Wednesday, September 01, 2004

Vols Turn To Freshmen QBs

ESPN.com reports that Tennessee will start one of their two freshmen quarterbacks this Sunday. It will be the first time in SEC history a true freshman will start the first game of the year. That's kind of amazing considering the history of the SEC. However, I know how much football people frown on first-year starters.

I have always found it interesting how coaches, fans and the media cry aloud how a freshman just can't play QB. This is especially true at the "big programs". You can't expect a true freshman to play at places like Ohio State, USC or Tennessee. The way people go on about it, you'd think we are talking about aerospace technology, not football.

I guess what I find so interesting/funny/ridiculous, is that all of these freshman QBs that cannot possibly be good enough to play immediately were all unstoppable phenoms destined for greatness when they were recruited just six months ago. Now, they are incapable of ousting a mediocre junior who has taken all of sixteen snaps in two years.

Whomever Phil Fulmer picks, I hope the Vols new, young QB has a fine year. It will help make all this talk of quarterback play as rocket science die down a bit.

No comments: