More Support for Turner

I read the article also and the stats are pretty telling, especially as you point out the sacks relative to time played and the explosive plays. The W/L’s show in Steffy’s favor, which Friedgen likes to point out the number of games we lost with Turner at QB (isn’t that nice of him!), but I think that’s misleading. For one, as you point out, Steffy had the starting O-line early on, Turner’s ended up a patchwork for most of the time he played. Second, Steffy got the weaker opponents at the start of the season, Turner faced much stiffer competition overall. Lastly, something I think was key in those losses was Friedgen’s actions, I put 3 of those losses for the most part on him, not Turner. Against UVA, UNC & the bowl game Friedgen got very conservative with the offense and tried turning the games over to the defense after getting some points on the board. As we all know it backfired on him. Turner…in my opinion…didn’t lose those games, he didn’t get the chance to win or lose them because of how Friedgen handled the games.

As for Turner transferring, how could anyone blame him, it seems pretty obvious to everyone but Friedgen & Franklin that he should be starting. Yes, he could very well be starting by the 2nd or 3rd game if we get the same old same old from Steffy, but that may not matter. At this point Turner may simply figure why should he stay with a coach who seems predisposed against him, that he’s simply not “his (Friedgen’s) kind of guy”, and will look for any reason to start someone else over him. I’m sure he and his family are having some serious discussions on this, may be telling that we haven’t heard anything from Turner as yet. Friedgen has possibly done in this team for the coming season with this decision. If Turner decides to transfer, Steffy is the old Steffy and Portis is too mistake prone to be a viable option…we have no QB.

Coach has told us that all the QBs will play. Presumably the hot hand will play until he goes cold. This being the case I think it is appropriate that seniority be rewarded. In the scenario Fridge has painted, who cares who begins the season as the starter. What matters is who play s the most and who ends the season as the starter going into the bowl game.