Mitchell Shouldn't Become Another Wally Pipp
posted by Scott Hood on Friday, August 24, 2007
So, as the legend goes, he strode into his manager’s office on June 2, 1925, and requested to be removed from the lineup for that day’s game.
He was replaced by a young rising star named Lou Gehrig.
Pipp didn’t play another game for the Yankees, and would soon become a footnote in history when Gehrig proceeded to play in 2,130 consecutive games.
With the news Thursday that starting quarterback Blake Mitchell had been suspended for the Sept. 1 season opener against Louisiana-Lafayette, and that redshirt freshman Chris Smelley would start in his place, the comparisons between Mitchell and Pipp are inviting.
However, while intriguing, the possibility of Mitchell never getting back on the football field for South Carolina is slim to none.
Why? Because Steve Spurrier remains firm in his belief that playing Mitchell at quarterback provides South Carolina with its best chance to win the biggest games, particularly that critical Sept. 8 match-up in Athens against Georgia.
That’s why Spurrier proclaimed yesterday that if Mitchell wins his appeal, he’ll start next Saturday’s lid-lifter against the Ragin’ Cajuns.
Mitchell is still USC’s No. 1 QB until his academic situation is definitively resolved. There’s a chance he could win his appeal on grounds he dropped the class in question.
But entertaining the Wally Pipp scenario is interesting from the perspective that Spurrier has always been a coach who searches for and then sticks with the hot quarterback.
He did it over and over and over again at Florida. It can drive quarterbacks batty but its something Spurrier strongly believes will produce the best overall performance from the quarterback position.
In one game, he rotated quarterbacks every play when he suspected the opponent (Florida State) was trying to steal his signals. It worked, as Florida upset the Seminoles.
What would Spurrier do if Smelley makes his first career start against Louisiana-Lafayette in eight days and proceeds to shred the Ragin’ Cajun defense?
Could a strong performance by Smelley, or Tommy Beecher for that matter, make Spurrier hesitant about handing Mitchell his first start of the season in Sanford Stadium?
The likely answer is no.
Mitchell, as you probably know, is a fifth-year senior with plenty of battle scars on his body. He’s led USC to victory at hostile places like Tennessee, Arkansas, Mississippi State and Kentucky, and near-victories at Florida in 2006 and Georgia in 2005.
It’s doubtful Spurrier would want to put Smelley or Beecher, both of whom remain largely untested, through the rigors of trying to direct the USC offense at a loud boisterous place like Sanford Stadium, especially with so much riding on the outcome.
Once Mitchell gets back into the lineup, he’s got plenty to play for. Right now, he has a good chance to finish third on USC’s all-time passing yardage list and could leave Columbia as one of the winningest QB’s in school history.
A great season could also set him up for a shot at the NFL. He may not get drafted but some team should sign him as a free agent and give him a chance to show off his skills.
Smelly and Beecher will get their opportunities. If not this year, then next season and the next. Between Smelley, Beecher, heralded newcomer Stephen Garcia and Summerville QB Reid McCollum, who has verbally committed to USC for the 2008 signing class, the Gamecocks are in excellent shape at the quarterback position for at least the next five seasons.
Right now, though, they all take a back seat to Mitchell.
Which is why, regardless of the outcome of Mitchell’s appeal from his one-game suspension, he’ll likely be the starting quarterback against Georgia on Sept. 8.
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New York Yankees first baseman Wally Pipp had a headache and sought a day off.
So, as the legend goes, he strode into his manager’s office on June 2, 1925, and requested to be removed from the lineup for that day’s game.
He was replaced by a young rising star named Lou Gehrig.
Pipp didn’t play another game for the Yankees, and would soon become a footnote in history when Gehrig proceeded to play in 2,130 consecutive games.
With the news Thursday that starting quarterback Blake Mitchell had been suspended for the Sept. 1 season opener against Louisiana-Lafayette, and that redshirt freshman Chris Smelley would start in his place, the comparisons between Mitchell and Pipp are inviting.
However, while intriguing, the possibility of Mitchell never getting back on the football field for South Carolina is slim to none.
Why? Because Steve Spurrier remains firm in his belief that playing Mitchell at quarterback provides South Carolina with its best chance to win the biggest games, particularly that critical Sept. 8 match-up in Athens against Georgia.
That’s why Spurrier proclaimed yesterday that if Mitchell wins his appeal, he’ll start next Saturday’s lid-lifter against the Ragin’ Cajuns.
Mitchell is still USC’s No. 1 QB until his academic situation is definitively resolved. There’s a chance he could win his appeal on grounds he dropped the class in question.
But entertaining the Wally Pipp scenario is interesting from the perspective that Spurrier has always been a coach who searches for and then sticks with the hot quarterback.
He did it over and over and over again at Florida. It can drive quarterbacks batty but its something Spurrier strongly believes will produce the best overall performance from the quarterback position.
In one game, he rotated quarterbacks every play when he suspected the opponent (Florida State) was trying to steal his signals. It worked, as Florida upset the Seminoles.
What would Spurrier do if Smelley makes his first career start against Louisiana-Lafayette in eight days and proceeds to shred the Ragin’ Cajun defense?
Could a strong performance by Smelley, or Tommy Beecher for that matter, make Spurrier hesitant about handing Mitchell his first start of the season in Sanford Stadium?
The likely answer is no.
Mitchell, as you probably know, is a fifth-year senior with plenty of battle scars on his body. He’s led USC to victory at hostile places like Tennessee, Arkansas, Mississippi State and Kentucky, and near-victories at Florida in 2006 and Georgia in 2005.
It’s doubtful Spurrier would want to put Smelley or Beecher, both of whom remain largely untested, through the rigors of trying to direct the USC offense at a loud boisterous place like Sanford Stadium, especially with so much riding on the outcome.
Once Mitchell gets back into the lineup, he’s got plenty to play for. Right now, he has a good chance to finish third on USC’s all-time passing yardage list and could leave Columbia as one of the winningest QB’s in school history.
A great season could also set him up for a shot at the NFL. He may not get drafted but some team should sign him as a free agent and give him a chance to show off his skills.
Smelly and Beecher will get their opportunities. If not this year, then next season and the next. Between Smelley, Beecher, heralded newcomer Stephen Garcia and Summerville QB Reid McCollum, who has verbally committed to USC for the 2008 signing class, the Gamecocks are in excellent shape at the quarterback position for at least the next five seasons.
Right now, though, they all take a back seat to Mitchell.
Which is why, regardless of the outcome of Mitchell’s appeal from his one-game suspension, he’ll likely be the starting quarterback against Georgia on Sept. 8.
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Scott Hood. Since February of 2005, Scott has covered the South Carolina football, men's basketball and baseball programs for GamecockCentral. He may be reached by email at scottblog(at)gamecockcentral.com. Replace (at) with @.