Former Saluki QB Austin Reed is QB'ing West Florida against Minnesota State on ESPNU right now. It's tied 14-14 still in the 1st quarter. It's quite a shootout.
West Florida ended up winning the game 48-40. Reed was 33-for-54 for 523 yards, 6 TD and 1 INT.
I'm interested in the opinions of some of the wise old heads who post here.
The Div. II National Championship game is available on ESPN3.
I just watched the entire first quarter.
West Florida runs the spread offense--similar to what SIU tries to run.
Based on the first quarter alone, the eye test (as far as overall QB savvy with an emphasis on how he looks throwing the ball) on Reed tells me he is at least the equal of Lyles...and I haven't seen enough of Stone L. or Baker to judge either of them.
So after one quarter: Reed has 'it' as far as QB skill is concerned.
I wonder what Nick Hill saw.
More to come...
(1) US COVID-19 statistics (February 29, 2020-June 16, 2020): 2,124,000 reported cases and 115,052 deaths
(2) Donald Trump (June 15, 2020) told a group of senior citizens that there would be very few cases of COVID-19 if the US stopped its testing and contact tracing: "If we stop testing right now, we'd have very few cases, actually."
(3) Donald Trump [(Jan 20, 2020), when asked if he's worried about a pandemic]: “No. Not at all. And we have it totally under control. It’s one person coming in from China, and we have it under control. It’s — going to be just fine.”
With 5:31 left in the second quarter, it's 31-21 West Florida...and so far Reed's second quarter is better than his first.
Eye test: the kid can play.
The announcers met with him the night before the game. From the telecast:
"He said it was his faith and his love of the state of Florida which brought him here."
(1) US COVID-19 statistics (February 29, 2020-June 16, 2020): 2,124,000 reported cases and 115,052 deaths
(2) Donald Trump (June 15, 2020) told a group of senior citizens that there would be very few cases of COVID-19 if the US stopped its testing and contact tracing: "If we stop testing right now, we'd have very few cases, actually."
(3) Donald Trump [(Jan 20, 2020), when asked if he's worried about a pandemic]: “No. Not at all. And we have it totally under control. It’s one person coming in from China, and we have it under control. It’s — going to be just fine.”
...four play 99 yard drive to close the first half for West FL. Two first-rate long passes in the drive. 38-21 West FL.
Like a broken record: Reed can play.
A legitimate question--how good is Minnesota State?
For starters...not a lot of pass rush from Minnesota State.
On the other hand, West FL threw a lot of spread-oriented dink-and-dunk passes early on (so hard to tell about pass rush).
(1) US COVID-19 statistics (February 29, 2020-June 16, 2020): 2,124,000 reported cases and 115,052 deaths
(2) Donald Trump (June 15, 2020) told a group of senior citizens that there would be very few cases of COVID-19 if the US stopped its testing and contact tracing: "If we stop testing right now, we'd have very few cases, actually."
(3) Donald Trump [(Jan 20, 2020), when asked if he's worried about a pandemic]: “No. Not at all. And we have it totally under control. It’s one person coming in from China, and we have it under control. It’s — going to be just fine.”
End of first half numbers for Reed: 5TDs and 399 yards passing. Even I can subtract...he must have only thrown for 124 yards in the second half (with one INT and 1 TD).
My oh my.
(1) US COVID-19 statistics (February 29, 2020-June 16, 2020): 2,124,000 reported cases and 115,052 deaths
(2) Donald Trump (June 15, 2020) told a group of senior citizens that there would be very few cases of COVID-19 if the US stopped its testing and contact tracing: "If we stop testing right now, we'd have very few cases, actually."
(3) Donald Trump [(Jan 20, 2020), when asked if he's worried about a pandemic]: “No. Not at all. And we have it totally under control. It’s one person coming in from China, and we have it under control. It’s — going to be just fine.”
...first drive of second half for West FL was punctuated by a short Reed TD pass, who then was cited for unsportsmanlike conduct after the play (necessitating a kickoff from the 20 yard line). Kind of a ticky-tacky call on Reed, who rushed to the goal line after an 8 yard pass (I think) to say something to the DB who tried to tear the ball from the receiver long after the play was over.
Score now 45-21 midway through the third...
(1) US COVID-19 statistics (February 29, 2020-June 16, 2020): 2,124,000 reported cases and 115,052 deaths
(2) Donald Trump (June 15, 2020) told a group of senior citizens that there would be very few cases of COVID-19 if the US stopped its testing and contact tracing: "If we stop testing right now, we'd have very few cases, actually."
(3) Donald Trump [(Jan 20, 2020), when asked if he's worried about a pandemic]: “No. Not at all. And we have it totally under control. It’s one person coming in from China, and we have it under control. It’s — going to be just fine.”
Reed closed the third quarter with a first-rate throw to his left...down the sideline. He has had a half-dozen really really good throws in this game.
(1) US COVID-19 statistics (February 29, 2020-June 16, 2020): 2,124,000 reported cases and 115,052 deaths
(2) Donald Trump (June 15, 2020) told a group of senior citizens that there would be very few cases of COVID-19 if the US stopped its testing and contact tracing: "If we stop testing right now, we'd have very few cases, actually."
(3) Donald Trump [(Jan 20, 2020), when asked if he's worried about a pandemic]: “No. Not at all. And we have it totally under control. It’s one person coming in from China, and we have it under control. It’s — going to be just fine.”
Wow. With a bit over 12 minutes left in the fourth quarter, Reed throws an INT...kind of a deep route toward the sideline and a safety was lurking.
No big deal, right?
Dial up the video. Reed got into it with the QB coach/OC...and the head coach acted as a bit of a peacemaker...along with the star WR, who was successful at calming Reed. My oh my.
Once again I'm interested in other viewpoints--this is kind of important (I think) for SIU football and Nick Hill--whose reputation as a quarterback whisperer is, in my view, overrated--based on his record at SIU.
(1) US COVID-19 statistics (February 29, 2020-June 16, 2020): 2,124,000 reported cases and 115,052 deaths
(2) Donald Trump (June 15, 2020) told a group of senior citizens that there would be very few cases of COVID-19 if the US stopped its testing and contact tracing: "If we stop testing right now, we'd have very few cases, actually."
(3) Donald Trump [(Jan 20, 2020), when asked if he's worried about a pandemic]: “No. Not at all. And we have it totally under control. It’s one person coming in from China, and we have it under control. It’s — going to be just fine.”
A later replay supplies a bit of clarity on the INT...a pass-rusher impeded Reed's throwing motion and follow-through on the pass in question.
(1) US COVID-19 statistics (February 29, 2020-June 16, 2020): 2,124,000 reported cases and 115,052 deaths
(2) Donald Trump (June 15, 2020) told a group of senior citizens that there would be very few cases of COVID-19 if the US stopped its testing and contact tracing: "If we stop testing right now, we'd have very few cases, actually."
(3) Donald Trump [(Jan 20, 2020), when asked if he's worried about a pandemic]: “No. Not at all. And we have it totally under control. It’s one person coming in from China, and we have it under control. It’s — going to be just fine.”
It's a final: 48-40. Immediately fter a victory formation snap, QB Reed ran to the grandstand and waited for at least a half minute or so for someone to hand the ball to. After doing so he returned to the field to celebrate.
The West Florida coach, when asked what he was feeling:
"Praise God. Unbelievable. A lot of prayer has gone into this."
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Reed had an unbelievable first half...and the fact that the tempo of the game changed in the second half had much to do with his reduced second half stats.
Minnesota State was undefeated coming into the game...while West Florida had lost twice.
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It will be interesting to watch Reed play QB in the next couple of years...
(1) US COVID-19 statistics (February 29, 2020-June 16, 2020): 2,124,000 reported cases and 115,052 deaths
(2) Donald Trump (June 15, 2020) told a group of senior citizens that there would be very few cases of COVID-19 if the US stopped its testing and contact tracing: "If we stop testing right now, we'd have very few cases, actually."
(3) Donald Trump [(Jan 20, 2020), when asked if he's worried about a pandemic]: “No. Not at all. And we have it totally under control. It’s one person coming in from China, and we have it under control. It’s — going to be just fine.”
Wow. With a bit over 12 minutes left in the fourth quarter, Reed throws an INT...kind of a deep route toward the sideline and a safety was lurking.
No big deal, right?
Dial up the video. Reed got into it with the QB coach/OC...and the head coach acted as a bit of a peacemaker...along with the star WR, who was successful at calming Reed. My oh my.
Once again I'm interested in other viewpoints--this is kind of important (I think) for SIU football and Nick Hill--whose reputation as a quarterback whisperer is, in my view, overrated--based on his record at SIU.
Truer words were never spoken. I was not a Dale Lennon fan, but he did get QBs like Kory Faulkner, Paul Mcintosh, Chris Dieker, and Sam Straub. Not sure NH's evaluations of the QBs he does have is that good. Lyles is not the answer.
As a senior, Reed was 3rd in Florida POY voting (all divisions) and the Offensive MVP of the North-South All-Star game. Makes you wonder.
Next year will be tough too with away games at UT-Martin, Wisconsin, North Dakota, Redturds, etc.
For your edification:
(4) https://twitter.com/Areed365
...after reading/perusing these and watching the DII championship game, it is tempting to speculate about Reed, Hill, SIU football, talent evaluation...and this:
(1) US COVID-19 statistics (February 29, 2020-June 16, 2020): 2,124,000 reported cases and 115,052 deaths
(2) Donald Trump (June 15, 2020) told a group of senior citizens that there would be very few cases of COVID-19 if the US stopped its testing and contact tracing: "If we stop testing right now, we'd have very few cases, actually."
(3) Donald Trump [(Jan 20, 2020), when asked if he's worried about a pandemic]: “No. Not at all. And we have it totally under control. It’s one person coming in from China, and we have it under control. It’s — going to be just fine.”
Interesting. I noticed he had a tweet from former speedster Saluki WR/kick returner and 2018 MVFC All-Newcomer team selection Jequan Burton. Burton is the kid who had the 100yd TD return last year at NDSU. Don't know what happened there - quite a loss for SIU though. Looks like he'll be at SWAC school Alabama State next year.
After reading those articles, I'm really disappointed we didn't get to see more of Baker in some of our blowouts.
