Oregon daily emerald., November 03, 2000, Page 8, Image 31

Brian Bahr/Allsport
The
Heisman
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Steamtunnels Profiles the Heisman Trophy Contenders.
ERIC CROUCH
University of Nebraska
Eric Crouch is a total yardage machine.
Nebraska’s 6’1" junior quarterback man
ages to run, throw and catch his way past
opponents, in fact in one quarter last year
against Cal, Crouch ran for a touchdown,
threw a touchdown pass and caught a
touchdown pass as well.
Crouch is a natural option quarter
back. First off, the speed: he's a sprinter
on the track team and former state high
school champ at 100 meters. Second, the
vertical leap: 35 inches. In other words, he
either runs around or jumps over you.
He’s developing as a passer, and almost
never turns it over (only 4 interceptions in
1999). A mid-season loss to Texas took
Nebraska out of the title hunt last year,
but the Cornhuskers finished with a flour
ish, capping a 12-1 season with a Fiesta
Bowl win over Tennessee. Crouch was the
MVP of the game, rushing for 64 yards
and passing for 148.
The Heisman voting may pivot on
which teams are ahead in the polls. In
October Nebraska was first in the Coaches
Poll and second in the AP. Look for Crouch
in Nebraska’s next big game, Nov. 11
against Kansas State.
Stats
DOB: Nov. 16, 1978
Hometown: Omaha, Neb.
Height: 6’1"
Weight: 205
Class: Junior
Position: Option QB
Web site: ecrouch.com
1999 Total Yardage: 1026 yards rushing,
1269 passing
1999 Scoring: 16 rushing TDs, 7 passing
1999 Awards: Co-Big 12 offensive player
of the year (with Major Applewhite of
Texas)
—ABaldwin
Cast your Heisman Vote at
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Michael Vick. Virginia Tech (profiled last week)
Eric Crouch. Nebraska I
Drew Brees, Purdue (profile next week)
LaDainian Tomlinson. Texas Christian (profile Nov. 13)
past Facts about Issues in the 2000 Campaign
EDUCATION
The Pentagon’s budget for 2004 is $308.5
billion. Only $34.7 billion will be spent on
education.
Source: Business Leaders For Sensible Priorities
VIOLENCE
75% of people committing hate crimes are under
the age of 30. One in three are under 18.
Source: Federal Bureau of Investigation
Children in the United States are nine times
more likely to be killed by gunfire than in all of
the next 25 top industrial nations.
Source: Associated Press
HEALTH
Only 1/2 of teenagers use condoms, while 2/3
of STDs occur in people 25 years old and
younger. Source: Center for Disease Control
ENVIRONMENT
10 million children under the age of 12 live with
in 4 miles of a toxic waste dump site.
Source: Environmental Protection Agency
80% of all cancers are caused by environmental
influences. Source: The Sierra Club
85% of the forests that existed in the U. S. 200
years ago are gone forever.
Source: Environmental Almanac
CIVIL RIGHTS
Lesbian, gay and bisexual youth are four times
more likely to commit suicide than their "straight"
peers. Source: National Cay and Lesbian Task Force
85% of teachers oppose integrating lesbian, pay
and bisexual themes in the curricula.
Source: Massachusetts Governor's Commission On
Cay and Lesbian Youth
40% of minority children attend urban schools,
where more than half of the students are poor
and fail to reach even "basic" achievement levels.
Source: The Washington Post
Hate crimes committed against gays, lesbians
and bisexuals increased almost 607o between
1991 and 1997. Source: Human Rights Campaign
MONEY
Poverty in the U. S., according to the census, is
defined as having an income of less than
$17,029 for a family of four and $13^290 for a
family of three.
According to the United States Census Bureau,
the poverty rate has hit its lowest level in 21
years—11.8%. The percentage of children living #
in poverty has fallen to 16.9%, also the lowest
figure in 21 years.
The median household income is higher than it
has ever been at $40,816. Both Republicans and
Democrats are taking credit for the "good news."
House Republicans believe that their role in
passing welfare reform has had a significant
impact.
Almost 24% of African Americans live in poverty
and almost 23% of Hispanics (any nationality)
do as well. Less than 11 % of Asians and Pacific
Islanders live in poverty, while less than 8% of
non-Hispanic whites do.
In addition, the gap between the rich and
the poor continues to grow. Just over 49% of
the money is being earned by 20% of the popu
lation. Source: Associated Press