Bob Asmussen | Do you really have to ask who is the starting quarterback? Actually, yes

Nov. 14—Want to purchase today’s print edition? Here’s a map of single-copy locations.

CHAMPAIGN — The question is timely and obvious: Who will start at quarterback for Illinois when it plays this Saturday at Iowa?

But you are going to have to wait to find out.

If it is not John Paddock, he will make football history as the first player to pass for 500 yards and not start the next game.

Illinois has only had one other player — Dave Wilson — throw for more yards before this past Saturday saw Paddock unleash for a Memorial Stadium record 507 yards during the Illini’s 48-45 overtime win against Indiana. Wilson threw for 621 yards at Ohio State in 1980.

The next week against Indiana, Wilson threw for 403 yards. That made for a combined 1,024 yards in a two-week stretch. And another 310 against Minnesota the week before the Ohio State game.

Illinois might seem to be in a quarterback quandary. Luke Altmyer didn’t play against the Hoosiers because he was injured late in the game against Minnesota. Not his fault he couldn’t go against Indiana.

“I’ve never been a coach that has ever put a player in a position that they have lost (their spot) by injury,” Bielema said at Memorial Stadium on Monday. “Obviously, John has played exceptionally well from the time he entered the game two weeks ago at Minnesota to the way he played last week. I think our guys will know the plan very clear Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday. We’ll make a decision as it gets closer. The good news is we’ve got two guys we feel can play.”

But does Bielema want to be the coach who benched the 500-yard guy?

His first job — make that only job — is to give Illinois (5-5, 3-4 Big Ten) the best chance to win against the Hawkeyes (7-2, 5-2). And right now that has to be the current Big Ten Offensive Player of the Week in Paddock.

The Ball State transfer received…

Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/bob-asmussen-really-ask-starting-154700744.html

Author : The News-Gazette, Champaign-Urbana, Ill.

Publish date : 2023-11-14 15:47:00

Copyright for syndicated content belongs to the linked Source.