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Quarterback is among the most elite, envied positions in sports. Other games use it as an analogy for their most important players. The signal caller is a football team’s leader and its pulse. The right QB can make the difference between a miserable club and a champion – just ask the New England Patriots.
There is no question that quarterback is the most important and spotlighted position on the field. There is some debate, though, over who will answer the call at the crucial spot for the University of Maine football team next fall.
Sophomore Michael Brusko and redshirt freshman Adam Farkes entered a fierce competition for the spot when the Black Bears kicked off spring practice two weeks ago. With the Jeff Cole Memorial Spring Scrimmage nine days away, the job remains up for grabs.
“The thing I realize is that I have a great opportunity, as does Mike, to get on the field this early in our careers,” Farkes said. “It’s a big position with a lot of potential and we have to make the most of that.”
“I couldn’t ask for anything else except the opportunity to compete for the job. It’s something I’m excited about,” Brusko echoed.
So far, Brusko and Farkes have alternated working with the first and second units. Through last weekend’s first scrimmage, each has helped an offense with a veteran line and a lack of experience at the skills positions make valuable progress.
“It’s definitely been going well. I think the offense has progressed a lot already,” said Brusko, who rushed for several first downs during the scrimmage.
The early edge in the battle goes to the elder player, Brusko. The mobile, 6-2, 216-pound Pennsylvania native has been at UMaine a year longer and gained invaluable experience behind Ron Whitcomb last fall.
Brusko appeared in every game as the field goal unit’s holder and scored a touchdown on a fake field goal against Hofstra. He showed flashes of brilliance running the triple-option, including a team-best 32 yards in limited time against Boston College.
“It’s big,” he said. “The experience of just getting into a game at this level means a lot.”
At its heart, though, quarterbacking is still about throwing the ball and Brusko only tossed six passes last year. He has shown an accurate arm so far, though, and despite his prowess running was recruited to play in the pro-style offense UMaine ran prior to 2005.
“I like this offense in that it gives me a chance to run around and show off my legs a little bit,” Brusko said. “But that’s good for Adam too, because he’s a great athlete.”
Farkes is a Boston native who was recruited by a number of schools. However, the Black Bears were the only team that wanted him under center.
“I had my mind set that I wanted to play quarterback. I know I can do it at this level. Maine gave me the opportunity to do that,” said Farkes, a 6-2, 184-pound gunslinger with an impressive arm.
In his first year at UMaine, Farkes studied under Whitcomb and Brusko, practicing every day despite seeing no game action to preserve a year of eligibility as a redshirt.
“It’s really been exciting for me because it’s the first time I’ve gone through this,” Farkes said. “There’s a competition at basically every position on the field and the spring gets you a look at what’s to come. It’s a jump start.”
Either signal caller will continue a UMaine tradition of handing the reigns to a young, relatively inexperienced player who has paid big dividends in the past. Whitcomb rewrote the UMaine record book after earning the spot as a redshirt freshman by beating out Chris Legree. Before that, Jake Eaton was a three-year starter and led the Black Bears to two play-off appearances.
While spring practice is not an ideal game situation, the baptism is by fire for the quarterbacks as they face one of the top defenses in the country in UMaine’s Black Hole.
“That helps a lot,” said Farkes. “Last fall, going against the defense, I was a little bit in shock. But I’ve been here for a while, I’ve seen the speed of the game and it’s helped me realize that I’m at that level.”
In an offense that employs a running quarterback, injuries can happen. UMaine also had packages that featured two quarterbacks towards the end of last season, something that could return in a limited capacity if both players develop.
“I think the best thing for the team is if we both step up and make the team better,” Brusko said.
The Black Bears don’t expect to name a starter until the fall, as Brusko and Farkes will continue to go toe-to-toe for the signal caller’s duties in preseason training camp.
“It could go neck and neck through camp,” Brusko said. “Spring is a good time to start establishing yourself, but we probably won’t have a starter set coming out.”
Both quarterbacks have goals of improving every day and will show off their skills in the Jeff Cole Memorial Spring Scrimmage on May 5. The annual spring scrimmage kicks off at 8:45 a.m. at Alfond Stadium.
Bangor Daily News