| Revision as of 15:28, 19 September 2009 editJHunterJ (talk | contribs)Administrators105,776 editsm Typo fixing, typos fixed: appelation → appellation using AWB← Previous edit | Revision as of 20:04, 14 October 2009 edit undoRacepacket (talk | contribs)16,693 edits →Traditional "Quarterback U"s: added templates, add lead paragraphNext edit → | ||
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| ==Traditional "Quarterback U"s== | ==Traditional "Quarterback U"s== | ||
| The term is a nickname used by sportswriters to call attention to colleges that have trained a series of successful football quaterbacks. It is an individually used literary device and does not represent any formal decisionmaking process. | |||
| ⚫ | The term has been applied most often to ], and the school itself has readily adopted the moniker. The University of Miami named ] as the start of the Quarterback U tradition.<ref>, University of Miami, December 23, 2003.</ref> ], ], ], ], ], ], and ] are some Hurricanes quarterbacks that influenced use of the term.<ref>, '']'', April 24, 2003.</ref><ref>, '']'', November 3, 2001.</ref> The term is still often applied, although Miami currently has fewer quarterbacks starting in the NFL than it has in the past. In 2008, all three Miami quarterbacks entered the season with no game experience, and pundits charged head coach ] with rebuilding the program's reputation of producing high-quality signalcallers.<ref>, '']'', July 20, 2008.</ref><ref>Viv Bernstein, , '']'', November 4, 2008.</ref><ref>, '']'', July 17, 2008.</ref> | ||
| ⚫ | The term has been applied most often to ],{{fact}} and the school itself{{who?}} has readily adopted{{fact}} the moniker. The University of Miami{{who?}} named ] as the start of the Quarterback U tradition.<ref>, University of Miami, December 23, 2003.</ref> ], ], ], ], ], ], and ] are some Hurricanes quarterbacks that influenced use of the term.<ref>, '']'', April 24, 2003.</ref><ref>, '']'', November 3, 2001.</ref> The term is still often{{fact}} applied, although Miami currently has fewer quarterbacks starting in the NFL than it has in the past. In 2008, all three Miami quarterbacks entered the season with no game experience, and pundits{{who?}} charged head coach ] with rebuilding the program's reputation of producing high-quality signalcallers.<ref>, '']'', July 20, 2008.</ref><ref>Viv Bernstein, , '']'', November 4, 2008.</ref><ref>, '']'', July 17, 2008.</ref> | ||
| ⚫ | ] was often dubbed Quarterback U from the mid-1980s through the 1990s,<ref>, '']'', December 30, 1998.</ref> during which time it produced ], ], and ]. The '']'' wrote that the last great BYU signal caller was 2001 ] runner-up ], who now serves as the Cougars' ]. It also asserted that, upon |
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| ⚫ | ] was often dubbed Quarterback U from the mid-1980s through the 1990s,<ref>, '']'', December 30, 1998.</ref> during which time it produced ], ], and ]. The '']'' wrote that the last great BYU signal caller was 2001 ] runner-up ], who now serves as the Cougars' ]. It also asserted that, upon Doman's graduation, head coach ] rotated quarterbacks so frequently that it adversely affected their performance.<ref>, '']'', March 24, 2005.</ref><ref>, '']'', October 11, 2001.</ref> | ||
| During the 1980s, the term was often applied to ], which produced several NFL-caliber quarterbacks during the tenures of head coach ] and offensive coordinator ]. These ] included ], ], ], ], and ].<ref>Peter King, , '']'', November 25, 1991.</ref><ref>Ken Murray, , '']'', January 9, 1993.</ref><ref>, '']'', September 22, 1991.</ref> In 2005, '']'' reapplied the label to the Terrapins under head coach ] and offensive coordinator ], after ] became the ]'s leading passer. That coaching staff also groomed ] and ].<ref>, '']'', October 25, 2005.</ref> | During the 1980s, the term was often applied to ], which produced several NFL-caliber quarterbacks during the tenures of head coach ] and offensive coordinator ]. These ] included ], ], ], ], and ].<ref>Peter King, , '']'', November 25, 1991.</ref><ref>Ken Murray, , '']'', January 9, 1993.</ref><ref>, '']'', September 22, 1991.</ref> In 2005, '']'' reapplied the label to the Terrapins under head coach ] and offensive coordinator ], after ] became the ]'s leading passer. That coaching staff also groomed ] and ].<ref>, '']'', October 25, 2005.</ref> | ||
Revision as of 20:04, 14 October 2009
Quarterback U is a term used in American college football to describe a school that has a reputation of producing high-quality quarterbacks. Generally speaking, this has the implication that many of the schools' former quarterbacks continue on to successful careers in professional football, particularly in the National Football League (NFL). This appellation has been applied to several different colleges, as the school that best fits the definition has changed with time.
Traditional "Quarterback U"s
The term is a nickname used by sportswriters to call attention to colleges that have trained a series of successful football quaterbacks. It is an individually used literary device and does not represent any formal decisionmaking process.
The term has been applied most often to Miami, and the school itself has readily adopted the moniker. The University of Miami named Fran Curci as the start of the Quarterback U tradition. Jim Kelly, Bernie Kosar, Vinny Testaverde, Steve Walsh, Ken Dorsey, Craig Erickson, and Gino Torretta are some Hurricanes quarterbacks that influenced use of the term. The term is still often applied, although Miami currently has fewer quarterbacks starting in the NFL than it has in the past. In 2008, all three Miami quarterbacks entered the season with no game experience, and pundits charged head coach Randy Shannon with rebuilding the program's reputation of producing high-quality signalcallers.
BYU was often dubbed Quarterback U from the mid-1980s through the 1990s, during which time it produced Jim McMahon, Steve Young, and Robbie Bosco. The Deseret News wrote that the last great BYU signal caller was 2001 Heisman Trophy runner-up Brandon Doman, who now serves as the Cougars' quarterbacks coach. It also asserted that, upon Doman's graduation, head coach Gary Crowton rotated quarterbacks so frequently that it adversely affected their performance.
During the 1980s, the term was often applied to Maryland, which produced several NFL-caliber quarterbacks during the tenures of head coach Bobby Ross and offensive coordinator Joe Krivak. These Maryland quarterbacks included Boomer Esiason, Frank Reich, Neil O'Donnell, Scott Zolak, and Stan Gelbaugh. In 2005, The Washington Post reapplied the label to the Terrapins under head coach Ralph Friedgen and offensive coordinator Charlie Taaffe, after Sam Hollenbach became the Atlantic Coast Conference's leading passer. That coaching staff also groomed Shaun Hill and Scott McBrien.
Others
In recent years, several other schools have been mentioned as deserving of the title. A 2005 ESPN article cited that, since 1988, Michigan sent as many starting quarterbacks to the NFL as Miami. It argued that "three yards and a cloud of dust" is no longer the offensive philosophy at Michigan. A year later, Rivals.com proclaimed that Michigan was "the new Quarterback U." Elvis Grbac, Tom Brady, and Brian Griese are some Wolverine quarterbacks that have gone on to start in the NFL.
After the 2008 season, The Los Angeles Times claimed that USC, more traditionally known as "Tailback U", was the school most deserving of the title. In 2005, a Sporting News writer named Texas Tech as Quarterback U in an article that bestowed several positional "U" monikers with the criteria being college performance since 2000. Its author cited head coach Mike Leach's numerous 4,000-yard-plus passers.
References
- Coaching 101: A Great Program Produces Great Coaches, University of Miami, December 23, 2003.
- Berlin named Miami's starting quarterback, USA Today, April 24, 2003.
- Miami's Dorsey continues record run, The Seattle Post-Intelligencer, November 3, 2001.
- This Year, Quarterback U. Is Awaiting a Quarterback , The New York Times, July 20, 2008.
- Viv Bernstein, A.C.C. Notebook: Plenty of Competition at Quarterback U, The New York Times, November 4, 2008.
- Miami's Randy Shannon will have a tough task to rebuild Quarterback U, Orlando Sentinel, July 17, 2008.
- Tulane's King steals attention from the original Quarterback U,; BYU preparing for record-setting QB, The Salt Lake Tribune, December 30, 1998.
- Back to BYU's future, Deseret News, March 24, 2005.
- Brigham Young great gives inside look at Quarterback U, Albuquerque Tribune, October 11, 2001.
- Peter King, Quarterback U, Sports Illustrated, November 25, 1991.
- Ken Murray, Ex-Maryland Qbs Not A Passing Fancy, The Baltimore Sun, January 9, 1993.
- Quarterback U? Maryland grooms them, then NFL grabs them, The Washington Times, September 22, 1991.
- Maryland Makes Its Mark as Quarterback U., The Washington Post, October 25, 2005.
- ^ Michigan joins the "Quarterback U" conversation, ESPN, August 23, 2005.
- Path to NFL for QBs goes through Michigan, Rivals.com, April 24, 2006.
- Position U breakdown, Rivals.com, May 1, 2006.
- USC lays claim to another title: Quarterback-U, Los Angeles Times, March 2, 2009.
- Success is worth waiting for at Quarterback U: forget about pro potential and draft prospects—I'm all about the U, The Sporting News, May 20, 2005.