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Home > Blogs > RedHawk rumblings | Miami University sports news > Archives > 2008 > September > 23
Tuesday, September 23, 2008
RedHawks, red-shirt freshmen and rumors
By Pete Conrad
All rumors to the contrary, I get the feeling that nothing is absolutely set in stone for red-shirt freshman quarterback Clay Belton and the Miami RedHawks.
It was ominous that Belton was not at practice Tuesday. Coach Shane Montgomery declined to confirm or deny the rumors that the young quarterback was transferring away from Miami, which is standard operating procedure for college coaches.
If Belton does leave, that would leave an interesting and somewhat troubling question to be answered by Montgomery and his staff.
Who plays quarterback if something happens to starter Daniel Raudabaugh?
Sophomore Mike Scherpenberg was practicing with the second string on Tuesday, and he does have a little more experience than true freshman Zac Dysert, and he did have a decent performance in the annual spring game.
On the other hand, Dysert is said to have an abundance of potential, much like Belton. It would be tempting just to shove him into the field and say, “Kid, do your thing.”
On the other hand, I doubt that the RedHawks want to use up a year of Dysert’s eligibility, especially four games into the season, especially since he would need a big-time crash course to get up to speed, especially since he doesn’t have the reps to feel comfortable with the first string.
Back to reality, though.
Belton might be on his way out, but there is one thing about rumors I’ve learned over 35 years of sports reporting: Many sound like they can’t possibly be wrong, but are.
