Nebraska's Zac Lee re-establishes hold on QB job

Nov 20, 2009 - 8:17 AM By ERIC OLSON AP Sports Writer

LINCOLN, Neb.(AP) -- When Zac Lee was benched for a game and the first quarter of another, the Nebraska quarterback soothed himself by remembering the words of an old pro.

"My dad told me when I first started playing quarterback that you're not a true quarterback until you're run out of at least one place," Lee said. "So taking that to heart, and really hearing that for as long as I've heard that, it's just part of the deal. You have to be prepared for it."

Lee is the son of Bob Lee, who played for three teams during a 12-year NFL career. The young Lee has rebounded quite nicely since re-establishing his grip on the job after losing it briefly to freshman Cody Green.

Offensive coordinator Shawn Watson has put in some new wrinkles to tailor the system to Lee's strengths and all signs point to the junior keeping the job the rest of the way.

Lee will lead the Huskers (7-3, 4-2 Big 12) on Saturday as they play for the Big 12 North title against Kansas State (6-5, 4-3).

"Zac had a chance to sit back and evaluate the situation he was in," Watson said. "He wanted to play. Given his opportunity, he came back and grasped what we've been trying to get him to grasp. It's just managing the game of football. Start there and grow from there. He's done a nice job the last two games of just managing wins."

Watson kept things simple after Lee took over for Green in the second quarter against Oklahoma two weeks ago. Lee essentially handed off the ball to Roy Helu Jr. and mixed in a handful of passes. The defense did the rest in a 10-3 win.

Helu was the focus again in last week's 31-17 win at Kansas, but Lee ran nine times for 59 yards and passed for 196 yards. Lee brought back memories of the Nebraska offenses of the 1980s and '90s by throwing play-action passes off the triple-option look.

Coach Bo Pelini said Lee's confidence was shaken in October, with fans and critics calling for Green.

"The negativity and controversy, that will affect anybody," Pelini said.

The coach said he saw Lee's "swagger" return against the Jayhawks.

"Earlier, I was thinking about trying to make plays passing the ball and just wasn't reacting and going," Lee said. "Holes close pretty quick. Now it's 1-2, and if it's not there, let's duck and run."

Lee started the first seven games, but Green took over after embarrassing back-to-back losses to Texas Tech and Iowa State. After Green quarterbacked the 20-10 win at Baylor, Lee reclaimed the job in the second quarter against Oklahoma after Green failed to make a first down on five series.

Watson said Lee never pouted while he was on the sidelines.

"I don't think he liked it," Watson said, "but he understood what was being asked of him, and what he needed to do to improve. I think he took it to heart."

Just like he took those words from his dad to heart.

"You realize there are going to be some valleys and peaks," he said. "It's like being a closer in baseball. There are going to be times you give up a homer to lose a game. You have to have a short memory and move on."