Second game of the year, first start by Stetson, as you recall. But Mark Jones and RGIII, announcing for SECN, weren't sure they believed Kirby when he told them who was starting. Certainly most on the Vent didn't believe it, though it was predicted here. Watching it reminds me of just how unlikely (and unwanted) a scenario it was. We don't trust coaches and what they see in practice; we trust what we saw the season before, or at least thought we saw. Or even a simple star rating, which Carson Beck had and Bennett didn't.
That's just how we think as fans. Stetson, of course, tosses a 73-yard dime on his second snap, to none other but Burton. Then he hits a bunch of other long ones, even with people in his face.
But when RGIII suggests a "brewing quarterback controversy," I distinctly remember rolling my eyes and then posting about it on the Vent: what a joke to suggest anyone but JT is the quarterback of this team. I wasn't buying a walk-on taking over. Neither were you. I simply wasn't open to the craziness of that, even though, right before my eyes, Stetson was showing precisely how much better his accuracy and poise were. Sure, it was UAB. But I've seen great quarterbacks do a lot less against such teams. His QBR for the game was almost off the chart, and (again) UAB isn't an FCS team. They knocked off #19 in the Independence Bowl.
Stet was never perfect. All year, there would be a gunslinger-type terrible decision at some point, but we dismissed those easily when it was, say, Matt Stafford in the role of the gunslinger. For Stetson, every little flaw confirmed our suspicions he wasn't ready for the big time and never would be. Every big play had some other explanation, usually, "Well, it's the opponent."
How it started: "We'll never win a national championship with Stetson Bennett. Period."
How it's going: "We won because of defense. You or I could have been under center." The goalposts are on the move to this day.
I did begin to watch Bennett with a little more objectivity afterwards, because I trusted Monken and Smart. They weren't going to make an irrational gamble on a national championship-possible season.
The numbers say he had a year in line with some of the best in our history. I doubt any of our past QBs hit that many long ones, to be honest. And with replacement receivers, to boot. Nor was he resting on, say, Sony and Nick at running back. We were very good there, but not the best we've been. Offensive line? Good but not great.
Now, I'll admit I'm looking forward to seeing what he does next year, with so much fan pressure off his shoulders. But I'm glad that UAB game is there for us. It underlines what a crazy and wonderful trip this season was, and I actually treasure it all the more because the story line is so compelling.
That's just how we think as fans. Stetson, of course, tosses a 73-yard dime on his second snap, to none other but Burton. Then he hits a bunch of other long ones, even with people in his face.
But when RGIII suggests a "brewing quarterback controversy," I distinctly remember rolling my eyes and then posting about it on the Vent: what a joke to suggest anyone but JT is the quarterback of this team. I wasn't buying a walk-on taking over. Neither were you. I simply wasn't open to the craziness of that, even though, right before my eyes, Stetson was showing precisely how much better his accuracy and poise were. Sure, it was UAB. But I've seen great quarterbacks do a lot less against such teams. His QBR for the game was almost off the chart, and (again) UAB isn't an FCS team. They knocked off #19 in the Independence Bowl.
Stet was never perfect. All year, there would be a gunslinger-type terrible decision at some point, but we dismissed those easily when it was, say, Matt Stafford in the role of the gunslinger. For Stetson, every little flaw confirmed our suspicions he wasn't ready for the big time and never would be. Every big play had some other explanation, usually, "Well, it's the opponent."
How it started: "We'll never win a national championship with Stetson Bennett. Period."
How it's going: "We won because of defense. You or I could have been under center." The goalposts are on the move to this day.
I did begin to watch Bennett with a little more objectivity afterwards, because I trusted Monken and Smart. They weren't going to make an irrational gamble on a national championship-possible season.
The numbers say he had a year in line with some of the best in our history. I doubt any of our past QBs hit that many long ones, to be honest. And with replacement receivers, to boot. Nor was he resting on, say, Sony and Nick at running back. We were very good there, but not the best we've been. Offensive line? Good but not great.
Now, I'll admit I'm looking forward to seeing what he does next year, with so much fan pressure off his shoulders. But I'm glad that UAB game is there for us. It underlines what a crazy and wonderful trip this season was, and I actually treasure it all the more because the story line is so compelling.
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