LINCOLN, Neb.—If the conversation about the Big 12’s impressive group of quarterbacks eventually expands to include Joe Ganz, it won’t be because he went out of his way to showcase himself.
The fifth-year senior says any recognition he gets will be a product of the Cornhuskers’ success.
“Personal goals aside, if we’re going to do well, I’m going to have to play well. It works hand in hand,” Ganz said this week.
After three relatively easy wins, the Huskers face their first major test of the season Saturday night against Virginia Tech (3-1).
“I’m not going into it saying this is my time to shine, it’s a national stage,” Ganz said. “Whatever the coaches need me to do, I’ll do, but I’m not going in there thinking it’s my time, finally I’m on prime-time and I’m going to show the world what I have.”
Ganz put up big passing numbers in three starts late last year. But hardly anybody outside Nebraska noticed because the Huskers’ season had almost completely unraveled by then.
Ganz has been solid in wins over Western Michigan, San Jose State and New Mexico State. He’s completed 64.1 percent of his passes for 719 yards and five touchdowns, with three interceptions.
Though his passing statistics are dwarfed by those of Texas Tech’s Graham Harrell, Missouri’s Chase Daniel, Kansas’ Todd Reesing and others, Ganz has established himself as one of the most mobile quarterbacks in the league.
He ran for 69 yards against New Mexico State—the most by a Nebraska quarterback since 2003—and is averaging 35 a game on the ground.
“Joe showed people he’s a better athlete then what people give him credit for,” coach Bo Pelini said. “He can hurt you obviously with his arm, but he can do some things with his feet that weren’t really part of the offense before.”
Ganz’s running gives opposing defensive coordinators an extra element for which they have to prepare. The Huskers have sprinkled in triple-option plays, with Ganz being very productive on keepers.
The option, he said, makes defenses less likely to blitz.
“It’s been a great weapon for us and one of our more successful running plays,” Ganz said.
Pelini said he’s not worried about Ganz taking a shot that could injure him.
“It’s just part of the game,” Pelini said. “You can get hurt walking down the street. I don’t mean that to be a smart alleck, but it’s just part of the game. You’re going to take some hits. Fortunately, for us we have some very capable backups.”
Ganz showed up for interviews after the New Mexico State game with two big ice packs on his shoulders.
“I have to get maybe a little bit bigger shoulder pads,” he said. “I have these little Playskool ones for quarterbacks.”
But he’s not about to shy from contact.
“I don’t want to wake up when I’m 40 and be like, ‘I shouldn’t have ran out of bounds,’ or ‘I should have tried to do something else.’ I only get one chance to play and I’m going to give it my all,” he said.
Ganz said he expects the Hokies to try to make him beat them with his passing. The Huskers made progress in the ground game against New Mexico State, running for 330 yards. But the Hokies are a different animal.
“Their defensive coordinator’s main goal is to somehow find a way to get eight people into the box and stop the run,” Ganz said. “That’s all right because it opens stuff up in the passing game, and hopefully we can take advantage of it.”
