn on a short screen seven minutes into the game.
Nunn slipped the tackle of free safety Brandon Harrison and raced 52 yards to put the Huskers on top 7-0.
"We don't like to see him take hits," Nebraska coach Bill Callahan said. "But he is a courageous young man.
"He stays right in the pocket. He is like the eye in the hurricane."
The quarterback was knocked out with a concussion in the fourth quarter Nov. 12 against Kansas State. He returned to throw for 392 yards less than two weeks later against Colorado. "He's a soldier," NU I-back Cory Ross said. "That's all I can say about Zac. I knew he was going to keep getting up."
The Nebraska quarterback was sacked 33 times this season before Wednesday. Oklahoma got to him nine times, a school record for an NU opponent.
But Taylor had it easy before the Alamo Bowl. Michigan repeatedly pounded the 6-foot-2, 210-pound junior - to the point that Taylor could have been excused for checking out early at the Alamodome.
He did just the opposite, connecting on a pair of huge passes late in the fourth quarter as the Huskers rallied from 11 points down to beat the Wolverines 32-28.
"Those are the biggest guys I've ever seen in my life," Taylor said. "When they hit you, they just lay it on you. They can bring it. But we're all-day fighters. We're not going to give up until the end."
Taylor was sacked five times and blasted to the turf on numerous occasions.
Often, the hits delivered by Michigan linebackers and linemen drew gasps from the partisan Nebraska crowd. Taylor rose to his feet each time, though, finishing with 14 completions in 31 attempts for 167 yards, three touchdowns and a pair of interceptions.
And his last throw of the year may have ranked as his most important.
Taylor found Terrence Nunn in the back of the end zone for a 13-yard TD with 4:29 to play. Nunn's second touchdown, on a third-and-6 play, came immediately after Taylor stepped up in the pocket to hit tight end J.B. Phillips for a 10-yard gain.
"Terrence just split the safeties," Taylor said. "It was an easy read for me."
Nothing else came easily for Taylor, who was hammered from the outset by the Wolverines.
Inside linebacker Dave Harris, a 251-pound senior, ran untouched through the Nebraska offensive line, connecting with Taylor just as the QB hit Nunn on a short screen seven minutes into the game.
Nunn slipped the tackle of free safety Brandon Harrison and raced 52 yards to put the Huskers on top 7-0.
"We don't like to see him take hits," Nebraska coach Bill Callahan said. "But he is a courageous young man.
"He stays right in the pocket. He is like the eye in the hurricane."
The quarterback was knocked out with a concussion in the fourth quarter Nov. 12 against Kansas State. He returned to throw for 392 yards less than two weeks later against Colorado. "He's a soldier," NU I-back Cory Ross said. "That's all I can say about Zac. I knew he was going to keep getting up."
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