Last year, it wasn’t a huge shock when Luke Getsy decided to transfer when he didn’t win the starting QB job from Tyler Palko. It also wasn’t a shock that Palko took all but a handful of the snaps last season. That’s the way things were under the previous coaching regime.
I am surprised that back-up QB Joe Flacco is seriously mulling a transfer.
Flacco, who will be a redshirt sophomore this fall, asked to be released from his scholarship a few days after spring practice ended.
Monday, Wannstedt spoke with Flacco twice on the phone to attempt to persuade him to stay.
“Nothing is definite yet,” offensive coordinaor Matt Cavanaugh said. “We’re still talking with Joe to try to get him to change his mind.”
…
Cavanaugh admitted he was caught off guard when Flacco asked for permission to transfer.“Joe had a good spring,” Cavanaugh said. “He played well and made a lot of improvements.”
Last season, Flacco played in three games, but did not attempt a pass in two of them. Against South Florida, he completed 1-of-4 passes for 11 yards.
Cavanaugh said Flacco did not give a specific reason for wanting to leave.
“Sometimes, a young guy sees who’s playing in front of him and figures he’s not going to get any playing time, so he has second thoughts” Cavanaugh said.
The other story doesn’t have it seem quite as certain that Flacco would leave.
If Flacco goes, there is no back-up other than true freshmen Bill Stull and Shane Murray. Unless, of course, they try to put TE Darrell Strong back at QB. I like to think though, that this coaching staff wouldn’t pull the Mike Robinson-Paterno/Penn St. mistake.
Maybe Pitt is closer to getting Tennessee transfer Brent Schaeffer than we realized. This move is obviously not about playing time this year. It’s about what he expects in 2006 and 2007. Honestly, I have no idea if Flacco is any good or not. He obviously believes in himself, and thinks he can start somewhere in college football.
Flacco is arguably in a tough spot to earn starting time. If Palko returns after this season, Flacco will have only 2007 to be a starter — his senior year. By that point, he could be passed on the depth chart by Stull, Murray or some younger, hotter recruit. From a planning standpoint it is hard to argue his thought process right now.
Still isn’t good for Pitt, though.
