Robert Wundu Sowa "Bobby" Newcombe (born on August 8, 1979 in Sierra Leone

Sierra Leone

Sierra Leone , officially the Republic of Sierra Leone, is a country in West Africa. It is bordered by Guinea to the north and east, Liberia to the southeast, and the Atlantic Ocean to the west and southwest. Sierra Leone covers a total area of and has an estimated population between 5.4 and 6.4...

, Africa

Africa

Africa is the world's second largest and second most populous continent, after Asia. At about 30.2 million km² including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of the Earth's total surface area and 20.4% of the total land area...

) is a former starting quarterback for the Nebraska Cornhuskers

Nebraska Cornhuskers

The Nebraska Cornhuskers is the name given to several sports teams of the University of Nebraska–Lincoln. The university is a member of the Big Ten Conference...

.

Collegiate career

As a sophomore in 1998, Bobby Newcombe started at quarterback and led his team to a 9-4 record in spite of suffering from a knee injury in the first game that would plague him all season long. During the season, Newcombe led Nebraska in passing yards with 712 and had 228 rushing yards while completing 50-of-79 passes and throwing just one interception. The 6-0, 195-pound native of Albuquerque, New Mexico also recorded eight rushing touchdowns and one passing touchdown, while his longest run from the line of scrimmage was 20 yards. Newcombe's longest pass play covered 49 yards to wide receiver Matt Davison against Texas A&M on Oct. 10, 1998.

One of Newcombe's most memorable moments for individual game performances came on August 29, 1998 when he completed 9-of-10 passes for 168 yards including a 46 yard touchdown pass to tight end Sheldon Jackson in a 56-27 shootout victory over Louisiana Tech

Louisiana Tech Bulldogs football

The Louisiana Tech Bulldogs football program represents Louisiana Tech University in Western Athletic Conference. The team currently competes in the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision. Since the Bulldogs first season in 1901, Louisiana Tech has compiled an all-time record of 554 wins, 422...

 which was televised nationally.

Newcombe was replaced at quarterback by Eric Crouch

Eric Crouch

Eric Eugene Crouch is an American quarterback for the Omaha Nighthawks. He also is a TV sports analyst and recreational equipment vendor....

 the following year as Crouch would go on to win the Heisman Trophy in 2001. Newcombe would finish his career as a return man and wide receiver for the Cornhuskers. His four seasons at Nebraska had him totalling 45 receptions for 660 yards with three touchdowns. He also added 48 punt returns for 829 yards which included three touchdown returns. One of those three touchdown returns went for 94 yards against Missouri

Missouri Tigers football

The Missouri Tigers football team represents the University of Missouri in NCAA Division I FBS college football. The team has competed in the North Division of the Big 12 Conference since the conference's inception in 1996...

 on Sep. 30, 2000 which set a Huskers school record.

Professional career

Newcombe played football professionally in the Canadian Football League

Canadian Football League

The Canadian Football League or CFL is a professional sports league located in Canada. The CFL is the highest level of competition in Canadian football, a form of gridiron football closely related to American football....

 for the Montreal Alouettes

Montreal Alouettes

The Montreal Alouettes are a Canadian Football League team based in Montreal, Quebec.The current franchise named the Alouettes moved to Montreal from Baltimore, Maryland, in 1996 where they had been known as the Baltimore Stallions...

 for one season. He was drafted in the 6th round of the 2001 NFL Draft

2001 NFL Draft

The 2001 NFL Draft took place on April 21–22, 2001 at the theater at Madison Square Garden, in New York City. This was the 66th National Football League draft in league history. The draft was broadcast on ESPN both days and eventually moved to ESPN2. No teams elected to claim any players in the...

 by the Arizona Cardinals

Arizona Cardinals

The Arizona Cardinals are a professional American football team based in Glendale, Arizona, a suburb of Phoenix. They are currently members of the Western Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...

, but wound up playing wide receiver in Canada at the slot receiver's position in 2002.

Personal life

Newcombe now resides in Lincoln, Nebraska

Lincoln, Nebraska

The City of Lincoln is the capital and the second-most populous city of the US state of Nebraska. Lincoln is also the county seat of Lancaster County and the home of the University of Nebraska. Lincoln's 2010 Census population was 258,379....

 and works as an associate director of public affairs at the University of Nebraska.

Additional sources

• Lindy's Big-12 Football - 1999 - Volume 13, p. 136, 174-175
• nebraska.statepaper.com - June 30, 2001 article titled “Bobby Newcombe puts Nebraska Behind Him”