McNair making believers of critics

Published 12:00 am Saturday, January 22, 2000

There are those who still don’t believe Steve McNair can lead a professional football team to the Super Bowl, even though the Tennessee Titans will be right there with a win over Jacksonville today. But silencing critics is nothing new for the former Alcorn State record-setter, nicknamed &uot;Air II&uot; after following his brother, Fred &uot;Air’ McNair to Lorman.

&uot;I’ve been listening to those kinds of things for a long time,&uot; McNair said by phone Thursday following a Titan workout. &uot;Ever since coming behind my brother in high school and going to school at a small predominately black college. People wondered if I would be as successful in college. And now I hear things at the pro level. But I don’t let that bother me. I just go out there and do what I can for the offense to put enough points on the board. I’m just trying to make a point the only way I know how – by performing.&uot;

The 6-foot-2, 225-pound McNair admits playing in the AFC&160;Divisional championship game is something that can be a bit overwhelming.

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&uot;At the first of the season I thought we had a chance, but now it’s a reality,&uot; he said. &uot;It feels good. You have to hold yourself back from getting too excited. We’ve got to get this game to put ourselves in the Super Bowl. I feel fortunate to have this chance early in my career, this being my fifth year. I’m ahead of a few others in their career at this point. The earlier you get to this point in your career, the more chances you will have to get back here.&uot;

McNair knows it won’t be easy getting to the Super Bowl, even though the Titans swept Jacksonville during the regular season, handing the Jaguars their only two losses of the season.

&uot;I think it’s a matter of we just can’t turn the ball over,&uot;&160;he said. &uot;We have to be consistent on offense. We have to take advantage of what they give us rather just throwing or running it. If they let us throw the ball, I know I can do a good job of passing it. My job is to get the ball into the hands of the guys who can make the plays. That’s how we won the first time we played them. It takes a team effort. I think it’s going to come down to the one-on-one battles up front and on the outside with our receivers. I have to do a good job of putting us in position for our plays to work.&uot;

That’s just what McNair did in almost every game he played at Alcorn.

With McNair at the helm from 1991-94, Alcorn went 30-12-2 and never lost a home game.

McNair passed for 14,496 yards and rushed for 2,227 more to finish with 16,823 total yards of offense, best-ever in Division I-AA.

He finished third in the Heisman Trophy voting, but won the Walter Payton Award as the top player in I-AA.

&uot;The difference now and when I was in college is that I don’t put up the big numbers now,&uot; McNair said. &uot;We don’t have a wide open offense like we had in college. Now I have to take more of a leadership role and lead by example, doing the little things it takes for us to win.&uot;

McNair, despite missing five games due to back surgery, completed 187 of 331 passes for 2,179 yards, while rushing for 337 more during the regular season. In his first game back, McNair led Tennessee past St. Louis, who is also playing for a spot in the Super Bowl.

Through two playoff games McNair has completed 26 of 48 passes for 188 yards with no touchdowns and one interception. He has helped the Titans to six straight victories.

Tennessee defeated Buffalo 22-16 in the wild card game two weeks in a game known as ”the Music City Miracle.”

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Trailing 15-14, Frank Wycheck lateraled the kickoff to Kevin Dyson, who went down the sideline for 75 yards and the winning score. The play had to be reviewed before being officially called a touchdown.

&uot;That was an up and down emotional game,&uot; McNair said. &uot;Even before the kick return happened, I was like just get us good position. Let me take at least one or two shots at the end zone. We had been working on that play all year and it worked. To see our guy running down the sideline had me going from low self-esteem to high self esteem. I looked around and saw there wasn’t a flag and just felt great. Usually things like that happen against us.&uot;

Tennessee defeated Indianapolis 19-16 last week. McNair spent several minutes visiting with Colt quarterback Peyton Manning after the game.

&uot;I just wished him good luck and he told me to keep it going,&uot; McNair said. &uot;I&160;have a lot of respect for the things he has accomplished. He had some bad things happen his first year and then to come back and be in the playoffs is a great example of how good a quarterback he is. They’ll be back in the playoffs next year.&uot;

McNair was known for making things happen at Alorn. And even though he doesn’t use the free-wheeling style he did at Lorman, McNair is still capable of making the big play, such as the

&uot;I&160;still try and make things happen,&uot; he said. &uot;I&160;go through my reads and if things break down I look for ways to make a play. I had the people around me at Alcorn believing in me back then I now I the people here believe in me regardless of the situation. Hopefully we can keep it going for another week.&uot;

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