After four weeks of football in which head coach Ron Randleman has played up to three different quarterbacks in a game, true freshman Wade Pate will replace junior Travis Tobaben at quarterback. The Bearkat football team’s start has been a bumpy one.With a 1-3 record, playoff hopes are still alive since they have been yet to play a conference game.Randleman said that consistency has been his team’s biggest problem, particularly the running game. By giving Pate the nod to start, he has added a much needed threat on the offensive side of the ball.”He (Pate) has played well so far,” said Randleman. “He deserved an opportunity to start. We have played four games, and they have been playing one quarter each. We decided that Wade gives us a better opportunity to win.”On paper, both quarterbacks have done a good job since the start of the season. Tobaben has completed over 50 percent of his passes and is averaging 130 yards per game. Pate is the more mobile of the two. He has gained 72 yards after 21 carries and also passed for 199 yards.Randleman said that mobility was something that was needed at the quarterback position. He said that he thought Tobaben had a better knowledge of the offense, and that if they were put into a situation where they have to throw the ball, Tobaben would be his man.”Wade is probably more of a running threat than Travis,” said Randleman. “We have not generated the type of offense that we have wanted to so far this season. If we need to throw the ball, we will put Travis back in.”In another change to the offense, Randleman has also moved red shirt freshman Adam Karas to the number two quarterback on the depth chart. Karas, younger brother of Baylor starting quarterback Aaron Karas, has completed seven of 11 passes thus far and is also a threat on the ground.”We are going to run Karas as our number two guy,” said Randleman. “He did a good job in the Baylor game and he has probably got the quickest feet on team.”It has been four long weeks since the Bearkats have played at home. After coming off a much needed buy week, the Kats will face off against 3-2 TarletonState for the first Thursday night game of the year, 6 p.m. at Bowers Stadium.
Sections