Last year, when repeatedly asked who the starting quarterback would be entering the first game of the season, Rich Rodriguez humorously quipped that fans and the media would find out when the offense took the field in Week 1. And if anyone was hoping for a bit more transparency this season, they're likely out of luck.
This year,the battle is expectedto be down to a competition between the returning Scotty Fox and incoming transfer Michael Hawkins. Friday, the subject was broached during Rodriguez's media availability, and once again , he deferred to the now-classic "when is kickoff" response. He went on tomake it clearthat he prefers to keep people in the dark on that decision.
“I don’t need to tell anybody. In fact, I think it’s kind of intriguing. If you want to find out who is going to start, buy a ticket and come to great Mountaineer Field," Rodriguez said. "I’m going to know before then. I may know before I tell the coaches. I may know right now. Probably do. I like you guys, I really do, but I ain’t giving you the scoop, so you got to keep coming back. Come back to the next media opportunity, and you still won’t know."
Is there a strategic advantage to Rich Rod withholding a QB1 announcement?
Many fans likely assume that part of the reason for not announcing the decision once it's known might be for strategic purposes. You don't want your opening opponent to know who the go-to guy will be, and you give less time for those first few opponents of the season to do a little extra gameplanning ahead of time. Or perhaps even keeping the players in the dark results in better energy at practice while the battle is ongoing.
But according to Rodriguez, anyone making that assumption is wrong. In fact, he sees no clear cut reason on a strategic level to withhold that information. Apparently, he just doesn't "feel like" making the decision public – even though he hinted he knows the answer.
“No, it ain't – it not really (a strategic advantage)," Rodriguez said. "I mean, obviously, if they were completely different guys, you prepare defensively a little bit different. But when all of our guys run all of our plays, and they’re very similar, it doesn’t make a big advantage. So if it doesn’t make a difference, why don’t you go ahead and announce the guy? I don’t feel like it today.”
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