bornNUred Posted August 21, 2006 Share Posted August 21, 2006 http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2006/foot...s.ap/index.html TEMPE, Ariz. -- In an abrupt change, Arizona State coach Dirk Koetter has decided to make sophomore Rudy Carpenter the starting quarterback. Senior Sam Keller, named the starter on Friday, was excused from the Sun Devils' practice Sunday night and is considering transferring to another school. "It's simple. I made a mistake on the quarterback situation and I'm changing my mind," Koetter said after Sunday's workout. "We're going to start Rudy Carpenter. I've excused Sam Keller from practice to consider his options." Koetter said he decided to make the switch on Saturday and told his team on Sunday afternoon. According to the East Valley Tribune, several players requested a meeting with Koetter after the initial decision and told the coach they believed the job should go to Carpenter. Neither Koetter nor Carpenter would confirm that the meeting took place. Koetter said he couldn't sleep on Friday after making his announcement. He said he then sought out advice from his athletic director, coaching staff, senior players and "unity group" on Saturday. Koetter said he then told both quarterbacks, apologizing. "I talked to so many people about this," Koetter said. "This has been weighing heavy on my mind for a long, long time and I'm the one that screwed it up. I have to live with it. I'm also the one who has to fix it." Keller started the first seven games last season before going down with a hand injury. Carpenter came on to lead the country in passing efficiency, yards-per-pass attempt and touchdowns-to-interception ratio. His performance led to a tight battle for the job going into this season. Koetter had indicated that neither quarterback had outplayed the other in practice and that Keller largely was chosen because he was a senior. The coach said he had proposed going with a two-quarterback situation, but neither Keller nor Carpenter wanted that. Koetter indicated he told Keller he would release him to any school for transfer. Keller would have to sit out a year with one year of eligibility remaining if he transferred to a Division I-A school. He could transfer to a Division I-AA school and be eligible immediately. Koetter also told Keller he was welcome to return to the team. Classes at Arizona State begin on Monday, however. The Sun Devils' next practice is Tuesday evening. Last season, Keller completed 58 percent of his passes (155-for-264) for 2,165 yards and 20 touchdowns, with nine interceptions. Carpenter completed 68 percent (156-for-228) for 2,273 yards and 17 touchdowns, with just two interceptions. On Friday night, Keller said he was "humbled" to get the starting job. "It's a dream to be a senior and be able to play for all the marbles," Keller said at the time. "I'm very humbled by it because the other guy deserved it as much as I do." Quote Link to comment
BIGREDFAN_in_OMAHA Posted August 21, 2006 Share Posted August 21, 2006 1620 is reporting that Arizona State QB Sam Keller is considering transferring to Nebraska. He has had some off field personal problems and found out this weekend that he will not be starting. If he did transfer he would redshirt this season and then next year would be his senior season. They interviewed someone from ESPM.com that said Keller is an NFL caliber QB that just needs to get his head on strait. Sounds like an older version of Beck to me. They said he is 6-4, 240 and has passed for over 3000 yards and 26 tds in his career at ASU. Quote Link to comment
GSG Posted August 21, 2006 Share Posted August 21, 2006 Why would he want to come here?? Quote Link to comment
BIGREDFAN_in_OMAHA Posted August 21, 2006 Share Posted August 21, 2006 Some more insight to the situation:link Carpenter now Sun Devils' starter; Keller might leaveESPN.com news services TEMPE, Ariz. -- In an abrupt change, Arizona State coach Dirk Koetter has decided to make sophomore Rudy Carpenter the starting quarterback. "I talked to so many people about this. This has been weighing heavy on my mind for a long, long time and I'm the one that screwed it up. I have to live with it. I'm also the one who has to fix it." -- Dirk Koetter Senior Sam Keller, named the starter on Friday, was excused from the Sun Devils' practice Sunday night and is considering transferring to another school. "It's simple. I made a mistake on the quarterback situation and I'm changing my mind," Koetter said after Sunday's workout. "We're going to start Rudy Carpenter. I've excused Sam Keller from practice to consider his options." Koetter said he couldn't sleep on Friday after naming Keller the starter. He said he then sought out advice from his athletic director, coaching staff, senior players and "unity group" on Saturday. Koetter said he decided to make the switch on Saturday and told the quarterbacks of his change of mind later that day. "Coach Koetter just said 'Hey, I'm going to do what's best for the team. I'm going to do what the team wants,"' Carpenter said. "I think the decision is going to affect the team in the best way and this is what we're going to do.'" According to the East Valley Tribune, several players requested a meeting with Koetter after the initial decision and told the coach they believed the job should go to Carpenter. Neither Koetter nor Carpenter would confirm that the meeting took place. "I talked to so many people about this," Koetter said. "This has been weighing heavy on my mind for a long, long time and I'm the one that screwed it up. I have to live with it. I'm also the one who has to fix it." The team was told at a meeting Sunday afternoon. "There's a lot of things that have happened," Carpenter said. "I'm not going to go into details about it, but with the quarterback situation like this, sometimes those things just happen." The 24th-ranked Sun Devils open their season Aug. 31 at home against Northern Arizona. Keller has a redshirt season available, or he could transfer to an NCAA Division I-AA school and play immediately. Koetter said Keller is welcome to stay. The Sun Devils' next practice is Tuesday. "I know the rumor is flying around there that he's been booted off the team. That's not true," Koetter said. "If Sam wants to come be our No. 2 quarterback, then we'd love to have him." If Keller leaves, freshman Danny Sullivan, who had planned to redshirt this year, would become Carpenter's backup. Carpenter was asked if he had thought of transferring after Koetter's initial decision to go with Keller. "I'm not going to say I was considering leaving," he said, "but when you're put in that situation and you're frustrated and you're upset and you're angry, I think all your options weigh on your mind and they weigh heavily. Sometimes you've just got to do what's best for yourself." Keller started the first seven games last season before going down with a hand injury. Carpenter came on to lead the country in passing efficiency, yards-per-pass attempt and touchdowns-to-interception ratio. His performance led to a tight battle for the job going into this season. Koetter had indicated that neither quarterback had outplayed the other in practice and that Keller largely was chosen because he was a senior. The coach said he had proposed going with a two-quarterback situation, but neither Keller nor Carpenter wanted that. Last season, Keller completed 58 percent of his passes (155-for-264) for 2,165 yards and 20 touchdowns, with nine interceptions. Carpenter completed 68 percent (156-for-228) for 2,273 yards and 17 touchdowns, with just two interceptions. On Friday night, Keller said he was "humbled" to get the starting job. "It's a dream to be a senior and be able to play for all the marbles," Keller said at the time. "I'm very humbled by it because the other guy deserved it as much as I do." ESPN's Joe Schad contributed to this report. Quote Link to comment
TrueHuskerFan Posted August 21, 2006 Share Posted August 21, 2006 I guess we could use him for depth, but do we really want Arizona State's rejects? There's probably a reason he wasn't starting down there. Quote Link to comment
Blackshirt Posted August 21, 2006 Share Posted August 21, 2006 Merging threads. Thanks for staying on top of things fellas. Quote Link to comment
huskerguy Posted August 21, 2006 Share Posted August 21, 2006 This guy is real talent, why not have him, on NCAA Football 07 he is rated like a 92, and hey ZT is only like a 86 Quote Link to comment
Washusker Posted August 21, 2006 Share Posted August 21, 2006 I guess we could use him for depth, but do we really want Arizona State's rejects? There's probably a reason he wasn't starting down there. Sam Keller is NO reject. I'd take him over Ganz, Hildebrand, or Witt in a heartbeat. Quote Link to comment
GSG Posted August 21, 2006 Share Posted August 21, 2006 From what everyone has posted so far, I'm guessing the reason he's not starting is that Carpenter is only a sophomore and did just as well as Keller did. Koetter probably just wants to build up a young guy for great success in the next couple years. Quote Link to comment
TrueHuskerFan Posted August 21, 2006 Share Posted August 21, 2006 This guy is real talent, why not have him, on NCAA Football 07 he is rated like a 92, and hey ZT is only like a 86 True that he does have talent, according to CFN he was the most efficient passer last year. link But are his "off the field problems" worth it? Quote Link to comment
ttheKid1*18 Posted August 21, 2006 Share Posted August 21, 2006 Phil Steele has him as his 11th best qb in the country. This would be huge if we landed him. IMO, he would come in, learn and redshirt this year, and be THE GUY next season. This was the only thing that I was real nervous for next year, and us landing him would sure change that. Quote Link to comment
huskerguy Posted August 21, 2006 Share Posted August 21, 2006 We gave Culbert a chance and so far looks like a great move, for a changed kid/man. "Keller completed 58 percent of his passes (155-for-264) for 2,165 yards and 20 touchdowns, with nine interceptions" I will take that chance! Oh man Keller to Nunn, Keller to Purify, Keller to Swift! I can hear it now No doubt he would fit in here Quote Link to comment
ttheKid1*18 Posted August 21, 2006 Share Posted August 21, 2006 ^^^Exactly. And his schedule wasn't the easiest either. His games included, LSU, Oregon, Oregon State, and USC, though USC didn't have the best defense in the nation. This would be great if we could get him. Quote Link to comment
Washusker Posted August 21, 2006 Share Posted August 21, 2006 Given the fact that classes are starting soon, he probably has to make a quick decision. We should know within the next week. PS - I guess classes started today. Anyone have any idea when he would have to apply here to have 2006 count as his transfer year? Quote Link to comment
ttheKid1*18 Posted August 21, 2006 Share Posted August 21, 2006 Given the fact that classes are starting soon, he probably has to make a quick decision. We should know within the next week. He would have to be here bye next Monday. So yeah, we should know real soon. Quote Link to comment
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