Pick a QB, and stick with him

#1
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Northwest Vol

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#1
It amazes me that so many people here were all over Erik Ainge after yesterday's game. It WAS the first game of the season. Rick came in and played awesome.

What I am trying to say is this: no team is going to be taken seriously, or even deserves to be taken seriously if they play musical chairs at quarterback. Erik Ainge had an amazing freshman season and BEAT FLORIDA (among other teams). He's 19, and only getting better. With that young age comes a fragile being at times, and what message is the coaching staff sending him by yanking the starting position away from him?

I played college football. Not a big school, but nonetheless, it was college football. I don't think many of you realize the magnitude of having two starting quarterbacks. For one, it hurts Erik in more ways than one. More importantly, it can, and and often does, DIVIDE the team. You got half of them wanting Erik, and half of them wanting Rick. Trust me, this is not good.

No team is going to challenge for the National Title without having a quarterback that they have faith in.

I'll tell you what -- and I am a big Rick Clausen fan -- he should NOT start at Florida. Give the ball to Erik, and let him lead this team.

I fear the psychological damage that could be done to Ainge here is more than we realize. Has everyone forgot his freshman season? Why does it seem that so many here want to write him off? Fairweather fans at their best.

Go Vols, and Coach Fulmer -- PLEASE pick a starting quarterback, and stick with him!
 
#3
#3
No one was all over Ainge yesterday, everyone was just disappointed in his performance....It happens....We won't our team to win and hopefully look good doing it....Ainge didn't look good yesterday, he just had a bad game...Clausen happened to have an excellent game and that's what got him the start at Florida....If Clausen is our starter this year it might be best to let Ainge come off the bench...IMO last year, when he came off the bench he played better
 
#5
#5
I'm not worried what benching Ainge will do to HIS psyche. I'm worried what STARTING Ainge would do to TEAM Psyche.

Phil HAS to start Clausen.
 
#6
#6
I think Clausen earned the start but that doesn't mean that Ainge won't play...If u remember last year he did better after watching the first couple of drives from the sideline and then coming in.

God Bless and Go Vols
Run to the Roses
 
#7
#7
I think sticking with Ainge in the long run would be better... I would expect him to come out of his slump soon and be more productive than Clausen, as well as be that much better for the seasons to come. But Fulmer would be crucified if he didn't start Clausen against Florida.
 
#8
#8
I don't know for sure who should start now. But I do know that bringing Rick in on the third pos changed the momentum of the whole offense. Even the eay Riggs was running. He was running with attitude and stopped. EA threw well the first two pos and when he came back in he looked different. I agree with NWVOL stick with a starter. I think Coach dropped the ball on this one.
 
#9
#9
Originally posted by BeltwayVol@Sep 5, 2005 9:52 AM
I'm not worried what benching Ainge will do to HIS psyche.  I'm worried what STARTING Ainge would do to TEAM Psyche.

Phil HAS to start Clausen.
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Ditto. We have 2 weeks to fix whatever problems he had on Saturday. BUT, for my money, the UT offense seemed to find its rythum when RC was in.

This is NOT the time to "give Ainge another chance".
 
#10
#10
Originally posted by VolBeef88@Sep 5, 2005 12:24 PM
I don't know for sure who should start now. But I do know that bringing Rick in on the third pos changed the momentum of the whole offense. Even the eay Riggs was running.
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I think when Clausen is in, nobody worries too much about the deep ball resulting in a little more run support. With Rick in, the whole offense turns a little more horizontal.

 
#11
#11
Yeah... Now that I think about it, just start Clausen and keep him in unless he looks really bad, then bring in Ainge. After that, maybe just start and give near-full games to Ainge later in the season when we play fluff teams.
 
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