McNown knows no limitations

Monday, November 24, 1997

McNown knows no limitationsBy Brent Boyd

Daily Bruin Staff

One would think John Robinson would have learned by now.

It’s not that hard, really. Six letters, two syllables, one
gutsy Bruin.

"Their quarterback McGowan, McGowd, I never say the name right,"
the USC head coach said after Saturday’s 31-24 UCLA victory. "He
was obviously the difference. He made play after play."

OK, listen carefully Coach, it’s M-C-N-O-W-N.

And while Robinson may never get his name down, one thing
remains for sure: UCLA junior quarterback Cade McNown has
Robinson’s number.

For the third consecutive year, McNown scrambled around, passed
over, and outsmarted a Trojan defense en route to a Bruin victory
in the annual battle for city supremacy.

"God, he was phenomenal," Robinson said. "I certainly think he
is one of the finest quarterbacks we have played in my time and we
gave him the respect that he should receive."

Though his stats weren’t outstanding Saturday (215 yards passing
on 15 of 24 attempts), McNown consistently came up with the clutch
play. Four times he completed a third-and-long pass for a first
down, and he ran for another one.

He was as elusive as the victory that has slid away from the
Trojans the last seven years of the crosstown rivalry.

Southern Cal pressured him often but seldom got to him ­ he
only suffered two sacks and finished with 48 yards rushing.

On every Bruin touchdown drive, McNown frustrated some Trojan
defender with either a juke, an all-out sprint or just a plain
obstinate refusal to fall down.

On UCLA’s opening drive, he avoided the rush and ran around the
right side for a 29-yard gain, setting up a touchdown pass to Danny
Farmer, who led all Bruin receivers with four catches for 74
yards.

Next up, McNown faked out linebacker Mark Cusano for a 19-yard
gain to put the Bruins in position for their second score.

David Gibson was the next USC victim. His hit on McNown in the
second quarter barely caused the quarterback to flinch as he tossed
a 22-yard pass to Brian Poli-Dixon. Four plays later UCLA scored
again.

Finally, on the Bruins’ second drive of the third quarter, faced
with a 3rd-and-17 from deep in his own territory, McNown pulled off
his coup de grace of the afternoon.

He avoided a Trojan pass rush, ran hard to the line of
scrimmage, then found Farmer cutting across the open field for a
36-yard completion to put UCLA in position for its final
touchdown.

"We blitzed quite a bit, and we had a lot of success against
them," Robinson said. "It’s just that we would have two successful
plays and then he would come back and get us."

And it has become an all too common occurrence in Troy.

Last year, McNown threw for 356 yards and ran for two touchdowns
in the Bruins’ dramatic 48-41 comeback win last year in
Pasadena.

And two years ago at the Coliseum, the left-hander made a key
21-yard run on 3rd-and-13 late in the game to seal UCLA’s 24-20
upset victory.

McNown has grown as a quarterback tremendously from that game
two years ago. He used to look to run first and pass second but now
realizes that the main duty in his job description is to throw the
ball.

"I look to pass if I could ­ like the coaches said, you’re
going to run for yards, but pass for miles," McNown said.

Discounting sacks, McNown rushed for 396 yards his freshman
season, 281 yards last year, and only 151 yards heading into the
USC game this year.

All the while, his passing stats have improved, from tenth in
the Pac-10 during the two previous seasons, to tops in the nation
this year.

"He scrambles and everything, but he also sits in the pocket a
lot better. He’s come a long ways, and he’s done a really good
job," said sophomore wide receiver Farmer.

UCLA head coach Bob Toledo concurs.

"He was fantastic. I am extremely proud of him. I was fortunate
enough to coach him as a freshman and we have become very close,"
Toledo said. "I’m sure that next year he’ll be singled out as a
Heisman Trophy candidate."

The only question now is how will his name be spelled on the
ballot.

UCLA Sports Information

Quarterback Cade McNown