LINCOLN, Neb. — Jammal Lord has known all summer exactly how many days he has to wait before making his first start as Nebraska's quarterback. He may even have it down to the number of hours.

        “This has been a long summer,” said Lord, who is beyond eager to start after a three-year wait.

        His turn will come Aug. 24 against Arizona State. He knows the length of his tenure will be up to him and his health.

        If Lord is effective as a starter, he will quickly be embraced.

        If he struggles, Nebraska fans still missing 2001 Heisman Trophy winner Eric Crouch will quickly call for a replacement. Such is life as the successor to one of the most popular players in Cornhusker history.

        “Just watch,” Lord said with a shake of his head. “Watch the game.”

        Lord is truly an unknown. He's only played in only 12 games, all of which were well decided when he came in to give Crouch a rest.

        Lord acknowledged he didn't practice as hard as he should have as Crouch's backup the past two seasons, or as a redshirt in 1999. He also knows that's why even as the projected starter last spring, he had to earn the job he's coveted since coming from Bayonne, N.J., three years ago.

        Lord knew his opportunity was there, and he took advantage of it. Coach Frank Solich and quarterbacks coach Turner Gill see a different Lord, who no longer has anybody in his way.

        “I knew that Eric wasn't going to be there in the fall. I took that into mind,” Lord said. “I worked hard and here I am now.”

        When Lord speaks of Crouch, there is no hint of a grudge. Lord said he learned a lot on and off the field from Crouch, who quickly became a crowd favorite when he took over the starting job early in the 1999 season.

        Lord will have to win over the fans and does not have the advantage that Crouch did of being a native Nebraskan.

        Gill, a quarterback at Nebraska from 1980 to 1983, said Lord has a pretty good idea of what he's in for as the starter.

        “As a quarterback you know you're going to be in the spotlight and really you say 'Bring it on.' Because you know that's part of the deal,” Gill said.

        As Crouch's backup, Lord posted solid but not overly impressive statistics. He has 50 career carries for 213 yards, an average of 4.3 per carry, and six touchdowns. He's completed 14-of-24 passes for 181 yards and no touchdowns and thrown two interceptions.

        Lord has a veteran backfield behind him in I-backs Dahrran Diedrick and Thunder Collins, as well as leading receiver Wilson Thomas, but there will be three new starters on the offensive line and a new starter at tight end.

        Thomas said the offense should be fine under Lord.

        “A lot of people question his ability, but he had a Heisman Trophy winner in front of him. Jammal is a great player,” Thomas said. “It kind of offends me. They have no faith in him and it's because he hasn't had a chance to show it.”

        He's about to get that chance.

        “You can only talk for so long. You can only wait for so long,” Gill said. “The opportunity is going to be here real, real soon. He's excited. I'm excited and I really feel like he will do well.”

        If Lord falters or gets hurt, Nebraska could be in serious trouble. His top backups are Curt Dukes, a freshman who enrolled at Nebraska early last winter so he could participate in spring workouts, and sophomore Mike Stuntz. Neither has taken a snap outside of practice.

        Lord ran the option in high school, rushing for 1,306 yards and 21 touchdowns as a senior. He also completed 22-of-41 passes for 360 yards and four TDs in an offense that like Nebraska's was very run-oriented.

        Solich said Lord's passing has improved considerably.

        “When he got here, he really wasn't a very proficient thrower. He's done a great job to get himself ready,” Solich said. “He's made excellent strides.”

        With Nebraska very light on experience at quarterback, Solich is being extra careful about injuries. Lord, Dukes and Stuntz wear green jerseys and haven't be fair game for tacklers in practice.

        And that's fine with Lord.

        “I've been hit enough all through my life,” he said.