I think Ganz definitely starts next year. Why would we not start our most experienced and most talented QB next year? Come on our next coach won't be another Callahan. I think it would insane not to start a proven QB like Ganz.
Well one reason would be sustaining the competitiveness of the program over time. One way to put it is this --- if you can still win next year with Witt or Lee then the 2009 and 2010 seasons NU will have an experienced QB leading the charge --- three years with the same QB means that year 3 is likely going to be outstanding. If you go with Ganz next year you might win a game more (maybe not) but the next year you rebuild AGAIN. If we go with Ganz, then NU will have had 4 different QB's in 4 years --- Taylor, Keller, Ganz, Lee or Witt. 4 years of new QB's means 4 rebuilding years in a row, Programs do not progress that way.
Being too short-sighted can really hurt long term sustained growth. The endless cycle of 1st year QB's has to stop. The first year of a QB is always their worst.
If NU wants to rebuild, they should go with all youth next year and feature players with potential that have three seasons (or at least two) to play. That is tough on seniors, but rebuilding is a tough process. I do not advocate abandoning seniors, but I do say that the freshman and sophomores especially need to be featured and juniors as well --- seniors everywhere else, but QB. I repeat once more that every year you have a new QB is by definition a rebuilding year. Four years in a row with new QB's is not a good thing.