Gary Taylor is a confused man. Then again, all of that running in and out of the huddle could get anyone a little muddled.

Taylor has been part of the Wildcats' revolving-door running-back scheme this season, a system that makes it hard for him to get consecutive plays, much less an entire series. As Arizona's starting tailback, he came into the season believing he would be t he Wildcats' top threat on offense. However, as the season has progressed - and his carries have continued to diminish - Taylor is wondering exactly what he is doing wrong.

"Well, honestly, I really don't know what to say," Taylor said. "It's been real frustrating. Last season I was carrying the ball a lot more. Right now I just try to stay positive and take full advantage of what I do get. I wish it wasn't like that."

Most frustrating to Taylor is that he has been productive when he has gotten the call. He is the team leader with 434 yards rushing, averaging 5.3 yards per carry, and is the most fundamentally sound back Arizona has. In fact, the only statistic really la cking for Taylor is at the root of his problems: number of carries.

"It is frustrating because I know I've worked hard enough to help this team," Taylor said. "With the number of carries I'm getting, it's hard to establish myself. It takes time to get the feel of the game and I'm not really getting that opportunity right now."

Taylor ran the ball only nine times in Arizona's 33-7 win over Oregon State last Saturday, but still managed to rush for 95 yards and two touchdowns. This season he has carried the ball 82 times with only four games remaining. Last season he finished with 177 carries.

"We just have got a very competitive situation," UA head coach Dick Tomey said. "We've got a lot of guys who deserve to play. His carries just depend on the game and what's being effective. If what we are doing is working, we will continue to go to it."

That has been part of the problem for Taylor this season. In road games against Iowa, Washington and Southern Cal, the running game failed to work early and the the team went away from it. Also, the emergence of quarterback Keith Smith as a running option has meant fewer traditional carries and more improvisation. Add to that a group of backups that includes junior Kevin Schmidtke and true freshman Leon Callen, along with fullbacks Charles Myles, Kelvin Eafon and Scooter Sprotte, and the backfield has bec ome crowded quickly.

Still, instead of being resentful of the cast, Taylor has worked to help everyone get better.

"I can't say anything bad about any of my teammates," Taylor said. "They are all great guys who do great jobs. It's just natural for everyone to want to play and make contributions."

"He's been a real big help to me," Callen said. "He has taught me that you just have to go out and work hard if you want to be successful. He worked hard and that has earned him a starting spot."

Taylor began earning that starting spot in 1992, when he opened up the season with a 13-yard touchdown run against Utah State. Taylor aggravated a wrist injury in the next game, however, and applied for a medical hardship that would give him another year of eligibility. He returned in 1993, playing behind starter Ontiwaun Carter and running for 345 yards. He carried for 307 yards in 1994 before breaking out for 714 yards rushing and 33 receptions as a starter last season.

"He's just continued to get better," Tomey said. "He's developed into a really dependable player. I've just seen him grow as a young man."

Taylor and his twin brother, Cary, both came to Arizona from Morse High in San Diego. Gary Taylor was more highly recruited than his brother, but insisted that they both go to the same school. The brothers had shared a room almost since birth, and they bo th felt a bit of culture shock when they came to Tucson.

"Life is so much slower here, and the spotlight is always on you," Taylor said. "It was a big adjustment for me. I thought I was grown up coming from the ghetto, but being in this environment has really taken me away from a lot of negative things."

Taylor said he turns many of those negatives into positives through writing. A sociology major and creative writing minor, Taylor said he plans to begin working on an autobiography when he graduates in May.

"My experiences, my life - I have a lot of things that people can identify with," Taylor said. "I would like to write screenplays someday depicting a gritty reality."

Taylor said that for now, however, there is one thing he has to concentrate on, and that is football. He said there is still time to make his impact with four games remaining.

"I'm not an offensive analyst," Taylor said. "But I know this team needs to run to win. That is where I think I can be a factor."

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