Florida coach Will Muschamp believes the Gators can win with two quarterbacks. Beyond this weekend, offensive coordinator Brent Pease is not so certain.
“Tough to answer,” Pease said. “I don’t think so. That’s my gut feeling. I don’t know if it’s sustainable from there.”
Sophomores Jacoby Brissett and Jeff Driskel will split game reps in the first half against Bowling Green on Saturday. One player will be under center for the first quarter, while the other will play the second.
At halftime, Muschamp and Pease will reevaluate the situation.
Regardless of how Saturday’s game transpires, Florida will begin the 2012 season without a clear, unquestioned starter under center.
“I don’t think anyone was really expecting that,” Driskel said. “I think they wanted to choose a starter before the first game.”
Sixteen days ago, Muschamp did not want to be in this position. He wanted to know who would lead the Gators’ first offensive drive.
“Obviously, the quarterback, I’d like to be a little more settled, you know?” Muschamp said on Aug. 13.
Eleven days ago, Muschamp’s tone had not changed.
“The quarterback position jumps out at you,” Muschamp said on Aug. 18. “Maybe try to get a little more settled there.”
However, the second-year head coach’s approach took a dramatic turn last Friday.
After weeks of competition during spring practice and fall camp, Muschamp announced that both Brissett and Driskel would play in Florida’s season opener.
“They both deserve the right to play,” he said on Aug. 24. “They’ve earned that and they both deserve the right to start.”
On Monday, Muschamp announced his plans for the rotation. Brissett and Driskel will each have 15 minutes to stake a claim on the starter’s role.
Then, Muschamp and Pease will have to make a decision.
“You just have to go with who’s moving the team,” Pease said. “The good thing about this is that they’re going to be in real game-time situations.”
Because Brissett and Driskel have been even throughout fall camp, coaches believe either one can lead the team on the field.
“In this circumstance, because of how they’ve both progressed and shown their leadership skills, I’m not really worried about it right now,” Pease said.
Ultimately, the coaches want to reward the quarterbacks for progress made during training camp. Pease believes each quarterback deserves legitimate playing time before a decision is made.
“They have both done a really good job, with how they’ve handled the situation and how they’ve progressed,” Pease said. “It would be difficult to say, to name a starter right now. What would you be telling the other kid?”
When the dust settles on Saturday, Florida might have its starting quarterback. Based on how fall camp has progressed, the competition could continue into next week.
Either way, only Muschamp knows.
“At the end of the day, it’s not my decision,” Brissett said. “It’s the coach’s. Whatever he says, we have to go with.”
Contact Joe Morgan at joemorgan@alligator.org.
Jeff Driskel (6) and Jacoby Brissett (12) watch over open practice Aug. 18 at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium.
