Sophomore Darron Thomas has been named the starting quarterback for the University of Oregon’s Sept. 4 season opener vs. New Mexico in Autzen Stadium, head coach Chip Kelly announced Friday.
The 6-3, 212-pound Houston native played in five games as a true freshman in 2008, completing 16 of 33 passes for 268 yards and three touchdowns. All but three completions and 58 passing yards came in a fourth-quarter comeback that fell short in a 37-32 loss to Boise State.
It will mark Thomas’ first collegiate start after he redshirted the 2009 season.
Kelly is expected to address the media following tomorrow’s workout.
Kind of a relief, really. Sort of an anticlimax after all that fuss. When they write out Darron's bio like that it doesn't sound like much. He'll put on his helmet and step into the first huddle at Tennessee with one career start.
The TV cameras will be rolling and 100,000 will be screaming and waving orange pom poms. The last game Darron Thomas started was in high school. That was in Texas, so it might have been before 30,000, but even so, it was three seasons ago. Just pause to think what a leap that is. Texas high school football is big but these Ducks have only been one place as loud and as crazy as Neyland Stadium. Autzen stadium, and everybody there roots for them. The Rose Bowl holds as many but that's a crowd divided, even for UCLA home games.
The New Mexico game is the soft landing for the rookie starter. Tennessee is the first real test. The Volunteers are down this season, with a first-year quarterback of their own, and a first-year coach, but traveling two-thirds of the way across the country to a tradition-laden, football crazed opponent in the SEC is daunting in itself. Very early in this much-anticipated season, we'll get to see what Darron Thomas is made of, how he handles a spotlight.
He's the perfect guy for that role, and I'll tell you why. Darron Thomas is a kid. I saw a piece of video where he was talking about the new helmets (I'd link it if I could find it) and he's bursting with enthusiasm, grinning from ear to ear about how sweet they look. Darron Thomas is a guy who will never lose sight of the fact he's a kid playing a game. Guys like that don't feel pressure. They trust their gifts. They play loose and free and athletic.
People have expressed some surprise or alarm that DT doesn't look comfortable in interviews, but upon reflection it makes total sense. He doesn't want to talk about football. He doesn't want to analyze it. That's a country for old men. He wants to play.
The thing about sports is, we learned to love them as a kid. Watch an eight year old who's been shown a proper grip swing a golf club, and he'll do it without a single worry about swing plane or hip rotation, and he'll bust his drive straight down the middle.
The best, most intuitive and graceful athletes keep that quality all their lives. The true geniuses of sport, the wonderful, fluid, masters of their game, play with an abandoned, infectious joy: Willie Mays, Ken Griffey Jr., Walter Payton, John Boyette. They're fierce. They're spontaneous and creative. They don't feel limits. Watching back the video of Darron Thomas torching the Boise State defense for 210 and three scores, I think the secret is that he just went out and played. He was a kid playin' football, and it showed. It showed how good he is free to be.
He did the same thing later that year in the Civil War. It was a playground play: "I'll come around on the reverse and you go long to the garbage can." He warmed up quickly on the sidelines, hidden out of sight. A blitzer busted the play, right in his face as he rolled right. He threw a strike. Just another day at the playground. Nice toss, Darron.
I remember Joe Montana in the 49ers first Super Bowl. Late in the game and the 49ers are behind and need a touchdown drive to win, backed up to their own eight with 3:10 to play. Montana leans into the huddle and points up into the crowd, says to his teammates, "Hey look, it's John Candy." Then he drove them the length of the field, zipping a 10-yard slant pass to John Taylor for the world championship of football, 92 yards in eleven plays.
I'm not saying Darron Thomas is the next Joe Montana. And I think it's equally foolish to say he's the next Dennis Dixon. What I am saying is that Darron Thomas has an essential quality of greatness, a playful, confident enthusiasm for the game, that will allow him to be the next Darron Thomas. That genuine love of playing football will free him up to lead and learn and have fun. That quality will be the key to his success. Coach Kelly has also praised him as a diligent student in film study, far brighter than the quick pigeon-holers assume, but his greatest strength lies in his athlete's heart, patient, confident, and trusting.
Duck fans would be wise to stay patient and confident with him. It can only improve his chances of achieving all his goals, and theirs.
Duck fans patience probably not as important as Chip Kelly patience. On that score, Thomas should be fine. Kelly stuck with Masoli until Cal last season, long after I had thrown him under the bus. The season sets up well for a new QB, although I agree that Rocky Top will test his mettle. But having New Mexico and PSU before going on the road to Tempe will help his confidence, I hope.
ReplyDeleteGreat comment--the schedule sets up perfectly for a new qb, with three winnable starts. The degree of difficulty increases at just the right pace. Stanford is game five but they have them at home.
ReplyDeleteThe patience of Duck fans is vital, in my opinion, because they lost patience far too early with Masoli. He was actually booed at home versus Stanford in 2008, and that was shameful to see. Kelly has proven himself to be a great teacher and confidence-builder. I've never seen HIM throw any player under the bus--I remember after the UCLA game last year he took responsibility for Nate's pick-six. "We were in the wrong play," he said, That was my fault."
I'm confident he will bring along all three of his quarterbacks, Thomas, Costa, and Bennett, at just the right amount of ass-chewing and encouragement. He's a great teacher. His kids trust him and buy in to his win-the-day philosophy wholeheartedly.
Dale
all i can think about is justin ropers performance in the sun bowl when we scorched south florida. if chip can get a guy like roper ready in a matter of weeks, then i have no doubt thomas will just fine this year. he has all the tools to succeed and like this blog points out...an athletes heart. good post...
ReplyDeleteWhile I fully support Kelly's decision, I am a bit disappointed. Aside from the QB position, this team is poised to be very special. Although our schedule condemns us from any hope of playing in a BCS title game, the TN game is unbelievably important. I would have rather had a senior QB for that game than a sophomore. I think this decision may come back and haunt Kelly.
ReplyDeleteRyan,
ReplyDeleteRoper is great example. So far Kelly has coached up every starting quarterback he's had, Dixon, Roper and Masoli. There's no reason to think he can't achieve the same improvement and growth with Darron Thomas, who's already grown over the three weeks of camp.
Enjoy the season and thanks for joining the blog.
There's something to be said for having a senior at qb in the first road game against a high-profile opponent at their place, especially such a storied environment like Neyland Stadium. But Darron won the job. He was more accurate, more consistent, and made more plays. Chip's starting the guy he feels gives Oregon the best chance to win, now.
ReplyDeleteThat said, I think the Ducks are blessed to have two capable quarterbacks. Nate Costa is still a tremendous asset to this football team, and at some point he likely will be needed, and he knows that. His maturity, courage and leadership are still very valuable to this team, and I hope the first time he enters a game at Autzen the crowd gives him a warm roar of appreciation.
Thanks for contributing and have a great weekend,
Dale