Kickin’ it Far Post
The QB’s club: champion or bust
By John Galle, sports editor
Posted on September 21, 2006

There are a lot of big names in the sports world, however the few and the proud get to be called champions.

In the realm of college football, the quarterback remains the most vital position on the team. They are involved with every play, and even more so than in the National Football League with the option running game and quarterback sneaks more prevalent in college playbooks. And it takes a skilled, winning quarterback to lead a team to a national championship.

The Dukes found theirs in 2004 when they landed Gainesville, Fla., native Justin Rascati — a sophomore at the time — who transferred from Louisville in order to take a starting role. He did not want to play behind Brian Brohm — one of the top prospects out of Liberty High School. With Stephan Lefors moving onto the NFL and Brohm in place to start for the Cardinals, Rascati made a decision.

Winners don’t belong on the bench.

So, he passed on a prime Division I-A football program to take the reins of the Dukes’ offense in I-AA. That year, with the help of a dominant offensive line, a deep backfield and a gritty defense, Rascati shined as an efficient passer, who proved he knew how to win. Call him the Tom Brady of Division I-AA.

I do.

Sure, Rascati had help in 2004’s championship season. But so did Joe Montana back in 1989. He goes by the name of Jerry Rice. However, in Super Bowl XXIII, Montana reached immortality when he orchestrated a 92-yard drive with under three minutes down 16-13 to rally past the Bengals.

Rascati may not be Joe Montana, but he did lead the team similarly on those key drives in the postseason. He completed 65 percent of his passes that season, while completing over 72 percent of his passes in all four postseason games. Without him, it’s hard to believe JMU would have a championship to call its own.

His performance against Montana in Chattanooga was less glitz, but just as efficient. Who needs glamour when you’re the one holding up a championship trophy at the end of the day?

I know what you’re thinking. What happened last year? Well, the Dukes defense played even better than in their title year, allowing only 15.3 points and 287.8 yards per game, compared to 2004’s 17.9 points and 324.7 yards per game. The offense, on the other hand, just didn’t do well enough in close games. Teams were coming after JMU. They were the defending champions. That’s just the way it works — just take a look at the Steelers’ tough start dodging a bullet against Miami, while getting shut out at Jacksonville.

This year, it seems that with a less-dominant offensive line, a less-experienced secondary and a few injuries — the absence of Alvin Banks comes to mind — could mean that the Dukes will go as far as Rascati’s arm will take them.

Having said that, Rascati has nothing to prove. He gave JMU its national championship, helped turn around a program and put extra fans in those new Bridgeforth Stadium seats. As a senior, he is in contention for the Walter Payton award, which is given to the most outstanding player in I-AA.

Still think the quarterback position is overrated? Well here’s one more thing.

Of the 15 retired NFL quarterbacks with Super Bowl rings, 10 of their faces can be found bronzed in Canton, Ohio’s Hall of Fame.

John Galle is a senior SMAD major concentrating in print journalism.