Lee has chance to change his reputation

Zac Lee is well aware of his building reputation — that he can't come through for Nebraska in big games.

Three weeks ago at Virginia Tech, Lee never got the offense going, completing 11 of 30 passes with two interceptions and no touchdowns. The Cornhuskers lost 16-15, and all fingers were pointed at him and the failure of the offense to put the ball in the end zone.

Two games later, it looked like déjà vu.

NU was barely moving the ball during what many players are calling three of the ugliest quarters they've ever experienced. Then the fourth quarter came in a very rainy Columbia, Mo. That's when Lee took center stage.

The NU quarterback tossed three touchdowns on 79 yards passing while leading the Huskers back from what seemed like an inevitable loss. He only had 79 yards through the first three quarters against Missouri.

Statistically, he said his performance might not be what Husker fans were looking for, but he wasn't concerned about his numbers heading into the nationally televised showdown.

"We had talked as quarterbacks before the game, that in a game like this, who cares what the numbers are?" Lee said. "Who cares how many passing yards you have as long as you win? A win's a win. You're not really going to dwell on it in a negative light, but I think we're all pretty happy with it in the end."

Against the Tigers, Lee only completed 14 of his 33 passes — but went 5 for 6 in the final quarter. According to him, the big switch offensively came because of better execution and more passionate play.

"It was probably as emotional of a feeling that I've had in football with the type of game it was, how grateful we were as an offense that our defense played that well and how proud I was of everyone on offense of just sticking to it and coming through like that," Lee said.

Before Lee's fourth quarter heroics, the quarterback was anything but.

Things got so bad near the end of the third quarter that offensive coordinator Shawn Watson said he did think about putting in true freshman quarterback Cody Green for a change of pace.

After being ineffective through three quarters, Lee said something big needed to happen for him to settle in. It came in the form of a 56-yard touchdown pass to Niles Paul down the middle of the field.

Although that touchdown pass sparked the Nebraska comeback win and kept Lee in the game, Lee said he was aware that he was close to being pulled from the game.

"It is what it is," Lee said. "You just kind of deal with it. I know coach Wats has my back, and coach (Bo) Pelini has my back, and it's motivated me to have their back honestly. It's just part of the game."