Owls pull quarterback switch
Stankavage returns as Green is benched to preserve redshirt
Rice quarterback Shawn Stankavage left October’s AlabamaBirmingham game with an ankle injury that was expected to end his 2018 season and potentially his college football career.
His absence opened the door for an early glimpse at the future in freshmen Evan Marshman and Wiley Green.
But this Saturday against Louisiana Tech, the Owls will see Stankavage return under center, while Green will be sidelined so that he can redshirt and maintain four more years of eligibility under the NCAA’s new rules. Green played in three games this season (the NCAA allows up to four).
“Shawn Stankavage, our day one starter, is going to be able to return from injury this week — a lot faster than everyone thought,” coach Mike Bloomgren said, noting the experience and leadership he expects the senior to bring to the huddle.
“It had absolutely nothing to do with Wiley,” Bloomgren said. “We have a chance to throw our day one starter back in and, as a side note, we get to secure Wiley’s redshirt year; that’s pretty awesome.”
In three starts to Stankvage's seven, Green has nearly outperformed the graduate transfer, throwing for more yards per game (175 to 144.4) and almost equaling his rating (113.3 to 114.7).
While the move preserves Green’s eligibility for another year, Stankavage had been wildly inconsistent since conference play began. He hasn’t thrown a touchdown pass since September’s loss to Wake Forest and hasn’t thrown for more than 200 yards since week two against Hawaii.
Rice’s final three games will be imposing for any quarterback: Louisian Tech, LSU and Old Dominion. Louisiana Tech is led by the nation’s sack leader Jaylon Ferguson (12½ sacks). LSU is tied for second nationally in interceptions (15), and Old Dominion defensive end Oshane Ximines has 29½ career sacks.
“He’s how you design a defensive end in the Madden video game,” Bloomgren said of Ferguson, who could be matched up against right tackle Sam Pierce for much of Saturday’s game.
But to let Bloomgren and his players tell it, the Owls (1-9) aren’t giving up this season, even if he’s starting more freshmen than ever before in his career.
In fact, when he thinks back, the coach of 20 years said he only started one true freshman in his seven years at Stanford. Before that, he recalled fielding two rookies on the 2009 New York Jets offense.
Even with Stankavage back, freshmen still constitute threefifths of Rice’s offensive line (including center and left tackle) and half of the secondary.
“I think buying into the process really works,” receiver Austin Trammell said of he and his teammates’ growth this season. “We definitely need (a win) just for confidence. I mean, I need this really bad just for myself. It’s hard losing.”
Players have been able to rely on Bloomgren to provide the spark to motivate them through their nine-game losing streak.
But when the coach is in need of a pick-me-up, he goes to personnel on his staff with head coaching experience like coordinators Jerry Mack and Pete Lembo. He’s also been able to rely on friends across the industry like Vanderbilt’s Derek Mason and Baylor’s Matt Rhule.
“I feel very blessed to have those resources,” Bloomgren said. “To do this completely by yourself, I think you’d lay in bed all night long with your eyes open. It allows me to sleep knowing we are doing the right things.”