McNown Ready to Take Shot at the Heisman
By John Nadel
Associated Press
LOS ANGELES - Many in the Rose Bowl crowd booed as Cade McNown and the
UCLA Bruins left the field in the first quarter.
McNown had been tackled for a safety and thrown two interceptions, one of
which was returned for a touchdown in UCLA's home opener against Tennessee last
Sept. 6.
But suddenly, after that disastrous start, his erratic play stopped - and
never returned. With McNown leading the way, the Bruins battled back from a
27-6 fourth-quarter deficit before the Volunteers escaped with a 30-24 victory.
"I tried to take my focus to a different level," McNown recalled about a
game that became a turning point in his career. "I think that was one of my
hurdles in my junior year. After that, I was making quick decisions and the
right decisions.
"I learned a calm intensity."
That intensity helped UCLA win its final 10 games last year, and this
season it has made McNown one of the leading candidates for the Heisman Trophy.
During his team's winning streak, McNown completed 143 of 235 passes for
2,459 yards and 22 touchdowns with only four interceptions. He finished last
season with a school-record 3,116 yards passing, and his pass efficiency rating
of 168.6 led the country, was the 12th highest in NCAA history and set a Pac-10
record.
McNown is aware of the early Heisman hype but tries not to buy into it too
much. He's more interested in trying to lead the Bruins, ranked seventh in The
Associated Press preseason poll, to a conference title.
"You ask any player if they want to win an award, you'd want it to be that
one," he said. "I'm honored to be mentioned as a candidate. But you have to
put it off to the side and concentrate on the team."
The 6-foot-1, 214-pound left-hander, a starter in 31 straight games, has
worked hard to prepare for his senior season, either running, throwing or
lifting weights every day for months. That's no surprise to those who know him.
"He would go to any extreme, in terms of doing what he had to do, to
succeed," wide receiver Danny Farmer said. "He leads a very good life, he's a
good person, he does all the right things. That's hard to find these days."
McNown struggled in his first two years at UCLA, when the Bruins had a
combined record of 12-11 and he threw more interceptions than touchdown passes.
But then came that game against Tennessee, when he passed for a career-high 400
yards in outshining Peyton Manning, who threw for 341.
"He became like possessed, he was incredible," UCLA coach Bob Toledo said.
"He really got his game face on. I think that second half was the beginning of
what happened the rest of the season. That's what got him, and us, over the
hump.
"After that game, I told him he was the guy, I believed in him, we needed
to stick together, not point fingers. I think that helped his confidence."
McNown doesn't have the size or strength of Manning or Ryan Leaf, the two
NFL rookie quarterbacks taken 1-2 in the draft. McNown succeeds with his
football intelligence, hard work and heart. He also is a team leader, Toledo
said.
"He's got great character, he doesn't do anything abusive. I've never heard
him say a swear word, not one," he said. "Nobody works harder than him. ...
And he's tough - he's like a linebacker playing quarterback."
Former UCLA quarterback Dave Norrie, who spent five years as a member of the
Bruins broadcast team and will start his third year on the Fox Sports Network
as the analyst on the Pac-10 game of the week, calls McNown the toughest
quarterback he's ever seen.
"He's not a prototypical quarterback, but he can do everything well and
beat you in so many different ways," he said.
Even though McNown is not a classic drop-back, NFL-type quarterback, he
should be successful as a pro and perhaps go as high as the late first round in
the draft next spring, Norrie said.
"When I'm done here, all I can ask for is an opportunity," McNown said.
"I think I'll be good, and I think I'll continue to get better.
"I can go out there and throw the ball over 70 yards, I can throw the ball
downfield. Being a good quarterback means moving the chains and putting the
ball in the end zone. It's about results."
And so far, McNown has proved he can get those results.
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