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I have hate this excuse from Day One, even though I have even used it in defense of Bennett and Wallis:

"To suggest we don't have depth problems, though, is ignoring the fact that we came into this season without a QB who had ever taken a snap at the I-A level;"

So what? McNeal just beat the #1 team in the country as a true freshman QB. The ranked teams have many similar situations.

We seem to think because a kid is college, he is starting over. Taking a snap is the same, reading the routes is the same, 3 (not 2.5) step dropbacks are the same, throwing the ball is the same. The only variable is speed of the game. If you have your basics in place you can speed your own game up without losing accuracy or poise.

Give up the young QB excuse.

Donnie started at offensive line his sophomore year in HS. His first snap in Varsity HS was while wearing #77 with a horsecollar. The next week he was #17, calling the plays, and even telling seniors where they needed to be in the formations. We won that game, 42-12 - yes, different level, but the analogy remains intact.

I don't have an answer to the losses, but I know it's not Bartel or Wallis's fault. Okay, so I do have an answer<g>: Integrate more throws up the gut of the defense. (slants, quick posts, HB circles). Takes accuracy and good timing routes, but is a solid opportunity for 4-8 yd gains.

Are you suggesting Wallis and Bartel are capable of performing as well as Reggie McNeal, but for the coaches' play calling? McNeal was regarded as one of the top QB prospects in the country last year and showed us why yesterday. My opinion hasn't changed. I don't think our 2 young QBs are talented enough to step right in and compete successfully (consistently) at this level and I think that has shown up pretty clearly in our 1st 10 games. I hope you are right and I'm proven wrong these next 2 weeks. At least these next 2 games are against teams that are struggling as much as we have, so we should be on a more level playing field.

I notice you have been visiting this board despite the fact that Donnie's name has been removed from the football roster on the official athletics site. Does that mean we can expect him back in the spring or next season? As an "outsider", I assumed that because we've offered 2 QBs, that meant Donnie would not return.

Have you watched the rest of the games that McNeal has played this year? He has not done what he did against OU against other teams. Besides the mobility issue McNeal doesnt have anything Richard doesnt except for a beefy O line and some incredible receivers.

If you are going to blame the actual persons named, then do so, BUT... DO NOT BLAME IT ON "FIRST YEAR QB".. That was the point. That is a general statement that has been overused.

I did not mean to compare talent levels. I just don't want to hear "Well, he's never taken a snap in D-1A before".

I don't know about Donnie's status. The situation is not yet resolved. This is a series type chain of events, so we don't know what direction it will go, yet.

When Donnie does play, and he will, whether it's here or not, I will never blame his performance on lack of experience. In fact, when things have gone awry in the past, I simply ask him, without expecting an answer, what he can do better next time.

PPP, I'm going to have to disagree with you here. Yes, the mechanics etc. are the same as high school and probably the same as pro ball, but experience is a factor that is very important. There is a world of difference between a high school game and a college game just like there is between a college game and a pro game. Not only is the speed of the game faster, but the talent of the defenders is much higher across the board. A young QB also has new team mates to become accustom to as well as often having to learn new offensive schemes. The judgement factor also comes into play...there are very few freshmen QB's in college that have the maturity to equal that of a junior or senior QB. Your example of McNeal is actually of a QB that has had months of practice at the college level before he actully got to play and although he had had some actual game experience and snaps during the season, he did not perform all that well until last Saturday. Lucky for Slocum...it probably saved his job.

There are obviuously exceptions to every rule, but in general one is better off having an experienced upperclassman QB to go to war with then a freshman QB who has never had any college game experience.

BTW, hope things work out well for Donnie.