Two quarterbacks, one starting job

He wants to remove all opinions that he likes to play with two different signal callers, but… He wants to remove all opinions that he likes to play with two different signal callers, but Panthers’ head coach Walt Harris is entering the 2004 preseason without a starting quarterback.

The two candidates are redshirt sophomores Tyler Palko and Luke Getsy. Harris hopes to have a starter named by opening day in South Florida on Sept. 6, but he feels that now is too early to decide. If he does not see what he is looking for, there will be no named starter going into the opener.

“Right now, I have my mind on what I need to see [in each quarterback] and I’m just waiting until I see it,” Harris said Aug. 12. “Consistency at that position is key for success.”

Harris made it clear that the player who is consistent and makes it easiest for him to call plays for will get the starting job.

According to Harris and players, both are leaders and both are fully capable of running the Panther offense.

Both are 6 feet 2 inches tall. Both weigh about the same. Both had outstanding numbers at their respective high schools. The only noticeable difference between the two is the style of play. Getsy is more of a pocket quarterback, and Palko is mobile, which fits into the type of offense that Pitt ran the past two years with graduated quarterback Rod Rutherford.

In his senior year of high school, Palko rushed for 628 yards and eight touchdowns. That added to his 1,887 yards passing and 18 touchdowns thrown. In his freshman year at Pitt, he saw limited action, but he did manage to scamper into the endzone in the Panthers’ bowl game against Oregon State. The touchdown came late in the fourth quarter and helped the Panthers seal the 38-13 victory at the Insight Bowl.

According to Palko, he has changed a little since he took his last snap.

“Physically, I’m bigger, faster and stronger,” Palko said, adding, “but my mentality has never changed.”

The mentality he speaks of is that he is ready to take over where Rutherford left off.

“I was ready to play as a freshman,” Palko said.

Palko has worked extremely hard to get where he is today. Even last year, during his redshirt season, he got up early to watch game tapes and practice.

But don’t be fooled. Getsy’s work ethic is similar.

“[Palko and I] both work extremely hard,” Getsy said. “All summer we were up at 5:15 in the morning, coming out to work out and get some film tape in and some lifting in and some throwing in.”

Getsy does have one thing that Palko does not. He has started a game at quarterback. In fact, he started the 2003 season at quarterback, but that was only because Rutherford was benched because of off-the-field problems. Getsy threw for an unimpressive 32 yards and finished 3-for-11 passing. They would be the only three completions he made in his career at Pitt.

Both quarterbacks show the qualities and confidence that a starting quarterback should have.

So, what does the rest of the team think about who should be starting?

“Either one I’m fine with,” running back Raymond Kirkley said.

“I have no preference,” wide receiver Greg Lee said.

“Don’t care,” senior left tackle Rob Petitti said.

Why the nonchalant attitude from players? It’s because they feel that both Palko and Getsy are strong leaders.

And with this year’s team, it’s not going to take a Michael Vick or a Jason White to get themselves into a position to be playing for the Big East Title. It’s just going to take football smarts at that position.

Much like Trent Dilfer’s role in the Super Bowl Champion Baltimore Ravens’ offense, the Panthers don’t need a star at quarterback. Dilfer did not put up stellar numbers that year. He played smart football and did not turn the ball over.

Granted, the Panthers do not have the defense that the Ravens had, but it will be stronger than last year’s squad — a defense that let three running backs run for over 200 yards against them and allowed an average of 23.9 points per game.

Add a more solidified offensive line, led by All-America candidate Petitti, and either Palko or Getsy could have the makings of a good football team.

Now the only question that remains is: which quarterback will it be?