Blakeman ready to start if needed
By Mike Kluck
First Down Reporter
Nebraska’s Clete Blakeman doesn’t
mind playing behind junior quarterback
Steve Taylor, but he’s ready to assume
the starting role if the Cornhuskers need
him.
Blakeman got his second career start
as a Husker two weeks ago against Kan
sas, filling in for the injured Taylor and
leading the Huskcrs toa 54-2 victory. But
Taylor was back in the lineup last week
against Oklahoma State, and Blakeman
played sparingly.
“Steve is a great player, and I’d much
rather be playing behind a great player
like Steve than a mediocre player,”
Blakeman said. “I was satisfied w ith my
play against Kansas and it was a great
feeling to be starling at home.”
Blakeman said Nebraska’s offense
might give him some more playing time
in the future.
We run the option, so we have an
offense where the quarterback is doing
most of the ball handling and he is going
to take a lot of punishment, so it’s tough
for a quarterback to last the whole sea
son,’’ Biakcman said. “The last quarter
back to last was Turner Gill, but he had
Mike Ro/ier carrying most of the load.
“Steve is carry ing most of the load and
taking most of the (punishment).”
Biakcman said he keeps himself pre
pared throughout the season because of
the possibility that Taylor may be in
jured.
“When the offense is in there, 1 am
listening to every play call, so I keep in
the game that way,” Biakcman said. “1 try
to keep myself mentally involved in the
game that way, which helps out a lot. It is
tough, though, to come in for one series
because you really don’t get a feel for the
game. But on the same token you have to
know what is happening.”
As the Huskers prepared tor today s
game with Kansas State, Blakcman said
there should be no let down ifhehad to fill
in for Taylor.
“Everybody on the team knows my
type of play and everybody knows
Steve’s type of play and the team has
confidence in both of us,” Blakcman
said. “It is hard to say about the playing
lime I will have because Steve’s shoulder
is fine now but if he gets injured I will be
ready to go.”
Although both quarterbacks run the
same offense, Blakcman said his style of
play differs from Taylor’s.
“We don’t run as many triple option
type plays because Steve is so good at
running them, but really that is about the
only aspect that changes,” Blakeman
said. “My strengths are my knowledge of
the offense and ability to run the of
fense.”
Blakeman said he thought he had a
chance to he Nebraska’s No. 1 quarter
back during spring practice, but he soon
realized he would be playing a back-up
role to Taylor. The competition between
him and Taylor though has helped out the
entire team.
“Steve and I really support each
other," Blakeman said. “I’m not satisfied
with being No. 2 and 1 don't think Coach
Osborne expects me to be satisfied being
No. 2. I'm always working to gel belter,
and me working to get better makes
Steve work to get better, and it helps the
two of us out and the team out."
Taylor said that he was impressed
with the job Blakeman did against the
Jayhawks.
"Clcte docs a gtxxl job as a quarter
back and is very consistent,” Taylor said.
‘‘He did a gtxxl job of leading the of
fense.”
Blakeman said that the preparation for
the Kansas State game is basically the
same as all other games.
‘‘There is an attitude among the play
ers, that we all feel that w c can’t look past
anybody," Blakeman said. "The prepara
tion for myself is basically the same for
every game.”
Blakeman
Doug Carroll/First Down
