With Canales' departure, four vie for quarterba ck spot By L.A. EATON sports w rit er
Football is a teani sport but one player has more responsibility than the others to move the team into the end zone - the quarterback. The USU football team is looking toward spring practice to bring out the 1984 starting quarterback. With senior Chico Canales leaving the program, the position is wide open. "'We've got just about all of our offense back," said head coach Chris Pella. "'Ii we can get a good quarterback we can be a champion team." The team has about 10 quarterbacks but the main contenders are Doug San,uels, Gym Kimball, Kevin Nitzel and Brad Ipsen, said both Pella and offense coordinator Gene McKeehan. 'They (the four contenders) all have it," said McKeehan. "It's just who comes out and takes over ... he's the one who will start." Quarterbacking may be a little more simple next season as a number of plays have been taken out of the play book and some pressure has been eliminated. "The offense is simplified," Pella said. "'A little pressure will be taken off the quarterback as far as who carries the team" If pressure is elirPinated, so 1s SOO'eof the requirement for experience with the USU program, because of the new offensive plan, said Saumels, who will be a senior next season. "'I've played a year and a half here (at USU), but experience doesn't really matter ."' he said. Others (with little or no time at USU) may do just as well. "'It's changed a lot. They scrapped a bulk of plays . . the quarterback doesn't have to scan the whole field anymore. Samuels started for the Aggies the final half of his freshman year (1980) and the 1982 season as a sophorPore. After starting a few games last season his career total includes 222 completions in 458 alleIT'pts for 3,033 yards with 24 interceptions and 20 touchdowns. Samucl5 said there is a lot of competition for next year's starting spot ¡For the first
proapect Gym Kimball, who transferred from BYU two years ago, is in the midst of a four-man race for the
MYthededllon could come by the third week of spring practice. Kimball started three games for Utah state :W.,. Chico Canales took over. Utah State opens its 1984 season against USC. Steve Adams
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