Out of Action, Davenport Still Part of the Team

As the other Miami Hurricanes jogged off the field at the Coliseum on Thursday, fullback Najeh Davenport slowly limped off on crutches.

While the other players talk excitedly about what might be ahead for them in the Rose Bowl championship game against Nebraska, Davenport can only think about what might have been.

Davenport won’t be playing in Thursday’s game. His season ended earlier this month when he broke a bone in his left foot.

Not in the heat of battle, but during practice--after the regular season had ended.

Not from a body-rattling tackle, but without anyone touching him.

As Davenport caught a pass, his leg buckled.

“It’s very disappointing,” Davenport said. “But it’s part of life. Everybody has trials and tribulations. This is not my first and it probably won’t be my last.”

For Davenport, there were trials and tribulations in finding his place in the Miami backfield. At 6 feet 2 and 242 pounds, he didn’t have the moves of a tailback, yet was too fast to be nothing more than a blocking back.

He found his niche as a multi-dimensional back. Working hard, he became an effective blocker for tailback Clinton Portis, who rushed for 1,200 yards this season, and used his good hands and impressive speed to become a reliable receiver, catching 14 passes for 190 yards and two touchdowns.

And he even got to carry the ball occasionally, gaining 54 yards in 23 carries and scoring three touchdowns.

Davenport’s teammates voted him the team’s unsung hero.

But it is now that he is truly earning that award.

Davenport, a senior, could have stayed in Miami, felt sorry for himself and concentrated on rehabilitating his foot. With his size and speed, he has a chance at a pro career, but to have a realistic shot, he needs to be back at full speed in time for the scouting combines leading up to the spring draft.

Davenport has chosen to rehab alongside his 102 teammates in Los Angeles as they make their run for a national title, hoping to contribute in small ways.

He plans to sit down today with his replacement, freshman Willis McGahee, and go over the details of the job. Davenport will also talk to Jarrett Payton, who may get some playing time at fullback.

Davenport has remained upbeat and optimistic.

“He’s amazing,” said Joe Hornstein of the Hurricanes’ media-relations staff. “He never sulks. Getting a guy who is injured to talk to the media can be the toughest thing. But in Najeh’s case, when I asked him, he said he’d be happy to if I would just hold his sandwich until he was done.”

Still, it’s not all smiles.

The reality hit Davenport when he stood on the sidelines during practice Thursday and realized there was nothing for him to do.

“It’s boring,” he admitted. “R-e-a-l-l-l-y boring.”

Linebacker Chris Campbell, who injured his right knee in practice several weeks ago, had to be hospitalized Thursday to have fluid drained, but is expected to be back practicing in the next few days.

Steve Springer

Nebraska defensive back Keyuo Craver was unsure how he would fare Thursday as a contestant at the “Who Wants to Be a Millionaire” attraction at Disney’s California Adventure.

After a one-hour 45-minute practice in sweats at USC, the Cornhuskers traveled to the Anaheim theme park as part of the Rose Bowl-week festivities. Craver was one of 10 Nebraska players vying for a shot to sit across from Regis Philbin, the game show host and grand marshal for the Rose Parade.

“I probably won’t have a clue,” Craver said beforehand. “It’s like watching ‘Wheel of Fortune’ or ‘Jeopardy’ at home. I always get the answers right. But when you’re actually out there, it could be brain freeze.”

Craver should not have worried. He answered several questions correctly before missing Philbin’s $250,000 query about how the flags that fly at the United Nations are arranged.

Craver said, “by year of admittance.” The correct answer: alphabetically.

“It was actually pretty cool,” said Craver, who collected a hat, a shirt and some pins for his efforts. “Regis made it easy for me.”

Philbin, an avowed Notre Dame fan, got in several playful jabs with Nebraska’s players.

When 6-foot-5, 270-pound defensive end Chris Kelsay took the seat opposite him, Philbin said, “You guys beat Notre Dame twice in the last two years.”

“Sorry about that,” Kelsay said.

Replied Philbin: “If you were just a little smaller, I’d take a swing at you.”

When it was Craver’s turn, Philbin asked, “How was that Notre Dame team? Were you lucky to beat them?”

Nebraska Coach Frank Solich said he was confident that his players were staying focused on the game against Miami despite the number of activities both teams will attend in the days leading up to the Thursday showdown.

“You have to be careful, because you want to make sure the players have a good time,” Solich said. “But on the other hand you have to keep coming back to the fact that there is still a game to be played.”

Nebraska players have the day off today. Many will attend the Lakers’ game against Toronto at Staples Center tonight. The Cornhuskers will resume practice in full pads on Saturday.... Sophomore Patrick Kabongo, a reserve defensive tackle, did not make the trip for the Rose Bowl because he violated team rules, Solich said.... Former Nebraska running back Jarvis Redwine, who played at Inglewood High, was at the Cornhuskers’ practice Thursday morning. Redwine, 43, works in the cargo department for Northwest Airlines and as an assistant football coach at Culver City High. He said he intends to return to Nebraska in the next few years to complete his degree in criminal justice.