Lord's playing status upgraded
Makes big jump from 'Overcoming Adversity' to 'Earning Respect'

LINCOLN -- The official playing status of Nebraska quarterback Jammal Lord, who for two years occupied the No. 2 quarterback spot behind Eric Crouch before being handed the starting job this year, has been upgraded to Earning Respect, a recent report from the National Department of Sports Labeling shows.

Lord will be a junior this fall when Nebraska opens the 2002 season against Arizona State. In his Husker career, he has battled injuries, endured repeated coaches' public criticism and also has been cited for reckless driving. The factors led the Ministry to keep the NU signal-caller in the Overcoming Adversity category for much of his college career.

Experts observed that Tuesday's upgrade was the first sign that Lord is ready to make his mark. So far, fans have expected very little out of the Bayonne, N.J., native.

"It's great that the Labeling Department has approved this promotion," Lord said in a statement. "I've been working hard this off-season to Overcome Adversity, and I think the bump is definitely merited."

As noted in the Sports Labeling Department's report, the status of individual players at any one moment in time is always in one of four distinct stages -- Overcoming Adversity, Earning Respect, Seeking Redemption or Getting Revenge.

Secretary of Sports Labels Artie Gigantino said Lord merited the upgrade mainly because he was replacing Crouch, the prolific 2001 Heisman Trophy winner who led Nebraska to last year's national-title game.

Nebraska Coach Frank Solich said Lord's upgrade was a "tremendous, tremendous boost" for the Cornhuskers, who are itching to regain their stature as a national power following back-to-back lopsided losses to close the 2001 season.

"This also means that Jammal will not have to wear the green jersey during spring practices, like he did when he was Overcoming Adversity," Solich said. "Nope, now he'll be taking hits from his defensive teammates. I guess Earning Respect starts in your own back yard."

At Barry's Bar in downtown Lincoln, Nebraska fans' reactions were generally pleased. However, some NU supporters questioned the call.

"Earning Respect? That's it? Geez, that doesn't make me feel any better about next year's chances," Bud Brubaker said, pausing from his Tuesday lunch. "Y'know, this is all Solich's fault. If he wouldn't have had Crouch hogging the ball for the last two years and would've just given Lord some decent playing time, he could've been shooting for Getting Revenge by now."

He added: "We're going to need that by the time the Colorado game comes around."

Tad Reems, who said he, too, is a follower of the Big Red, said the Department's edict was fairly confusing.

"I don't get it," he said. "Why can't someone be Earning Respect while he's Overcoming Adversity? Or be Getting Revenge while Seeking Redemption, for that matter? See, it doesn't make much sense."

Also, Reems said, Lord should technically be in the Getting Revenge category when Arizona State -- last seen shutting out Nebraska 19-0 in 1996 -- visits Lincoln on Aug. 24. However, Gigantino nixed that notion.

"Getting Revenge? Please. It's far too early for such lofty suggestions," Gigantino scoffed. "The guy was in high school when ASU last played Nebraska, for Christ's sake. Besides, he's got to lose a few games before being eligible for Getting Revenge."

It is for similar reasons, Gigantino said, that Lord also cannot be Seeking Redemption at this point in his career.

"Let me just cut this off at the pass," he said. "To qualify for that, a player must first play poorly, then become the brunt of criticism for the team not performing well. A few anonymous death threats helps, too," he explained. "The word 'redemption' won't even get used about him until the following year, and that's only he turns everything around. Get it? No? Ummmm ... screw it. Think Scott Frost, 1997."

Meanwhile, Gigantino said Lord's new Earning Respect status entitles him to be the subject of three poignant halftime segments this season. He will, however, not be eligible for any post-season awards.

"There's always next year," Lord said.