McGahee juiced for game in Miami

Thursday, Dec. 2, 2004 | 9:02 a.m.

SUN WIRE REPORTS

Don't let Buffalo running back Willis McGahee's cool act fool you.

To hear McGahee tell it, this weekend's homecoming trip to Miami -- McGahee's first as an NFL player -- is just another ho-hum game on the schedule.

"No anticipation," McGahee said Wednesday. "It's one of the opportunities I've been waiting on, but I'm not really going to focus on it."

McGahee's mom, Jannie Jones, knows her son better.

Jones saw a difference when McGahee made a brief trip to Miami earlier this week.

First he asked how many tickets she had purchased for the game. Then McGahee said to make sure to buy a few more for some friends she might have forgotten.

"That's when I knew he was excited," Jones said.

Why?

"Because he doesn't like to spend money," she said.

Jones has cut off ticket sales at 100, but she knows there will be plenty more people in the stands keeping a close eye on her son Sunday.

That's because McGahee has become one of the game's most intriguing stories.

As a Miami Hurricanes running back, McGahee broke several school records as a redshirt sophomore in 2002 before blowing out his left knee in the national championship game against Ohio State. After missing all of his rookie season in Buffalo as a first-round draft choice last year, he needed just two months of the 2004 season to overtake Travis Henry as the starter in the Bills' backfield. He has had five 100-yard rushing games and scored seven touchdowns, four in last Sunday's 38-9 win at Seattle.

Talk about a perfect time to be heading home.

"Now we'll get to see him play at home after everybody said he wouldn't come back or he wouldn't be the same even if he did," Jones said. "And I think a lot of people can't wait ... because I think they're in for a treat."

McGahee's already been a treat for the Bills (5-6), electrifying a team that's suddenly on a roll, having won five of its past seven, all five wins with McGahee starting.

McGahee's been credited with revitalizing a sputtering offense, helping take the pressure off once-faltering quarterback Drew Bledsoe by providing a consistent run threat. And his strong runs and ability to find holes have silenced criticism of an offensive line that's suddenly showing signs of jelling.

"I'm cool with it. I'm not complaining about nothing," McGahee said, referring to his impact. "I'm just here to do my job. You know it's not going to be here forever so I want to take advantage of it."