Tuesday, August 24, 1999
Cooper chooses starter
QB Moherman will face Canes
The Associated Press
COLUMBUS — Austin Moherman — with one career pass attempt and two seasons watching from the sideline at Ohio State — will start at quarterback Sunday when the ninth-ranked Buckeyes take on No.12 Miami in the Kickoff Classic.
Moherman, a redshirt sophomore, battled sophomore Steve Bellisari for the job since the first spring practice.
“It has not been torturous,” Moherman said. “I went out every day and did what I could do. I tried to show the coaches. I didn't focus on the decision.”
Coach John Cooper gave Moherman a qualified nod.
“I cannot tell you right now in my mind who I think the best quarterback is, but we think the one who deserves to start in this first ballgame is Austin,” Cooper said Monday.
Bellisari said he doesn't consider the battle to be over and thinks the decision will be made on the field.
“Whoever is making plays, has good production, puts points on the board and wins games, that should be the starter,” Bellisari said.
The decision ended months of buildup and controversy over the Buckeys again going with dueling quarterbacks. Ohio State juggled Stanley Jackson and Joe Germaine for two seasons before the latter had a breakout season last year as a senior, passing for 3,040 yards and 31 touchdowns. Bellisari actually logged more playing time last season, lettering on special teams and as a backup safety.
“Why did Moherman get the nod over Bellisari?” Cooper repeated. “Well, he's had the nod. He's been our first-team quarterback. Normally when we start out in the spring, seniority rules and he was of course a quarterback last year and started out a little ahead of Steve.”
Cooper said Moherman also had the edge in the team's workouts in preparations for meeting the Hurricanes.
“The main reason that we will start Austin in this ballgame is that we grade them every day in practice, we keep charts on completions, interceptions, total yardage and bad plays. For whatever reason, Austin has graded out slightly ahead of Steve — particularly in the last couple of scrimmages,” Cooper said.
Bellisari will not see any action on either special teams or defense, Cooper said.
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