His performance running the Cornhusker offense led to multiple awards, including being named the Big Eight football conference Co-Offensive Player of the Year.
[4][5] Following high school, Gdowski accepted an in-state scholarship offer to play quarterback at the University of Nebraska.
For the season, he averaged 7.91 yards per attempt, breaking the 1983 school record of Heisman trophy winning running back Mike Rozier.
He led Nebraska to a 10-2 record and a second straight Big Eight title, resulting in a Fiesta Bowl appearance.
Legendary Nebraska coach Tom Osborne referred to Gdowski as having played "as well as any quarterback I’ve ever had here".
[4][3][8] Drafted in the eighth round by the New Orleans Saints, Gdowski did not make the final team roster and was cut.
[11] He then moved to South Dakota State University, where he served as the quarterbacks and wide receivers coach for two seasons.
The following season, he moved to New Mexico State, where he served as the quarterbacks coach and recruiting coordinator from 1998 to 2002.