Friday, Oct. 23, 2009

Second-string signal callers being called upon often this year

By BY CHADD CRIPE

One thought drove former Boise State backup quarterback B.J. Rhode to prepare like the starter even though he faced the strong possibility that he wouldn't play a single meaningful down.

"I had to mentally teach myself that they were going to need me," he said. "My honest thought was, 'Be ready, because you don't want to mess this up for everybody.' "

Backup quarterbacks across college football are living that sentiment this season as starters crumble at a dizzying rate - making a huge impact on the national title and Heisman Trophy races.

In addition to Tim Tebow and Sam Bradford, Heisman contender Jimmy Clausen (Notre Dame) has missed time with a bum toe. Matt Barkley (USC) sat out the Trojans' only loss, possibly costing them a title shot.

Oregon, South Florida, Texas Tech, Nebraska, West Virginia and Michigan - all of whom have been in the Top 25 this year - have utilized their backups, too. Plus, Missouri lost a key game with a hobbled quarterback, Idaho inserted its backup on a game-winning drive and Colorado pulled a major upset after benching Cody Hawkins.

And closer to home, Hawaii will start walk-on Bryant Moniz on Saturday against Boise State because the Warriors' starter suffered a season-ending knee injury and their backup has been out with an injured hand.

The Broncos, who have three healthy quarterbacks, have noticed the trend. Junior Mike Coughlin is the backup to starter Kellen Moore.

"Mike's seeing that. ... Obviously that gives some credibility to a guy being prepared," offensive coordinator Bryan Harsin said.

Just ask Rhode, who was the last Boise State backup quarterback to start a game because the starter was unavailable. Backup Bush Hamdan started on senior day last year and Taylor Tharp relieved an ineffective Jared Zabransky twice in 2005.

Rhode posted a 6-0 record as a starter. He started one game when Ryan Dinwiddie was suspended in 2001 and five games when Dinwiddie broke his ankle in 2002 at Arkansas. Rhode threw 11 touchdown passes and five interceptions in 2002.

"He was completely dialed into what we were doing," said Boise State coach Chris Petersen, who was the offensive coordinator during Rhode's cameo.

Rhode remembers running the upper decks at Bronco Stadium in the summer of 2002 and getting taunted by strength coach Jeff Pitman.

"If we have to play you," Pitman told him, according to Rhode, "we're in trouble."

"I joked with him every week - 'So far, we're not in trouble,' " Rhode said.

That anecdote illustrates how difficult the transition from backup to starter can be.

"You're not the man. You're not the one everybody focuses on," said Rhode, who coaches the Eagle High junior varsity team. "But when you do go in, you've got to go in and manage it, at worst, if not try to thrive."

Rhode, whose practice snaps were limited to basic plays when Dinwiddie was healthy, tried to mirror the starter away from practice - studying tape every day and meeting with Petersen to discuss the game plans and opponents. When he finally went in the game, the Broncos were able to run the same offense with some tweaks to fit Rhode's skills.

"You just have to go in and react," he said.

Coughlin has tried to put himself in a similar position.

"You just can't ever let yourself slip as far as thinking, 'I'm just the backup,' " Coughlin said.

Harsin likes the way Coughlin has prepared this year. Still, Coughlin never has come off the bench in an emergency situation so nobody knows how he'll react.

"We aren't changing anything when he goes in," Harsin said. "É You just cut 'em loose and let them play."

And hope they perform like Rhode.

"Hopefully we didn't miss a beat," Rhode said of his starting run, "and history tells me we didn't."

Chadd Cripe: 377-6398