SEPTEMBER 7, 2011
LOUISVILLE SPORTSREPORT
PAGE 5
RECRUITING NOTEBOOK CARDINAL FOOTBALL 10 AMAZING AND MEMORABLE MOMENTS OF THE 2009-2010 SEASON
UOFL QUARTERBACK OVERCOMING HIS HEIGHT
DON’T MAKE THE MISTAKE OF SELLING STEIN SHORT By Russ Brown When it comes to almost any discussion about Will Stein’s ability to play quarterback -- from junior high school all the way to college -- his size has always been an issue. For everyone, that is, except Stein, the 5-foot-10 junior who hopes to stand tall as the University of Louisville’s starting quarterback this season. “People always ask, ‘How is it being short?’” Stein said. “But I’ve always been short, so it’s nothing new to me. People make a big deal out of it, but if you’re completing passes and throwing for touchdowns, who really cares?” The answer to that, of course, is nobody. UofL offensive lineman Alex Kupper, who RUSS BROWN has known Stein for years and was his teammate at Trinity High School, acknowledges that Stein is sometimes the butt of goodnatured ribbing from his teammates due to his height, but that he is respected for his overall skills, determination and work ethic. “I wouldn’t say he’s teased, but we joke about it a little bit,” Kupper said. “He’s got the arm of a 6-6 quarterback. He knows how to make plays, and if we give him time he can put the ball in the right people’s hands to make that happen.” UofL coach Charlie Strong says Stein is able to overcome any perceived problems associated with his (relative) diminutiveness with other qualities. “The thing with Stein is, he’s a fighter, he’s a winner,” Strong said. “He has that something about him.... He may be small in stature, but he has a lot of confidence and he plays with a lot of confidence.” Stein, who came to UofL as a walk-on, admits that he uses the skepticism about his height as motivation and plays with a little bit of a chip on his shoulder. “I’ve always been joked upon or looked at because of my size,” he said. “But I’ve also looked at all the other successful quarterbacks who have been my height or a little taller, and there’s plenty. I’ve seen too many guys who are 6-5 and can throw the ball 80 yards but can’t make a simple read. So it’s not all about height, and if I ever make that excuse for myself, then I shouldn’t be playing. That’s always been my mentality. I’ve learned how to play with my size.” Last season Stein was the youngster in the quarterbacking corps, serving as the backup for seniors Adam Froman and Justin Burke, who is now a graduate assistant for the Cards. The trio liked to refer to themselves as “The Law Firm of Froman, Burke and Stein.” This year, things are different. When it comes to experience, Stein is the grizzled veteran compared to the other two main quarterbacks, and that has produced a new dynamic. Teddy Bridgewater is a true freshman, and Dominique Brown is a sophomore.
Junior Will Stein is Louisville’s leader at quarterback. Stein has drawn paise from coach Charlie Strong for being a winner and playing with confidence. - photo by Gail Kamenish
“It’s definitely different because we had two older guys last year, and I was sort of an older guy, too,” Stein said. “So being the veteran now and you’ve got two walk-on freshmen, a freshman and a sophomore, I feel sort of in control of those guys, like if they ever need anything they come to me. “Whereas last year we would discuss things together because we all had the same perspective on things. We all had played before. But this year I feel I’m kind of the grandfather of the group. They look to me for advice, and that’s good. I want them to be able to do that, and it helps me out, too, because it helps me think more conceptually about things. It’s a good relationship.” Stein has played in some important games during his successful high school and college football careers. He led Trinity High School to the 2007 Kentucky state championship. Last year he came off the bench for the injured Burke and held the fort with a bowl bid on the line in the season-ending victory at Rutgers. As a freshman he was pressed into action in a significant Big East Conference game on enemy turf at West Virginia, perhaps the toughest place to play in the league. But those highlights pale in comparison to his current status. He says that being named the starter for the Cardinals’ season opener and beyond was the biggest moment of his career. “I’m just very grateful that the coaches have trust in me and believe in me that I can get the job done and help us win,” Stein said. “It’s exciting.” With regular center Mario Benavides sidelined with an injury, Stein is taking the center snaps from Kupper, who also enrolled at UofL as a walk-on. What would Stein have said three years ago if someone had told him that both would eventually be
starting for the Cards? “I would have been a little shocked,” he said. “We both came in here as walkons together, and both just kind of gave it a shot, honestly. We both knew we could play at this level, we just needed other people to believe in us, and I think with hard work and dedication to this program we’ve proven that not only to ourselves, but to the coaches and hopefully the community.” Stein added that in the absence of Benavides, who was the only returning starter on the offensive line, there was a level of comfort knowing that his replacement would be Kupper. “We have a great bond,” Stein said. “We played all throughout high school together, so he’s definitely somebody I trust up there, and that’s a key in the quarterback-center relationship. If you don’t trust the guy you’re getting the snaps from, then that can definitely mess up a lot of plays.” Before helping UofL to a 21-9 win over Murray State last Thursday night in Papa John’s Cardinal Stadium, Stein had two previous starts under his belt, both at midseason in 2009, and both due to injuries to other quarterbacks. He passed for 232 yards in a 21-13 win over Arkansas State, then was 14 of 26 for 100 yards in a 17-9 loss at West Virginia the following weekend. Strong’s announcement during game week this year that Stein had earned the starting job over Bridgewater and Brown came as no surprise because Stein had taken most of the snaps with the No. 1 unit since spring. Stein said he has always prepared as if he were the main guy. “I’ve been doing that since the day I got here,” he said. “I remember back when Jeff Brohm was here he always told me I was good enough to play, and I believed him and felt that all along. I played with kind of
a chip on my shoudler, like I am the man, no matter whether I’m third string, second string or first string.” Now he IS the man, although Strong says all three quarterbacks will see action in most games, which is fine with Stein. Bridgewater and Brown made only brief appearances against Murray, and the same will probably be true against FIU Friday night in PJCS. “Whatever it’s going to take to win, I’m shooting for,” Stein said. “I’m a team player through and through, so if they feel they need to put Dominique in or Teddy or me, it doesn’t matter to me as long as we’re winning. “We’ve got a lot of different personalities on this offense, and everybody brings a different mentality. I’m a winner, so if we’re moving the ball and winning with Dominique or Teddy and they feel comfortable with that, let them keep going. I’m not going to judge the coaches’ decision. They know what’s best for this team, and if a three-quarterback system is the best, or one or two, then so be it.” Stein’s bid to make a name for himself on the collegiate level and take his place among the other successful quarterbacks in UofL history got off to a somewhat rocky start against Murray. He directed three early scoring drives as the Cards jumped to a 21-0 lead. But then they were shut out in the last 13 minutes of the second quarter and the entire second half. Stein finished 17 of 32 for 226 yards and two touchdowns. His TD tosses were a 4-yarder to Scott Radcliff, another walk-on from Trinity, and a 39-yarder to freshman DeVante Parker. Afterward, it was clear that Stein is going to be his own worst critic. He called his performance “decent,” adding: “I could have played a lot better. We left a lot of points out there, and the offense runs through the quarterback, so I’ve got to play better for this team. I’m very happy we won. But I take a lot of pride in my play, and I always feel like I could have done something better. I felt we left a lot of plays out there for my team to score more points.” However, Kupper was more generous in assessing Stein’s play, and Strong also was complimentary of his quarterback. “I thought he played well,” Kupper said. “There were some times he got flushed out of the pocket and I thought he made throws and moved the ball. A couple of balls batted down kind of hurt him, he misthrew them. But that’s just the game. You’re going to have good plays and bad plays, but he stayed pretty poised.” Said Strong: “I’ve always felt the same about Stein. He has a lot to him and he plays with a lot of confidence, and that’s the way he played Thursday and the way he’ll always play. He’s so comfortable in the offense because he knows it and it’s easy for him. He missed a few throws, but he’s fun to watch. I was very pleased with the way he played.”