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Backup QBs, not SI jinx, the big issue

OSU's Zac Robinson warms up during practice at Boone Pickens Satdium. STEPHEN HOLMAN/Tulsa World

 
By DAVE SITTLER World Sports Columnist
Published: 8/12/2009  2:27 AM
Last Modified: 8/12/2009  6:54 PM
Related story: A first: OSU football on SI cover.

Go to Dave Sittler's Blog

THANKS, SPORTS Illustrated, I needed that excuse.

Some of you might recall that the old dude whose picture sits atop this column boldly predicted Oklahoma State would be a gaudy 11-0 when it heads to Norman for Bedlam Battle 2009 on Nov. 28.

Not once, but twice, did that aging prognosticator in the aforementioned photo venture out to that 11-0 point where few others have dared tread this summer.

Now, compliments of the folks at SI, the crystal ball is so murky that all bets are off on the Cowboys ripping off eleven consecutive wins to open the season.

Tuesday's announcement that Zac Robinson and Andrew Lewis are among four quarterback-center duos selected by SI to appear on the magazine's cover in their region of the college football preview edition was not good news for the Cowboys.

The other three schools with players joining Robinson, Lewis and No. 7 OSU as Top 25 cover boys include No. 6 Ole Miss, No. 11 Oregon and No. 14 Penn State.

If you believe in the SI cover jinx, you understand why fans of the Cowboys, Rebels, Ducks and Nittany Lions feel a sense of doom a month before the season starts.

The SI jinx, which portends bad luck for anyone who appears on the magazine's cover, also explains why Robinson is already injured. The Cowboys' senior quarterback suffered a pulled hamstring during the first practice of fall camp.

At least OSU coach Mike Gundy has the SI jinx as an excuse if Robinson goes down. What's OU coach Bob Stoops going to say if junior Sam Bradford is lost for an extended period?

The question of a quality back-up quarterback is the elephant in the room at OU and OSU. The preseason hype has centered on both teams' top 10 potential, while ignoring the fact both teams are one quarterback injury away from disaster.

Not only did Bradford and Robinson play extremely well last season, they played all the time. The result is that both teams' experience behind Bradford and Robinson is basically nonexistent.

Redshirt freshman Landry Jones and true freshman Drew Allen are the backups for Bradford, who is probably playing his final season at OU as he attempts to win a second Heisman Trophy.

Instead of giving Jones some playing time last season, Stoops opted for loyalty to senior Joey Halzle. Even Halzle played sparingly, appearing in 10 of 14 games and attempted just 30 passes.

The inexperience factor at OSU is better. But barely. Redshirt junior Alex Cate played in four games last season and one in 2007, attempting a combined five passes. Hey, at least Cate completed four of them for 56 yards.

Redshirt sophomore Brandon Weeden is battling Cate for the No. 2 spot behind Robinson. A former professional baseball player who turns 26 in October, Weeden appeared in one game last season, completing 1-of-3 passes for eight yards.

How did the Sooners and Cowboys get in these quarterback situations?

Several reasons. One of the biggest is that Bradford and Robinson played so well early in their careers that they either scared off potential recruits or ran off the ones who were on campus.

OU blue-chip recruit Keith Nichol bolted for Michigan State after Bradford had an outstanding season as a redshirt freshman.

Gundy's hot pursuit last winter of former Miami (Fla.) quarterback Robert Marve showcased his concern about OSU's situation next season.

OU and OSU had ample opportunity last season to give their backups experience in blowout wins. But both coaches inexplicably elected to stay with their starters, or ordered the reserves to keep the ball on the ground and run out the clock.

So which team will be in deeper doo-doo if it loses its starting quarterback? The guess at this point is OSU.

OU's defense appears stout enough to keep the Sooners in most games. OSU, meanwhile, hopes its defense can just keep it close enough for Robinson and his multi-talented offensive teammates to score the 30, 40 or 50 points it might take to win.

Stoops and Gundy would undoubtedly point out their veteran quarterbacks are as durable as they are talented. Bradford and Robinson both had to fight injuries and pain to answer the starting bell for every game in 2008.

Good point. But it guarantees absolutely nothing for the upcoming season.

Stoops most assuredly would also note that OU did just fine when Bradford became the starter in 2007 without any college experience. That's true. But how often does a Sam Bradford come along?

What Bradford did as a redshirt freshman was phenomenal and rare. Rare enough that OU should consider banning SI photographers from its campus until further notice.
By DAVE SITTLER World Sports Columnist

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COMMENTS 
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3 comments have been made for this team so far. Tell us what you think below!
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Arbythree, Tulsa (8/12/2009 8:53:43 AM)
The thought of Ou or OSU lsoing their QB is a thought I choose to not think about.

Good luck to the State schools and let's be undefeated in November.
Report Comment
Rizzle, (8/12/2009 9:14:58 AM)
I don't know about the SI curse. OU did pretty well in 2001? when they were on the cover. I mean, besides close losses to Nebraska and OSU, it was a good season with a bowl win. It would have been much better than the alternative of beating OSU or Nebraska, then going to the Rose Bowl to get smoked by Miami and beginning the BCS Championship loss streak two years early. This all assumes that I have the right year, though...
Report Comment
MexiMike, Tulsa (8/12/2009 10:49:08 AM)
Florida was on the cover last year...how did they do again?

Robinson's injury is one that has occured in the past as well. It never bothered his field play then and I certainly don't expect it to now. Coaches are keeping him out as a precaution and to give the back-up QBs time to prove themselves (which as you pointed out, is needed).

Both OSU and OU will be fine. Jinxes are superstitious ways of making excuses.
 

 
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