continued from page then it ….

continued from page

then it can be a long day.

How does Texas A& M lose two games the Aggies expected to win—Appalachian State and Mississippi State—and barely beat Arkansas but almost beating Alabama in Tuscaloosa last weekend? With Alabama, the easy answer is that Bama quarterback, Brice Young, did not play against Texas A& M. You could also say that there is more parity in the game than ever.

Stetson Bennett’s 64 yard run for a touchdown was one of the most exciting runs by a Bulldog quarterback in recent memory. A cursory look back and you find his scoring jaunt ranks third for quarterbacks all time. Kirby Moore scored on an 87-yard run in 1967 in Sanford Stadium, and James Ray went 84 yards against the Gamecocks in 1971 in Columbia. Stet’s dash for Glory is next.

Bennett’s play has always been characterized by his speed and quickness. A quarterback’s feet can be a defining factor in his winning a starting job. Stetson’s ability to stay alive, when the protection breaks down, has served him well.

Quarterbacks, at least on the collegiate level, don’t have to be the prototype players (6-4 in height or more) that we have seen with the Manning boys Peyton and Eli and their nephew Arch.

The run-pass option game was made for Stetson who has touch on the ball, a strong enough arm and an ability to escape the defensive rush—all complemented by his canny sense of what to do to make plays.

One of his key fans of late is former Georgia quarterback, Fran Tarkenton, who has already been in the ear of his old team, the Minnesota Vikings. He wants the Vikings to take a close look at Stetson, understanding that he can do the one thing that a quarterback has to do, which is to “make plays.”

“A quarterback has to make plays and to make plays, you have to have what I call the ‘chip,’” Tarkenton says. “You have to be creative, you have to have good feet and a sense of timing. I really like this kid and think he can play in the NFL.”