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University of Minnesota Athletics
Classic Re-Write: Omar Douglas
10/21/2010 12:00:00 AM | Football
This feature story appeared in Minnesota's official game program on Oct. 23, 1993. Omar Douglas finished his career with 130 catches, 1,681 yards and 14 touchdowns. Douglas set a school and Big Ten record with five touchdown receptions against Purdue on Oct. 9, 1993.
Big Play Man
Omar Douglas' magical hands continue to set Golden Gopher receiving records
Omar Douglas is having one of those weeks. Actually, one of those weeks is turning into one of those months. Just about everything seems to be going Omar's way, especially touchdown passes for the Golden Gophers. Now might be a great time for Omar to invest in some lottery tickets because his magic touch has reached new heights. In the last two games alone, against Purdue and Northwestern, Douglas has caught seven touchdown passes that have contributed to the first Golden Gopher two-game win streak and first Minnesota road win since 1990.
"A lot of things are just going well for us with the offense right now," said Douglas. "We're just executing a lot better, and it can be attributed to everybody. It's not just one or two or three people, it's the whole offense playing better. I feel like I'm at a higher confidence level right now, and I've always felt that if I can play with a lot of confidence, that I can do a lot of things and I can play well. I like the pressure of knowing that my teammates and others are looking to me to come up with that big play."
That big play has become a part of Douglas' repertoire as he continues to shatter and increase many University of Minnesota and Big Ten receiving records. In the past two games alone, Douglas has matched the previous Golden Gopher record for touchdown passes caught in an entire season1. With a season to date total of 10 touchdown passes caught and surely more to add in the final four games, the 5-10, 170-pound senior from New Orleans, La., has made his mark in Gold Country.
"I might be setting records now, but someone's going to come along with more time in this offense and break the records I've set," Douglas said. "It's nice and I am enjoying it, but we have a lot of young talent on this team, and I know someone's going to break these records in the next two or three years."
Despite Douglas' modesty, there can be no questioning his contribution to the Golden Gophers. Also a member of the University's track team2, Douglas' speed and quickness make him a threat to not only make the long catch but to catch a short pass that suddenly becomes a long gain before opposing defenses can catch up with him. With Douglas drawing considerable and well deserved attention from those defenses the other receivers and backs are given a chance to excel as well.
The Golden Gophers' two-game win streak has given Douglas hope that the Maroon & Gold can finish the season and his career in a winning way.
"We're really concentrating on taking one game at a time," Douglas said. "This week is a really big week with Homecoming and Wisconsin coming in, and we have a lot more confidence now3. We just have to try to keep it up and practice harder and harder every week.
Written by Mark Moller.
1 Ron Johnson (2000) and Omar Douglas share the single-season receiving touchdown record with 11
2 Omar Douglas was the 1994 Big Ten Indoor 55-Meter Champion
3 Minnesota shocked unbeaten Wisconsin with a 28-21 upset at the Metrodome. It would be the Badgers' lone loss of the season
