Nebraska Freshman Adjusts to Celebrity Status

Lincoln, Neb. (AP) -- A week ago, not many Nebraska students knew who Mike Stuntz was.

Now he's one popular freshman. It's amazing what a 63-yard touchdown pass can do.

"`A few more people seem to recognize me just walking down the street, and they say 'Good job' or 'Hi,' just little things like that,'' Stuntz said.

Nebraska's newest celebrity doesn't quite understand what all the fuss is. He threw a pass, the receiver caught it and took it for a touchdown.

But in this case, the receiver was quarterback Eric Crouch and the touchdown was what sealed the Cornhuskers' 20-10 win over defending national champion Oklahoma last week.

``If that's what I get remembered for, at least it's something positive,'' Stuntz said. ``I wouldn't really have a problem with that, but I really do hope I get to do more later on in my career. I've got a lot of time left here.''

Stuntz is actually a quarterback who is playing receiver this fall because Nebraska has depth at QB and needed another split end, a position the coaches recognized that Stuntz has the athletic ability to play.

Entering Saturday, Stuntz has played in all but the Texas Tech game, so it didn't arouse much suspicion when No. 16 lined up wide to the right on a first-and-10 from the Nebraska 37.

And when wingback Thunder Collins took a handoff, then pitched the ball to Stuntz heading in the opposite direction, Crouch had run uncovered into the secondary. Stuntz calmly lofted a 25-yard pass that Crouch ran the rest of the way for a touchdown.

It was only the second time this season Stuntz touched the ball. The first was against Rice when Stuntz couldn't handle a lateral that was thrown behind him, but he picked up the loose ball and ran 25 yards to the Rice 46.

``He's touched the ball twice this year, and interesting things have happened,'' receivers coach Ron Brown said. ``I guess you'd have to say he's responded well to pressure situations, to say the least.''

Stuntz wasn't sure if his play, ``Black 41 Flash Reverse,'' would get called Saturday. Oklahoma ran a similar play in the second quarter that failed when quarterback Nate Hybl tripped and couldn't get to the pass.

``In the third quarter, they told me to start getting ready. That's when I really started thinking about it,'' Stuntz said.

Stuntz knew he might get to throw his first pass in a game since his days at St. Albert High School in Council Bluffs, Iowa. He hinted at the possibility with his parents, but didn't divulge many details.

``They asked me about it and I told them it was classified. It's Oklahoma -- big game,'' he said. ``They understood.''

Stuntz said he's eager to get back to playing quarterback in the spring. Nebraska had a lack of depth at receiver entering fall camp, so Stuntz and fellow freshman QB Mike McLaughlin were approached about skipping a redshirt year and playing receiver.

Stuntz gave it some thought, and when it became clear that he would be allowed to compete at quarterback after this season, he took the offer to play receiver.

It's costing him a year of eligibility for a very limited role, but he is participating in, not watching, the Huskers' run to a possible national title, which continues Saturday at Kansas.

``It's been really exciting. It's something not many people get to be a part of,'' Stuntz said. ``We just have to make sure we finish it off.''