Taylor Martinez Beginning To Wonder What Love Is

Story by Jacob Fricke 

| Published Oct 11, 2011

“Coach Bo keeps telling me he loves me and my work,” said Sophomore quarterback Taylor Martinez following the victory against Ohio State on Saturday. “But I really don’t know what that means anymore.”

In the midst of his second season as the starting quarterback for the Nebraska Cornhuskers, Martinez has seen his share of adversity.

“He’s gone from being the pride of the state to being its sacrificial lamb and back in less than a week,” said Cornhusker head coach Bo Pelini.

After every game, Pelini reiterates his faith in the team and his bedraggled quarterback, and often resists calls for backup Brion Carnes to be put into games. For Martinez, the lack of confidence from Husker fans and the continued encouragement of his coach has put him in an emotionally fragile state.

“Each morning, I wake up and read in the paper that we’ve signed a new QB recruit, that I’m totally useless, and that Tommie Frazier’s cousin is the only hope for this program,” said Martinez from a vacant locker room at 4am. “Last year, these same people said I was their savior and that a Heisman was inevitable. I just don’t know what to believe anymore.”

Though Martinez currently takes solace in his coach’s confidence, as recently as this summer they were at odds. After several reports of ‘misunderstanding,’ however, the two now claim to be closer than ever.

“I can’t figure out what people want from me,” Martinez continued. “Do they love me or hate me? Do they want me here or do they want me to leave? What is love?”

Following an abysmal performance against the Wisconsin Badgers, Martinez could be seen moping around the entrance to the Bob Devaney Center. According to sources, he was muttering to himself and crying silently while Pelini gave him a back rub.