Rakeville Times: Intramural Intrigue

JaMarcus Russell shows teammates a trick he learned during practice. When will Bledsoe give the promising quarterback a chance to start?



Intramural Intrigue
By Aviator McShadelss

Drew Bledsoe has had many surprises in Rakeville University’s inaugural season. An injury to their starting running back Cadillac Williams opened a slot for breakout freshman Marshawn Lynch. Touted Sophomore passer Matt Leinart broke his collarbone early in the season, and since then URake has gone through six replacement while stud freshman JaMarcus Russell sits on the end of the Grays bench.

Now, with only three games left in the season, URake’s chance at a bowl game is fading fast.

“Every team has had injuries,” said Bledsoe. “We can’t make excuses for our poor play. I’m not looking to win a National Championship this year, but I am looking at these players and making sure they develop.”

Some critics argue that the best way to develop a player is to play him, and Russell has yet to take a snap for the Grays.

“JaMarcus isn’t ready to play yet,” he said of the red-shirted quarterback. “He has a lot of physical tools, but hasn’t shown he has the mental ability to perform at the college level. I’m not saying we won’t play this season, but I don’t envision a situation where he will excel over the intramural quarterbacks we have been pulling from the student body.”

Bledsoe’s hatred for Russell has not gone unnoticed. While teammates won’t speak out, there are quiet murmurings that the head coach is biased against JaMarcus.

“Bledsoe has been really screwy all year regarding his quarterbacks,” said Rex Mashson, an analyst with WRAK. “He kept bringing in backups mid-game when Leinart was starting, and has only played crappy walk-on passers since the injury. How can you tell me Sage Rosenfels, a chemistry major, is a better quarterback than Russell, a basket weaving major?”

David Garrard starts for the Grays this week in a matchup against the University of Mexico. Both teams are 4-4.