The revival of quarterback- and coach-led programs

For the first time in 15 years, there is legitimate hope in Waco.  Baylor honestly has a shot at reaching a bowl game.  It doesn’t take a Nobel Prize winner to figure out the impetus behind the bright outlook.  Sophomore quarterback Robert Griffin and second-year head coach Art Briles are leading the charge for the Bears, and while they won’t challenge for the Big 12 South title, they should win a surprise game or two on their way to their first bowl game since 1994.

Of Course, Art Briles and Robert Griffin aren’t the sole proprietors of the patent on the coach/quarterback revival technique. With the talent pool growing deeper, parity is seeping down from the NFL into the world of college football. The other five BCS leagues have witnessed some seemingly miraculous turnarounds of their own. It seems that more than a few fresh coaches have found the Holy Grail of redemption in the arms of their passers. From Commodores to Bearcats, here are five recent acts of transformation that would get Shia Labeouf’s attention. And hopefully Megan Fox’s.

Vanderbilt – As bad as Baylor has been, they still own a 2-0 all-time lead in the series against the SEC’s doormat. Vanderbilt suffered through a 25 year bowl drought before finally notching a win in the 2008 Music City Bowl. While Vandy was gripping the Gatorade and preparing to douse head coach Bobby Johnson, Jay Cutler was busy quarterbacking the worst collapse in NFL history. But, even though Cutler had already moved on to the play-for-pay ranks, he started something in Nashville that has his alma mater spending it’s Saturdays thinking about football instead of quadratic equations for the first time in recent history.

In late 2005, fresh off of another disappointing season that had already seen their bowl hopes die with a sixth loss, Vanderbilt marched into Knoxville as heavy underdogs. Cutler didn’t see it that way. Despite the strong undertow from the surrounding sea of orange, Cutler passed for 315 yards and three touchdowns while leading the Commodores to a 28-24 victory. Vanderbilt’s first triumph since 1975 in the Volunteers home stadium helped the senior quarterback garner SEC Offensive Player of the Year honors, an award most Vandy players were unaware of at the time. True, it took another three seasons for Johnson’s team to win a bowl game, but that foundation and exposure blazed the trail for future Commodores like DJ Moore to believe in the little program in Nashville. There are expectations of the gridiron variety in Music City now, and Cutler and Johnson deserve all the credit.

Cincinnati – The Bearcats haven’t exactly enjoyed immense success in their time on the football field. For years, basketball dominated this city, while football was merely a forced autumn distraction. And when Mark D’Antonio left for Michigan State, the prognosis was worthy of an episode of House. Brian Kelly had other plans. After earning the distinction of the only coach to beat the same team twice in one season with two different teams by knocking off Western Michigan with his Central Michigan Chippewas in the regular season and with his newfound Bearcats in the International Bowl, Kelly promised to inject some respectability into Cinci’s football program.

In a league dominated by West Virginia, fans took his words with a grain of salt. When the top three quarterbacks went down with a veritable smorgasbord of injuries, they took them with a truckload of seasoning. Buried at fourth on the depth chart, quarterback Tony Pike was thrust into the starting role where he promptly broke his non-throwing arm. Not content to watch helplessly from the sidelines yet again, Pike clawed his way back after a three game absence just in time to lead Cincinnati to an 8-1 record in his nine starts and a first-time berth in a BCS game as conference champions. With a running game that was slightly less effective than spitting on a California wildfire, Pike stepped up and tossed 18 touchdowns to go along with his 2168 yards. The Bearcats’ dream season ended with a loss to Virginia Tech in the Orange Bowl, but with a majority of the offensive starters back for another go, the time is prime for Kelly and Pike to work their magic yet again.

Boston College – When the ACC expanded, Boston College was the toiletries case that came free with the expensive cologne. The ACC was drooling over the additions of Miami and Virginia Tech, while accepting that Boston College was part of the package and could possibly provide some solid middle-tier strength. The Hokies have done their fair share, but it’s been the Eagles, not the Hurricanes, that have owned their side of the Atlantic Coast. Widely criticized for returning to Chestnut Hill for his senior season after losing nearly all of his playmakers, Matt Ryan deftly silenced his critics with one improbable win after another. Down 10-0 in the fourth quarter at rainy Lane Stadium, Ryan orchestrated two legendary touchdown drives in the last three minutes of the game to snatch the victory from the eighth-ranked Hokies. His stats on those drives: 9-15 for 157 yards and two touchdowns.

Sure, Coach Jeff Jagodzinski has been banished, and Matt Ryan is busy amping up his Matty Ice nickname in the pros, but people forget the palpable uncertainty that gripped this program when long-time head man Tom O’Brien bolted for the North Carolina State job. Coach Jags led BC to back-to-back conference title game appearances in the same amount of time it took O’Brien to miss out on his two opportunities. Now the Eagles are staring into the abyss once more. There’s doubt surrounding the quarterback situation, and new coach Frank Spaziani is unproven as top dog. But the uncanny “Never say die” spirit that lives on this campus is still around, and if recent events are any indication of things to come, Boston College will find a way to reach the ACC Championship game for the third year in a row. Now if only they could win it…

Arizona – Mike Stoops was on the hot seat when he arrived in Tuscon. Hired with a nod to his coaching ability and a hearty hugging of his namesake, Stoops was challenged with resurrecting the Pac 10’s former dominator. Things didn’t exactly gel from day one. Following back-to-back 3-8 seasons that left the Wildcats in eighth place in the conference, Stoops needed a monster 2006 season to cool his cushion. What he got was a 6-6 mark that was pocked with another losing record in Pac 10 play. After dropping three of the first four games in 2007, Wildcats’ faithful were calling for more than just his head. Thankfully, athletic director Jim Livengood had the foresight to give Stoops one more shot. Or maybe he simply saw the potential in quarterback Willie Tuitama.

Tuitama was far from an unknown entering his senior season in 2008. He had already thrown for over 5000 yards with 44 touchdowns during his three year stint. But, like Stoops, Tuitama had repeatedly failed to get over the hump, and was staring at a career that could end without a single bowl appearance. With a chance to vanquish a 10 year postseason drought dangling in front of him, Tuitama seized the opportunity and led the Wildcats to an eligibility-sealing victory over rival Arizona State, securing a seventh win and chance to go out a winner. The rest is history, as are Tuitama’s college days, but that Las Vegas Bowl Trophy, earned by knocking off familiar foe BYU, could very well be the key to opening the floodgates of seasons past in Tuscon. At the very least, it should buy Stoops another season in the desert.

North Carolina – If Cincinnati’s football program found it difficult to deal with the constant overshadowing by the guys on the hard court, imagine what life must be like for Tar Heels football fans. Thankfully, with the hiring of Butch Davis, the days of hiding out in Chapel Hill alleys while using covert CIA tactics to discuss athletes other than Tyler Hansbrough appear to be nearing an end. Davis took his lumps in year one, but what a difference a season can make. After struggling through an inaugural 4-8 record, UNC enjoyed a winning mark over for the first time since 2001 when Julius Peppers was busy blowing up for both sports.

Hakeem Nicks may have gotten all the press for the Tar Heel’s first bowl appearance in seven years, and he deserves his due. But without steady quarterback play, Nicks would be far from the possible first round draft choice he appears to be. Most coaches this side of Steve Spurrier will tell you that a dual passer system is a quick ticket to the unemployment line, but Cameron Sexton and TJ Yates have broken the mold. Despite trading injuries and starting time throughout the season, the duo combined to notch 20 touchdown passes and over 2300 yards. Not Heisman numbers, but with Sexton planning to finish his playing days at the Division II level in 2009, don’t be shocked if Yates generates some dark horse buzz as the full time starter. With a coach known for developing Ken Dorsey and revitalizing a stagnant Miami program on his side, the sky is the limit for the rugged junior… As long as his ankle holds up.

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