Ganz Fighting For Starting Position
Given that Zac Taylor won’t be wearing Husker red this fall, fans, players and coaches are all curious to see who will emerge as the starting quarterback. Lincoln Journal Star takes a closer look at one of the players in the middle of this competition–6-foot-1, 205-pound Joe Ganz, a junior from suburban Chicago.
Ganz says he feels confident he can emerge as the starter, beating out Arizona State transer, Sam Keller. He also says there is something in the air this summer in Lincoln.
“…we have something special here. I mean, you can just feel it. There’s a certain feel in the locker room. Everybody wants to get better. They know this season is the season we need to get it done.”
“There’s an urgency. Guys want to prove that we can finally get back on top of the Big 12.”
Nebraska’s last Big 12 title came eight years ago in 1999.
July 14th, 2007 at 7:05 pm
Joey Ganz is a great guy and he has a lot of talent but I just don’t think he has the athletic capability to beat out Sam Keller. He has a lot of experience but I don’t believe he’ll get it done in fall practice. I have a feeling Ganz will be a leader, even if it’s from the sideline. He has that certain attitude and he always seems to be very confident. He’ll be the starter in ‘08 and I have a feeling he’ll be damn good!
July 17th, 2007 at 6:20 pm
I am sorry and don’t take this wrong, I just can’t see it. Sam Keller doesn’t even have stats for a whole season. The stats he does have for a 7 game stretch include a number of intercepts, and yardage against teams ranked low on pass defense. He played for a team out of the top 25 and they voted him off. Tell me we have pinned our hopes on something better than someone rejected by ASU?? I have seen talented people before and you can have all the talent in the world , but, if you don’t fit in with the other players, or you don’t apply yourself, or, if you are a quitter and walk out on your teammates, (all characteristics Sam has shown so far) you will be a waste of time. I for one see Sam with limited effectiveness, unless of course Bill surprises us and uses the dual QB threat the way Tom O used to do. Some mixture of Joe G. along with Sam K. just might work
July 17th, 2007 at 7:32 pm
Well we’ll have to wait until the season until we find out. But I don’t think we can do a dual QB system. BC came out in the spring and said that a dual QB system will probably not work because the west coast system puts to much emphasis on the starting QB. Although personally I do agree with you on the dual QB system. I think that would be great but then again I’m just a 14 year-old kid. What do I know?
July 17th, 2007 at 8:31 pm
Hey Bigredfred,
I agree with you, how about that. I’m rooting for Ganz all the way! He has put in his time as a backup and has proven mental toughness with the way he has handled the situation (hopefully it translates to physical toughness). He has the relationship with the rest of the team because he has been here for a majority of the BC experience.
This system put in place by Callahan doesn’t demand a physical specimen at QB, it requires a smart one. This is why Zac Taylor did well. If Ganz is more comfortable in the system, it should be his job.
July 23rd, 2007 at 9:48 am
At least we have depth with two viable candidates to lead the offense, which may turn out to be especially significant if the injury bug crops up at the QB position this year. The Purify situation is interesting, too…I also believe that BC’s punishment fits Maurice’s crimes. “Operation Purify” wouldn’t be a bad name for the road back from his previous transgressions.
On a different topic, the last line of this posted website story about Ganz was another eye-opener for me, i.e., “Nebraska’s last Big 12 Title came eight years ago, in 1999″. That’s almost a decade and the last century, all in one. Callahan must turn this thing around in ‘07. Husker fans deserve a return to an elite and winning Husker team and tradition.
July 23rd, 2007 at 12:43 pm
Mike D.,
You have a place in the government waiting for you! “Operation Purify” is a T-shirt waiting to happen.
I personally agree that BC’s handleing on Purify was accurate. My fear is that if Purify breaks probation, even if it’s because his roomate (whoever that may be) had a six pack of beer in the fridge. Everyone in Nebraska knows that ESPN would run with the story of Purify being a “no-good drunk allowed back on the team”
Purify may be the “game-breaking” reciever Callahan has been waiting for. I’m ecstatic that he will be available for Wake and USC.
July 24th, 2007 at 5:00 am
Thanks Jeff, I will indeed be a government-planted member of the CIA (”Cornhuskers In Agony”) if we lose another 3 plus games this season! Seriously, I wholeheartedly agree that Purify may be our best game-breaking receiver since Irv Fryar, and hopefully Callahan’s discipline will include due process and fairness in the case of abeing associated with a friend/roommate who may be partying, as you mentioned. And even though I have been one of the fans on this blog who has documented various concerns about our current coach, I believe that he was both fair and smart in this case of handling Purify’s suspension. Maurice must pay the price of not playing on Opening Day, but the reality of the situation is something you touched on, Jeff. Nevada is probably the one opponent against whom we can most afford to be without a top weapon. On the road against WF and at home vs Lincoln (and then the rest of the Big 12 schedule), it’s very significant that we’ll be at full strength.