Wisconsin head coach Gary Andersen and offensive coordinator Andy Ludwig have stated that they would name a starting quarterback following the Badgers second scrimmage of the 2014 fall camp. However, no one ever said they would do so publicly.
On Monday, both were asked about the situation and said that no public statement about whom the starting quarterback would be made until they play LSU.
#Badgers starting quarterback won't be announced until LSU game per @UWCoachAndersen http://t.co/W0OF1eQIcm (FREE)
— Evan Flood (@Evan_Flood) August 18, 2014
That shouldn’t be shocking, as the Badgers coaching staff used the same methodology last season. It was obvious then that Joel Stave was going to be the starter, yet they just dealt with naming the starter internally and never spoke of it publicly before the opener against UMass.
In 2014, there may be a different motive to not naming the starter publicly though. No disrespect to UMass, but LSU is a vastly different and much more difficult opening game opponent. Not naming a starter, and having two very different quarterbacks battling it out only makes game day preparations that more difficult for LSU.
Yet, it could have a lot more to do with how Andersen likes to run his program.
While most of the No. 1 reps went to Stave this past week, and a lot of pundits took that to mean he had won the job, statements from the coaching staff late in the week suggested something different.
Yet, the media gathered on Monday were hoping to gain some answers of their own. That didn’t happen, as UW closed the scrimmage to the media. Andersen stated that it was all about doing some things scheme-wise for the LSU game.
GA says they did a lot of things from a scheme standpoint, which is why the scrimmage was closed
— Benjamin Worgull (@TheBadgerNation) August 18, 2014
Still, the coaching staff seemed to hint at a winner of the quarterback battle — Joel Stave.
GA says he'll have "a lot" of say in who the starting QB will be. Says it's a tactical decision. Hints that's it's Joel Stave. #Badgers
— Benjamin Worgull (@TheBadgerNation) August 18, 2014
#Badgers coach Andersen won't name No 1 QB but says you can see direction heading in practice.
— Jeff Potrykus (@jaypo1961) August 18, 2014
If the Badgers do go with Stave in week one, don’t expect it to mean that it is the end of the battle or that you won’t see Tanner McEvoy in at quarterback throughout the season. The decision to go with Stave in week one would likely have a lot to do with giving this team an experienced veteran behind center against a very gifted LSU defense.
Yet, it could be that the Badgers look to work McEvoy in during specific situations against LSU and see who really can win them games this fall over the three weeks after the LSU game.
Besides, if McEvoy were indeed the starter in the minds of the coaching staff, what harm would it do to tell the world that ahead of the game? There isn’t exactly a ton of game film on the guy playing quarterback at the FBS level that LSU could dig up.
On the other hand, not naming Stave the starter publicly (but naming internally) does give some pause on the part of game day preparations for the LSU defense. Publicly refusing to name a starter is a bit of gamesmanship by the Badgers, but this is 2014 and colleges have plenty of people giving them information.
Don’t expect LSU to get fooled by this public indecision, but expect to see Stave get the first crack at leading a revamped passing attack.
Should Stave led the Badgers to a win in week one, this battle could be completely over. Yet, a shaky start could open the door to McEvoy getting an opportunity of his own early in the season.
Stave may have won the battle, but his play early in the season will determine if he wins the war as Wisconsin’s starting quarterback all season long. My gut and the way Stave responds to pressure says he’ll be up to this next challenge, just like he’s been all throughout his career.
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