I truly feel sorry for Cam Rising!

[Cougsocal]

WSU has a long and storied tradition of making QBs in their first start, or first extended playing time, look like a future Heisman candidate, to build up unrealistic expectations among their faithful, only to have those expectations slowly sour and ultimately be labeled, even after solid careers, a disappointment. Jaxson Dart is now "penciled in" as the USCs QB GOAT. Cam will certainly be "penciled in" as Utah QB GOAT after Saturday. Sadly, these kids will never live up to the expectations we irresponsibly foster.

My first experience with this Cougar phenomenon was Arizona 1983. Alfred Jenkins, in his first start, subbing for an injured Tom Tunnicliffe. 45-6, a 193 pass efficiency rating (PER), Arizona's bright QB future was secure, ... or so they thought! While Jenkins went on to start the next three seasons, he ended his career with a dismal PER of 111. I don't think he ever played as well as he did against us, again. What makes this truly bizarre is that the 1983 Cougar defense is amongst the best we have ever fielded, yet seemingly they were powerless to resist the "new QB" phenomenon. Keith Millard and Eric Williams, should have eaten Al for lunch.

What was you first experience with this phenomenon?

 

[cr8zyncalif]

First, SoCal, thank you for the laugh. I have to admit that after watching Dart on Saturday, my thoughts turned to Todd Marinovich. He wasn't my first experience of this sort, but he was definitely the highest profile of the flame outs that had a great game against us (and I'll note, we had a pretty good team in 1989). "The Drive" became part of SC lore...unfortunately, the aftereffects in terms of Marinovich's later meltdown have dampened their enthusiasm for celebrating that particular game.

 

[CougEd]

WSU has a long and storied tradition of making QBs in their first start, or first extended playing time, look like a future Heisman candidate, to build up unrealistic expectations among their faithful, only to have those expectations slowly sour and ultimately be labeled, even after solid careers, a disappointment. Jaxson Dart is now "penciled in" as the USCs QB GOAT. Cam will certainly be "penciled in" as Utah QB GOAT after Saturday. Sadly, these kids will never live up to the expectations we irresponsibly foster.

My first experience with this Cougar phenomenon was Arizona 1983. Alfred Jenkins, in his first start, subbing for an injured Tom Tunnicliffe. 45-6, a 193 pass efficiency rating (PER), Arizona's bright QB future was secure, ... or so they thought! While Jenkins went on to start the next three seasons, he ended his career with a dismal PER of 111. I don't think he ever played as well as he did against us, again. What makes this truly bizarre is that the 1983 Cougar defense is amongst the best we have ever fielded, yet seemingly they were powerless to resist the "new QB" phenomenon. Keith Millard and Eric Williams, should have eaten Al for lunch.

What was you first experience with this phenomenon?

There have been so many. I have tried to forget. Was it 05 or 06 Stanford came in with their 2nd string QB and lit us up? 09 Barkley for USC made him look like an All American. I believe that was his first Pac 12 start. Then in 2013 we made Utah's 3rd string walkon look like he belonged despite throwing two picks for TD's.

Carl Bonnel. actually looked functional against us.

 

[Cougsocal]

Marinovich, ah, I was at that game. Your career defining moment, and then a long slide into drug abuse. How about Gage Gubrud? I know you're saying, he went on to be a great FCS player, that is true. But did he ever play as well again? FCS kid, FBS bench warmer, lit us up for 556 yard of offense in his debut. A 7-2 Pac-12 team ... breathtaking!

 

[Cougsocal]

There have been so many. I have tried to forget. Was it 05 or 06 Stanford came in with their 2nd string QB and lit us up? 09 Barkley for USC made him look like an All American. I believe that was his first Pac 12 start. Then in 2013 we made Utah's 3rd string walkon look like he belonged despite throwing two picks for TD's.

Carl Bonnel. actually looked functional against us.

On the other side, other than Hilinski, I'm hard pressed to come up with a back up Cougar QB who wasn't a liability. Matt Kegel for example. How many second quarter momentum kill insertions did he have to get him ready to "game manage," when Gesser would inevitably go down. Against the UW, 1st and goal at the 2, ... sorry. Nevermind, just get us a first down to run out the clock, sorry no can do.

 

[FnuLnu]

On the other side, other than Hilinski, I'm hard pressed to come up with a back up Cougar QB who wasn't a liability. Matt Kegel for example. How many second quarter momentum kill insertions did he have to get him ready to "game manage," when Gesser would inevitably go down. Against the UW, 1st and goal at the 2, ... sorry. Nevermind, just get us a first down to run out the clock, sorry no can do.

Blame Price's crap play calling.

Every time Kegel went in for Gesser for 1 series, a delayed QB sneak was almost always called.

Kegel won on the road at USC as a Freshman sub in the game before the 2000 Apple Cup 51-3 debacle (where the WSU team basically quit in the second quarter).

Gary Rogers (Auburn 2006)

Jack Thompson was Jackie Sherrill's 3rd string QB initially in 1976.

 

[SaveFerris]

On the other side, other than Hilinski, I'm hard pressed to come up with a back up Cougar QB who wasn't a liability. Matt Kegel for example. How many second quarter momentum kill insertions did he have to get him ready to "game manage," when Gesser would inevitably go down. Against the UW, 1st and goal at the 2, ... sorry. Nevermind, just get us a first down to run out the clock, sorry no can do.

I was at the SC game as well as a student. No bueno!

Ricky Turner qualifies. Walden taking him out after leading the Holiday Bowl comeback still is criminal in my book.

 

[95coug]

On the other side, other than Hilinski, I'm hard pressed to come up with a back up Cougar QB who wasn't a liability. Matt Kegel for example. How many second quarter momentum kill insertions did he have to get him ready to "game manage," when Gesser would inevitably go down. Against the UW, 1st and goal at the 2, ... sorry. Nevermind, just get us a first down to run out the clock, sorry no can do.

If we’re going to talk about backup QBs and Apple Cups, we also have to mention Kegel’s backup in 2003 - Josh Swogger.

 

[Cougsocal]

Blame Price's crap play calling.

Every time Kegel went in for Gesser for 1 series, a delayed QB sneak was almost always called.

Kegel won on the road at USC as a Freshman sub in the game before the 2000 Apple Cup 51-3 debacle (where the WSU team basically quit in the second quarter).

Gary Rogers (Auburn 2006)

Jack Thompson was Jackie Sherrill's 3rd string QB initially in 1976.

Kegel did have one big pass play to Marcus Williams, but as I recall the USC game was won by TOs by the defense, including DD's fumble run back, not quality QB play. I don't know what culture Price was promoting, but he failed to instilling any confidence in our back up QBs. To the contrary, if anything our back up QBs showed signs of abuse dog syndrome, the most glaring example was Kegel's 2002 Apple Cup play -- too afraid of F-ing up to succeed.

 

[Cougsocal]

I was at the SC game as well as a student. No bueno!

Ricky Turner qualifies. Walden taking him out after leading the Holiday Bowl comeback still is criminal in my book.

Technically you right about Ricky, but he was part of the "two headed" monster. Man, you brought up bad memories. Walden could recruit, he loved his players to a fault, but the man had a habit of snatching defeat from the jaws of victory. He also refused to listen to his assistants and trainers who consistently begged him to take it easer in practice. And the Rypien affair, on top it. Classic case of a coach being his own worst enemy. Sorry, I still need to vent 40 years later. All the what if?