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back. But do you factor in other elements — the tough schedule, the surrounding players — at all? If you put a young guy into that scenario, do you run the risk of harming his long-term confidence? Shoop: "I'm not sure the best quarterback is always the most talented quarterback. There's something to that. But — and I believe Coach Hazell will say the same thing — whichever quarterback gives us the best chance to beat Cincinnati, he's going to be our quarterback. And then from there, whichever quarterback gives us the best chance to beat Indiana State will be our quarterback. ... (And so on.) ... While there is a big-picture scenario, I think there's also a more stay-in-the-now scenario. If a freshTom Campbell man gives us the best chance to beat CinShoop will need receivers to emerge into consistent, reliable options. cinnati, I've got no inhibitions. Guys like Perhaps Danny Anthrop, who missed spring ball while recovering from Johnny Manziel have changed the game. ankle surgery, could be one of those players. It's a different time compared to when we but you know in the long run, these are things that were growing up. Shoot, (in the) early 70s, are helping you." freshmen didn't even play football. It's just a different Gold and Black: When you talk about the of- day and age now. So we'll play whoever gives us the fense and wanting to be effective in the play-ac- best chance to win." tion passing game, you need to establish a run. Gold and Black: Who's that going to be? You're Why do you think you can do that with this group? going to tell me now, right? Shoop: "I think Coach (Jim) Bridge is a really good Shoop: (Laughs) "It's going to be one of them." coach, and I think we've got a tough group of offensive Gold and Black: You were a quarterback and linemen. I hope that they kind of take on his mental- have coached quarterbacks for a long time. What ity, a little bit of grittiness, nastiness and some tough are your strengths as a coach in developing quarblue-collar guys that Boilermakers can be proud of. So terbacks? I think they're physical and want to run the ball. I also Shoop: "It might be a question to ask some of the think we'll be pretty creative scheme-wise, but we've players I've coached." got some running backs that can carry it. They don't Gold and Black: I have. I'm asking you. have a lot of experience maybe or don't have a lot of Shoop: (Laughs) "Well, I've had the blessing of carries, but we're sure counting on them to carry the working with some really smart guys. I take a cerebral mail this year. Inexperience doesn't mean bad. It just approach to the game, and I do well with smart quartermeans inexperience. backs and accurate quarterbacks. They don't necessari"I think Akeem (Hunt) averaged something like ly have to be lights out with arm strength. But if you're eight yards a carry last year. I had a coach at one time smart and you're accurate, we're going to get along and say to me, 'If a guy's average is that high, you better we'll do a good job together. I think our quarterbacks for keep handing it to him until the average dips.' the most part are like that. "So there are encouraging things." "I get the chemistry of the position. I get the nuances Gold and Black: It would seem obvious that you of the position. I know I genuinely like digging into a pick the most talented player to start at quarter- game plan and working hard with guys trying to find GBIprint.com GoldandBlack.com Gold and Black IllustrateD • volume 23, issue 6 • 29