New Cowboys QB Kitna corralled HSU

Jon Kitna made a good impression on Hardin-Simmons University football coach Jimmie Keeling, and not for signing with the Dallas Cowboys as their projected backup quarterback.

Keeling got to see him up close and personal in 1995, when the Cowboys faced Kitna and Central Washington in the NAIA playoffs at Shelton Field. Needless to say, Kitna made a good impression on all at the game as he completed 26-of-38 passes for 377 yards and five touchdowns in the 45-20 victory.

That was the last year that HSU played in the NAIA, opting for the NCAA Division III, where all members were non-scholarship. The Cowboys led this one in the second half, which was a remarkable showing because Central Washington gave scholarships and HSU did not.

Keeling knew the Cowboys were going to have their hands full because he had seen Kitna on film.

"He was a big, strong kid, I'd guess 6-4 or 6-5, and he had a powerful arm." Keeling said. "Twice, we thought we had him surrounded, but he was so strong, he'd roll out, get away and throw the ball a mile. One of those plays gave them the go-ahead touchdown in the fourth quarter."

Kitna owes Keeling after that victory. Maybe some tickets to the (Dallas) Cowboys games.

"I just might call him for some tickets," Keeling joked. "But he is a good man off or on the field."

That is something the Cowboys haven't always had of late with the likes of an Owens, Jones (not Jerry, although ...) and Johnson ....

n Former Abilene Christian University quarterback Billy Malone worked out with Cincinnati Bengals coach Ken Zampese on Monday, according to a two-sentence note on the Tulane University Web site. Malone went there a year before dropping out of football and then enrolling in ACU.

If the name Zampese sounds familiar, well, it should. His father is Ernie Zampese, who coached with the Dallas Cowboys in 1995, when they won the Super Bowl.

Malone couldn't ask for a better coach to work with him because Ken Z. has been around some of the top passers in the NFL -- Brett Favre at Green Bay, Kurt Warner at St. Louis and Carson Palmer at Cincinnati.

Palmer became the fifth quickest quarterback to reach 100 touchdown passes (59 games). Dan Marino holds the record (44 games), followed by Warner (50), Johnny Unitas (53) and Peyton Manning (56). Palmer replaced the former No. 5s Favre and Daunte Culpepper (62).

Zampeze, who has been with the Bengals for six years, worked with Kitna in 2003, who had his greatest season as a pro that year, completing 324 passes for 3,591 yards and 26 touchdowns.

Malone passed for 34 touchdowns and 2,944 yards last year, leading ACU to its best-ever record in 58 years. His age, 26, may be against him, but his quick release, strong arms and work habits can offset that

n Colt McCoy, the University of Texas quarterback from Jim Ned, had so much fun last spring break on a mission trip to Peru that he went back last week to serve as camp counselor to the young children of farmers and fishermen from the villages along the Amazon River. He showed them how to throw and catch a football during the day and told them Bible stories at night.

The only thing he did not like about last year's experience was eating rice at virtually every meal. As a result, he dropped 10 pounds. This time, he took some American food with him to go along with the rice ...

n End of quote: "A versatile guy is a guy who can be very versatile," University of Texas defensive end Brian Orakpo, explaining at the NFL Combine why he would be a good fit in any NFL defensive scheme.