Friday, November 13, 1998
Road to Heisman can’t distract McNown
FOOTBALL: Despite media pressure, focus remains on national
title for team
By Rocky Salmon
Daily Bruin Senior Staff
Driving down Westwood Boulevard or the 110N, he hovers above the
long line of cars.
Like Zeus striking down the opposition with a lightning rod, the
blue and gold Heisman hopeful is poised.
"Heismania" the big letters say, flying through the dense smoggy
air and crackling into the driver’s mind.
With the ball perched in his hands and his head tilted back a
bit, the advertisement shows the UCLA quarterback geared up to
throw a 61-yard bomb to win a game.
He is as golden as the statue that everyone is pushing for
him.
Everyone but himself.
While everyone asks about the Heisman, star senior quarterback
Cade McNown, waves it aside and continues to do what comes natural
to him: win. Eighteen wins in a row, to be exact.
"I gave up thinking about it (the Heisman) before the season
started," UCLA’s all-time touchdown leader said.
"I am not trying to win voters. The field is a not a courtroom,
and I don’t have to come in and (lobby) my case. I leave it all to
the SIDs and PR guys."
No, McNown is not about stats. McNown is about winning.
When crunch time comes around, No. 18 steps into the huddle and
stuffs the pressure in his pocket. A calm and collected leader, he
moves on up and makes the big plays.
If McNown was a video game, he would have to be "Killer
Instinct."
"I love being in that situation," last year’s national passing
efficiency leader said.
"I don’t get all tight. Something in me just keeps me calm.
"Personally, I like the play calling when we are tied or are
down. The field is opened up more, and we try different
things."
He is, as his offensive line has called him, a big time
player.
As the world swirls around him on the field, with pressure
pounding at him from every side, McNown hangs in there. So much, in
fact, that he has stiff-armed the many pressures of a Heisman media
watch.
"I don’t read the paper or care about what others say," McNown
said.
"I don’t take it to heart no matter if it is positive or
negative. There is always pressure in football but it isn’t bad
 it’s fun."
But as the winning streak progresses and the BCS moves UCLA up
and down in the poll, offensive coordinator Al Borges thinks that
the Heisman is the last of his worries.
"I think the pressure of winning may get to him, but not the
Heisman," said Borges.
So as the Bruins keep trying to reach for that national
championship, McNown will continually carry the team on his back.
Because that is what gamers do. That is why they win.
Even the NFL scouts are starting to take notice of McNown’s
desire and will to win.
"There were a couple of scouts out here," Bruin head coach Bob
Toledo said.
"They are becoming less concerned with his mechanics because
they’ve got some big guys in the NFL who got great arms (but) can’t
win. I think they’re seeing that there’s something about Cade that
is special."
Clutch, gritty and a gamer. There is something about McNown that
is special indeed.
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