CHICAGO — Quarterback is a glamour position everywhere, but at Nebraska that celebrity status morphs into something more. It's something else to see.
Enter transfer quarterback Tanner Lee, who in 2016 arrived for an official visit to find Nebraska fans waiting for him at the airport. He won the starting job in the spring and, matched with third-year coach Mike Riley, is hoping to lead the Huskers to something better than two-out-of-three in 2017.
MORE: 2017 college football preview
Nebraska quarterbacks are held up to a higher standard — Tommie Frazier, Scott Frost and Eric Crouch are typically the names that first tumble off the tongue when reveling in the national championship heyday of the 1990s. Taylor Martinez and Tommy Armstrong have held that celebrity status in Lincoln the last seven seasons. It amounted to a 62-31 record — a two-out-of-three-ratio that has yet to produce a Big Ten championship.
There needs to be something more at quarterback if the Huskers want to compete for a championship in the Big Ten West — not to mention the glamour programs of the Big Ten East at Ohio State, Michigan and Penn State.
"I'm aware of what comes with playing the position, especially being in Nebraska," Lee said at Big Ten Media Days. "The most passionate fans you're going to come across are in Nebraska. It's been a lot of fun, but I'm focusing on my job and our locker room and letting everything else take care of itself."
Riley tabbed Lee the starter after a heated competition in spring practice, but still mentioned the uncertainty in his opening remarks when he said, "We don’t have a quarterback who has played a down at Nebraska yet." Riley is rolling with Lee, who was present at Big Ten Media Days while some of the other big-name QBs — Ohio State's J.T. Barrett, Penn State's Trace McSorley and Michigan's Wilton Speight — stayed home.
"(Lee) entered in not really dramatic fashion," Riley said. "Just became one of the guys. Like I said, well liked and well respected, and the other reason he's here is he earned the job through competition."
Lee does have FBS experience, of course. A Destrehan, La., native, he played in 19 games for Tulane in 2014-15 — and with that comes the polish and experience necessary for the Q-and-A sessions with media. Lee also talked about his first Big Ten football experience in September 2014, when he hit seven of his first nine passes against Rutgers. But that’s not what he remembers most.
"I got hurt I think in the first or second quarter," Lee said. "I took a hit and I hit my head back on that ground. They ended up taking me in, and I ended up separating my shoulder. I was pretty upset about that."
MORE: Sporting News Top 40 players for 2017
Lee says he's upset, but he maintains the same measured tone throughout the entire recount, part of an even-keel approach he learned in high school. He lists off all the areas he’s trying to improve — speed, agility and throwing mechanics — as though it's simply a transaction for a telling season for the Huskers, who are picked by some sportsbooks to win just six games this season. That 50-50 ratio, Lee said, can only serve as motivation.
"Guys see it and they use it," Lee said. "We have a list of goals in our locker room that we want to achieve and we use things as, ‘This is what everyone is expecting of us. Are we going to let that happen? Are we going to do something about it?'"
That process started for Lee last season when working with the scout team. He said doing that both gained the respect of the first-team defense and the scout team offense, which has a few contributors on this year’s starting unit. It also helped form a relationship with the assistant coaches. That has all led to a potential explanation for his easy transition into the starting role. Lee even laughed about the jersey switch from his days with the Green Wave.
"I used to be No. 12, but when I came here No. 13 was on my locker," Lee said. "I’ve grown to like it. It’s a lucky number for me."
Will that be the lucky number for the Huskers? A visit to Oregon on Sept. 9 is the highlight of their nonconference schedule. Lee’s second Big Ten game is a home opener rematch of sorts against Rutgers. Wisconsin and Ohio State visit Lincoln in back-to-back weeks in October. The schedule closes with a road trip to Penn State and a home game with Iowa. Something between 50-50 and two-out-of-three is a reasonable expectation, even if Nebraska fans are still searching for something closer to their '90s glory.
Lee is something else. He’s the first quarterback who matches Riley’s prototype, and the results could be better than expected. That’s all part of playing the glamour position, and it will be something to see.
"Every day the fans shock me in some way showing me how impressive they are," Lee said.
Now it's time to return the favor. Lee needs to give something more in 2017.
