FIRST-YEAR Temple coach Steve Addazio said he probably would use two quarterbacks for last Saturday's Penn State game. And he kept his word.
Now he's suggesting he might do the same this week at Maryland. The only difference is, relief man Chester Stewart will be starting instead of Mike Gerardi.
"It doesn't mean Mike won't play," Addazio said yesterday. "It's a decision made by our staff based on game performance. That's how we're going to go."
Stewart, a senior who was suspended for the opener for violating team rules, completed 3 of 6 passes for 28 yards in the 14-10 loss to the visiting Nits. He also carried nine times for net 16, with a long run of 12. Gerardi, a junior who took over the starting job from Stewart halfway through last season, was 9-for-22 for 95 yards but threw two fourth-quarter interceptions, the second of which set up the late winning touchdown.
"It's not a two-quarterback system, in any way, shape or form," Addazio stressed. "I've heard that, and I don't know where it's coming from. It's just a simple fact that we have two quarterbacks who've played a lot of football here. We're giving the opportunity for one to take it and run with it. That's where it is.
"A two-quarterback system usually is when you have two different guys trying to do two different things. That's not our intent. They're both very competent. Everybody has certain strengths. But they are both very capable of doing both [running and throwing]. Our intent is to get the right guy in there. Competition is healthy, at any position. We're not changing to change. It's never one thing. It's always a collection . . .
"The biggest positive is how they've responded. They clearly get it."
As far as wide receiver Rod Streater is concerned, it doesn't really matter.
"They can both do the job," he said. "We have faith in them. We pretty much have the same game plan for both."
For his involvement with the community, senior offensive lineman Wayne Tribue has been named to the 22-player (11 from FBS programs) American Football Coaches Association Good Works Team, the fourth Owl to be recognized since 2003 and their second consecutive honoree (following linebacker Amara Kamara).
