Duck Football: 2 QBs, but only 1 starter
EUGENE, Ore. - With 10 of 11 starters set to return from the Rose Bowl team, many pundits expected the Ducks to repeat as Pac-10 champions.
But after a turbulent off-season saw quarterback Jeremiah Masoli kicked off the team, Oregon had to turn to a new signal caller.
After a quarterback competition that started last spring, head coach Chip Kelly named red-shirt sophomore Darron Thomas the starter on Friday.
"I just came out to show my leadership and show that I could do it," Thomas said. "That's what the coaches wanted to see, and that's what I gave to them."
"With both those guys, it was a body of work through the spring and through preseason camp," Kelly said. "I sat down with the staff. We had a long discussion about it, and we just feel where we are offensively and what were going to do that he's the best choice."
Thomas red-shirted last season but played as a true freshman in '08. Fans will remember his three-touchdown performance against Boise State when he came off the bench to nearly lead the Ducks to a comeback victory.
"Darron just gives us the best chance to win right now," said Mark Helfrich, the Duck offensive coordinator. "It was just a situation where both those guys had really solid camps, very good camps. It was not like some of the other situations I've been involved with where it's an absolute slam dunk, no brainer."
Nate Costa made the decision more difficult on the Duck coaching staff, but he'll have to be the back-up again. Still, the senior anticipates seeing a lot of playing time once the season begins.
"I'm looking forward to playing quite a bit," Costa said. "Any way I can get on the field - special team, I can help out in that role - also playing quarterback as well. I'll always be ready. I'll prepare as if I am the starter."
