Junior quarterback Todd Bandhauer, who changed his jersey number to 16 this year, has always been a Joe Montana fan. Like Montana, Bandhauer has a knack for giving credit to his wide receiver corps and not to himself.

And although Bandhauer’s leading receivers are not quite the Jerry Rices and John Taylors of college football, you would never know it by the way he talks them up.

“We’ve got five seniors,” Bandhauer said at media day. “Ed Williams, one of the greatest receivers in Iowa State history. Tyrone Watley, one of the best competitors I’ve ever been around. Daman Green can fly.”

Bandhauer also mentioned Tom Radke and Gerrick Bivens, two walk-ons who have earned scholarships at the receiver position. “[Coach Dan] McCarney said they’re the most talented group on the team and I agree with him,” he said. “It takes a lot of pressure off me.”

Another thing that will take pressure off Bandhauer is the threat of Iowa State’s tight ends.

“I’ve never seen guys that big that can run that well,” he said.

Even though Bandhauer would rather talk about his receivers than himself, the Florida native’s coaches, teammates and fans do not hesitate to give credit to the 6-foot-3-inch quarterback.

“Todd Bandhauer’s got an excellent arm,” McCarney said. “The key is going to be the development of the offensive line and the protection we can do for him.”

Bandhauer began to gain attention from Cyclone fans when he replaced an injured Todd Doxzon in 1995. As a freshman, he played in six games and completed 42 passes for 501 yards.

In his first collegiate start on Oct. 28, Bandhauer completed 11 of 18 passes for 137 yards against Oklahoma State.

He also threw three touchdown passes, the most by an ISU quarterback since Bob Utter threw three against Northern Illinois in the 1993 season opener.

Last season, Bandhauer played in just two games, but led the Cyclones on a 16-play, 72-yard touchdown drive in the final series of 49-14 loss to Nebraska.

Bandhauer was elected a captain by his teammates this season, and said he is looking forward to being a leader on the team. “There’s more to being a quarterback than just throwing the ball,” he said. “It’s a leadership position, everybody looks up to you.”

In leading one of the most diversified offenses ISU has had in years, Bandhauer has put much thought into what it is going to take to win.

He said the team’s passing game will have to be more than just throwing the ball 30 or 40 yards down field.

“It’s all about control,” Bandhauer said. “Throwing the ball to the tight ends will definitely open things up to the receivers so we can throw the ball 30-40 yards down field. Hitting my third and fourth guys on reads can also really help us.”

Bandhauer admits that last season was frustrating, but he is extremely optimistic about the 1997 season.

“It’s going to take that fourth quarter effort this year,” Bandhauer said. “We played great for three quarters and lost it in the fourth.”

“In my opinion, we already are competitive,” Bandhauer said. “We lost five games by an average of three points. If that’s not competitive I don’t know what is. You ask Colorado who’s competitive. You ask Kansas who’s competitive. We’re down to the wire against a lot of good teams.”