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Published Saturday, September 2, 2000

Davison still a fixture for NU

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It seems like Matt Davison has been around the Nebraska football program for a long time.

He caught 11 passes as a freshman in 1997, including the famous diving catch of a pass kicked by teammate Shevin Wiggins against Missouri that helped preserve NU's national championship season.

Davison followed that with 32 receptions as a sophomore and 29 more last season. He now has 72 career receptions and needs just 11 catches to pass Jeff Kinney and move into second place on the all-time list at Nebraska.

The senior split end from Tecumseh said his career has flown by.

"I remember coming in here and everybody was saying to really enjoy every minute of it because it's going to go so fast,'' Davison said. "I think when you're a freshman you don't really take that to heart. Now that I'm entering my senior year, it's like gee, where'd it go?

"Even though I've played in so many games, over the years it seems like it's gone so fast.''

Davison said it may just seem like he's been around forever because of all the publicity he got after that catch against Missouri. That play collected two ESPY awards from ESPN for College Football Play of the Year and overall Play of the Year.

"Everybody got real tired of seeing interviews with me in '97,'' Davison said. "Not too many people come in and play when they're freshmen. I was lucky enough to have it happen to me. A couple injuries in front of me when I was a freshman kind of opened the door for me and I tried to take advantage of that.

"I've played a lot ever since, so it probably feels like I've been around a long time.''

Davison may not be the fastest or most athletic receiver, but he's known for his sure hands. He also understands what's going on at all times.

"I'm a student of the game,'' he said. "I think there have been better athletes at my position every year I've been here. But somehow I manage to get on the field. I understand what it takes to win and I love competition. I think those are the things that got me over the edge."

Nebraska quarterback Eric Crouch is certainly glad to have Davison on his side.

"You know where he's at on the field,'' Crouch said. "Over the years, he's probably been the most consistent guy that I've ever had the chance to throw the ball to. You know where he's going to be. He's a guy you know is going to catch the ball all the time. He's in the right place at the right time and he has great hands.

"He'll definitely go down in the record books as far as being one of the best receivers we've ever had.''

The Husker offense is expected to produce some big numbers this season. With all the talent on the field, Davison sometimes gets overlooked.

But that's all right with him.

"Bobby (Newcombe) gets a lot of attention and obviously Eric is a Heisman candidate,'' Davison said. "Dan Alexander, Tracey Wistrom is All-Big 12 so we have a lot of great players on this offense. It really doesn't bother me that everybody else gets all the attention. That's fine.

"I know what my role is. I think everybody on this team understands what their role is individually. We know Eric's going to get a lot of carries. Bobby's going to get his touches. Tracey is going to be running wide open down the middle a few times.

"I guess I'm just a get three-or-four-catches-a-game kind of guy.''

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