Sportswriters rebuffed for skepticism over two QB system
It is true, most of the Utah media have been very skeptical about the use of two quarterbacks the past few weeks, citing that history has proven it is very risky for a squad.
Earlier this month, I wrote a piece about two Snow College quarterbacks who helped the Badgers win a national championship. Bronco Mendenhall was on that team and witnessed both play every game but the final title game.
Will it work?
I’ve been among those who’ve thought it risky if not goofy. But I’ve also seen the two quarterbacks in practice almost every day.
It has worked in camp and in a win over Washington. As people witnessed, Riley Nelson and Jake Heaps bring unique talents to the position and it is tough to not have either one ready for playing duty to exploit those talents. That both have been an example of unselfishness so far has given credence to QB coach Brandon Doman and OC Robert Anae, who are making this call. Mendenhall told reporters he has left the QB decision to those two assistants so far.
After continued pre-judging the situation leading up to the win over Washington by me and my brothers in the Fourth Estate (media), one reader decided to hold us accountable in a mass email Sunday morning.
I thought his observations have merit and I will post them here:
Hello Sports Writers…
I am writing because I find it so interesting to watch BYU with two quarterbacks and it is easy to see why naming a starter was difficult…one is more experienced yet one has incredible talent.
What is disturbing is that you all are suppose to be objective yet so many times you all are such naysayers saying how things can’t work or it hasn’t happened before. IF you would have been covering BYU football when Coach Edwards first started, you would have probably questioned his use of the pass as well. Yet it worked out.
Instead of constantly questioning how this will not work, or being defensive if someone calls you on your comments as not being very objective, why not try to see if it has worked before because if you would have done your research before sharing your expert commentary on how this can’t keep going, FSU made this work back in the late 70s.
Two quarterbacks that also came from the same high school in Tallahassee, Wally Woodham and Jimmy Jordan, both SHARED the QB role for not part of a season or even one season…but for THREE seasons. How good were they? Well in 1979, the ‘noles went 11-0 before losing to Oklahoma in the Orange Bowl. They gave teams grief because both had different styles and defenses had to constantly adjust.
Bobby Bowden had many people question him at first but the results worked out. How ironic BYU will be playing FSU soon and maybe your sports research teams can find good ole Bobby and get a unique interview from a prospective that not even the national media bothers to find out about. At least it will be a positive story so that fans won’t be so quick to throw people under the bus after each bad play.
If you all spent more time analyzing why this is unique and could work, perhaps the fair weather fans would stay on the bus and look at how unique this is.
Below is a clip about Woodham and Jordan from the internet…amazing what happens when it is googled…also, Woodham and Jordan were friends…I know because I was from Tallahassee area and next to BYU, I loved watching Seminoles.
I challenge you writers to see who can come up with the best positive article about BYU quarterbacks.
Sincerely,
Troy Mohrman
The clip:
Wally Woodham and Jimmy Jordan occupy a very special place in FSU football history. Both had been High School All American quarterbacks for Cox at Leon. In his senior year at Leon, 1975, Woodham set new national high school passing records. In the year following, Jordan broke all of those records. Both chose to play their college years at FSU. For three seasons, 1977, 78 and 79, they shared the quarterback spot for the Seminoles. They were called, “Wally Jim Jordham-the two-headed quarterback” by a number of sports writers. Bowden would start one or the other in each game. If the starter stalled, he would bring in the other who would pick up the slack. What they did together was huge. In those three years, FSU went 10-2, 8-3, and 11-1. Their last season, 1979, the Seminoles were undefeated in the regular season and made the school’s first ever trip to play in the Orange Bowl game. Although they lost the Orange Bowl game to Oklahoma, when it was all over they were ranked sixth nationally by the Associated Press. It was the very first season in which FSU finished the year in the top ten.