It has been confirmed by a grad assistant on the Cornhusker Football Team to the Big Red Critics that Taylor Martinez has quit the football team. This just in as of 8:39 central time.
While I was as upset as anyone after the poor performance of the Huskers last night, I really think that the team is better off with Taylor Martinez in the game instead of Cody Green. There were two throws in particular, that really broke the back of the Huskers.
The first was an interception that was intended for Kyler Reed running a post pattern. Reed has caught TD's on this route against this coverage against Mizzou, K-State, and Ok State. In last night's game though, Martinez didn't lead Reed to the middle of the field where the opening was and the pass was intercepted.
Martinez also tried to force the ball to Niles Paul on 3rd and 8 on a drive that would eventually result in a field goal to tie the game by Alex Henery. Paul was running a route that had been thrown earlier in the drive that resulted in a 24 yard catch and run. By zeroing in on Paul, he missed Mike McNeill who was open running the corner route behind Paul.
I don't think that this has anything to do with what happened on the field though, more to do with what took place in the locker room while the Husker medical staff was looking at Martinez's ankle after he was taken to the locker room for X-rays in the first half:
According to the reports that the Big Red Critics have, that come from multiple sources close to the program and within the coaching staff as grad assistants, Martinez was texting in the locker room while his ankle was being taped. While it isn't clear who the recipients of these texts was, the majority of opinions and shady sources all point to his father as the person he was in communication with.
Along with this, it has recently come to light that Martinez's father has been playing an increasingly vocal role in saying how his son should play and even sent an angry email to Bo Pelini after his son was benched in the second half of the Texas game.
This locker room incident was apparently the reason for Pelini's rant against Martinez on the sideline right before halftime.
Whether this incident is true or not, the fact remains that the Huskers are a better team with Martinez on the field, even if he isn't 100% healthy. The Huskers have had issues with big name players leaving the program in the past, Harrison Beck was a top quarterback recruit under Bill Callahan that left for NC State after his father complained that he wasn't getting enough playing time. DeAngelo Evans also left the program after a dispute with the Frank Solich staff. The fact is though, that players like Cam Newton have shown that it is possible for players to re-emerge as stars after leaving a top program. The Huskers will still be a tough opponent, and have top flight QB recruits like Bubba Starling on the way, but one would have to say that the Huskers are national championship contenders with Taylor Martinez next year, but likely just bowl contenders without him.