The Idaho and Florida football teams, opening opponents in 2014, had one thing in common in 2013: Both teams were forced to use three quarterbacks due to injuries. Obtaining injuries is inevitable in football, but staying healthy is key to a team’s success.
The Gators’ starting quarterback Jeff Driskel broke his leg in the third game of the 2013 season against Tennessee. Backup Tyler Murphy started most of the rest of the season but a persistent shoulder injury allowed third-stringer Skyler Mornhinweg to get some playing time as well.
Vandal fans remember freshman Chad Chalich injuring his shoulder in the seventh game of the 2013 season against Arkansas State. The previous game, backup Josh McCain went down with a similar injury on a running play against Fresno State and third-string quarterback Taylor Davis had to start the final five games for Idaho.
A season later, Florida coach Will Muschamp is on the hot seat down in The Swamp after going 4-8 while Idaho coach Paul Petrino only acquired one win in his first season in Moscow. The pair of disappointing seasons weren’t due solely to injuries, but the injuries sure didn’t help.
The pollsters seemed forgiving of Florida’s dismal season ranking them just outside the top 25 to start 2014, but Muschamp knows he needs to make things happen this season. His Gators aren’t going to overlook Idaho and will want to make a statement to start the season.
Meanwhile, Idaho is forced to start the season against an SEC powerhouse before easing into its new Sun Belt schedule against Louisiana-Monroe the following week.
The key to staying healthy for Idaho is to play hard, but not take unnecessary risks. Both playing too soft and playing too reckless are ways players are just asking to get hurt. Don’t expect the Vandals to play soft — that would be out of character for Petrino’s squad — but Idaho can’t get overeager either.
Both Chalich and McCain were consistent runners at the quarterback position last season finishing fourth and second in rushing for Idaho despite their injuries. But they also took a lot of hits running the ball and were sacked, along with Davis, 52 times between the three of them. The quarterbacks must take less hits this season.
Stephan Wiebe can be reached at [email protected]