Roanoke Times Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc. DATE: SUNDAY, December 25, 1994 TAG: 9412290036 SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C-12 EDITION: HOLIDAY SOURCE: DOUG DOUGHTY STAFF WRITER DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
It is more than coincidence that Max Knake's greatest success as Texas Christian's quarterback has come since he stopped working exclusively with head coach Pat Sullivan.
``He was very hands-on till the middle of my sophomore year,'' said Knake, a junior in his third season of eligibility. ``He liked to call plays a lot, but now we've got two other coaches to do that. I think it's taken a lot of the pressure off of him.''
The full dividends weren't realized until this year, when Knake (pronounced NOCK-ee) passed for 2,624 yards and 24 touchdowns in leading the Horned Frogs to a 7-4 finish and their first bowl appearance since 1984.
Knake (6 feet 2, 205 pounds) passed for more than 2,000 yards in 1993, but did not come out of that season with grandiose expectations.
``Not after we were completely annihilated in our last game,'' said Knake, referring to a 59-3 drubbing by Texas A&M in the 1993 season finale at TCU.
It was a personal setback for Knake, who completed two of eight passes for 35 yards before being pulled. That followed a 24-3 loss at Texas, where he threw three interceptions.
``I was disappointed after the season,'' Knake said. ``I threw too many interceptions. That was my biggest goal in the preseason - to cut down on the interceptions. I didn't have a number in mind. I just wanted it to be as few as possible.''
In 1993, Knake had more interceptions than touchdown passes (14-13). This year, he was intercepted only seven times and ranked seventh in NCAA Division I-A in passing efficiency.
Virginia, the Horned Frogs' opponent Dec.28Wednesday night in the Independence Bowl, has the nation's No.13-rated passer in Mike Groh.
``It was a matter of not forcing balls and knowing what I was doing,'' said Knake, who was not intercepted in 78 attempts during three TCU spring scrimmages.
Although the Horned Frogs had a 2-3 record through five games, Knake thought there were signs of progress, starting with a 27-17 loss at 18th-ranked North Carolina in the opening game.
``There was a lot of ucertainty in the preseason,'' Knake said. ``We didn't know how good we were going to be, but we played North Carolina tough. We felt we could have or should have won the game. I felt it was the turning point in our season.''
Tailback Andre Davis led the Southwest Conference in rushing, with 1,498 yards - more than 600 yards more than the runner-up - and Knake was first in passing yardage and touchdown passes. Each was named the SWC player of the year by at least one publication.
It was particularly satisfying for Knake, rated no better than the third-best quarterback prospect in Texas in 1992 behind Shea Morenz and Corey Pullig. While Pullig has had a nice career at Texas A&M, Morenz wasn't even starting for Texas at the end of the year.
Knake, who passed for 492 yards in one game as a senior at McKinney High School, visited Texas and Texas Tech before deciding on TCU.
``I liked the size of the school, the academics and the location,'' said Knake, who lived in Chicago before moving to Texas before starting the ninth grade. ``And, obviously, there was Sullivan and his background. That was one of the biggest factors.''
Sullivan, an All-America quarterback at Auburn, was awarded the Heisman Trophy in 1971. He spent five seasons in the NFL and later was an assistant coach at his alma mater.
It appeared likely the Horned Frogs would lose Sullivan this month, when a news conference was called to introduce him as the new coach at Louisiana State. However, a hefty buyout clause in Sullivan's contract forced an 11th-hour breakdown in negotiations.
Knake said he harbored no resentment toward Sullivan, who has signed a five-year contract extension.
``[Expletive], no,'' Knake said. ``It's a job and this is a business,'' Knake said. ``I can't blame him for looking into other opportunities. LSU would have been a great place to go.''
TCU won't be a bad place to stay, with the return of Davis and Knake, who has broken school records dating to the days of Sammy Baugh and Davey O'Brien.
Knake, who threw every pass attempted by the Horned Frogs this season, views the Independence Bowl more as a challenge than a reward.
``It means a lot,'' he said. ``This is our chance to turn some heads.''
by CNB