Auburn Football: Who's the Starter?
Associated Press
2008-08-26 19:23:57.0
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AUBURN, Ala. (AP) - Auburn tailback Brad Lester called up his
bank the other day looking for his account balance.
Instead, he got the question: "Who's the starting
quarterback?"
If only his account included $1 for every time that's come up.
Coach Tommy Tuberville said Tuesday inquiring fans will likely have
to wait until the 10th-ranked Tigers' opener Saturday night against
Louisiana-Monroe for an answer.
Junior college transfer Chris Todd and sophomore Kodi Burns - or
vice versa - both expect to play in the game. Both say they have no
idea when they'll find out who gets to take the first snap.
Tuberville said the down-to-the-wire competition is a good
thing.
"It hasn't been that both have done bad or both have done
great," he said. "It's just that both have been very consistent.
The players rally around both of them.
"It's a great situation for us. Both will be hungry to play,
and I want it that way. I want them both to be very competitive but
I also want both of them to know they're on the same team."
The competition is so close Tuberville said the starter could
boil down to the first dozen or so scripted plays and who is best
suited to run them.
In the meantime, the contenders who have battled throughout
spring and fall practices can just work and wait.
"I guess we'll find out when everybody else finds out," Todd
said. "Y'all know just as much as I know, so we'll see."
Added Burns: "I know that I'm going to be out there and I know
I'll be playing, so I'm not worried about it. I think we're both
going to play."
They do bring different assets to the field. Todd, a onetime
Texas Tech signee, has more experience in systems similar to
coordinator Tony Franklin's spread offense. He might have an edge
in passing. Burns is the better runner and scrambler.
Lester said each of them can do both. Tuberville said both have
also shown the ability to ad-lib on broken plays.
"The thing about Kodi is he's still in the learning mode," he
said. "Chris has been in this offense since diapers. He's been
running it forever. Without a big separation, I think it's great on
Kodi's part to be able to catch up and learn. Chris has been a big
part of that. Chris has been helping him out."
That's another key point for a lingering quarterback battle:
Making sure it doesn't divide the team into opposing camps.
Tuberville said he asked the seniors for their opinion when they
came to his house late last week for a steak dinner. He said
leadership will be a key factor in the decision.
Both contenders say teammates have approached them and said they
should be the starter. They have to be guarded in their response.
"We know what's best for the team," Burns said. "We can't let
this divide the team at all between me and Chris. We've got to stay
strong as quarterbacks and not let our individual things get in the
way of our team goals."
While bank employees, fans and media fret over what the final
decision will be, defensive end Antonio Coleman said the guys on
the other side of the ball aren't giving it too much thought.
"We really don't care," Coleman said. "We're worried about
what we're going to do on Saturday. We'll let the offense handle
their business."
TIGER TALES: Tuberville said defensive end Raven Gray, one of
the team's most heralded signees, will resdhirt to give his
surgically repaired knee more time to heal. Offensive lineman Chaz
Ramsey also might be a redshirt candidate after undergoing back
surgery. ... Receiver Montez Billings is not likely to play in the
game because of a hamstring injury and running back/return man
Tristan Davis is questionable with an ankle injury. ... Receiver
Robert Dunn is in Tuberville's "doghouse." The former starter is
listed as a fourth-teamer in the preseason depth chart.
(Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
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