WMBF-TV sports anchor Justin Felder asked Coastal coach David Bennett during Wednesday's press luncheon if backup quarterback Jamie Childers would play a larger role in Saturday's home opener against Monmouth than he did against Kent State. The question elicited a smile from the eighth-year coach.
"Have you been putting bugs in our offices over there, Justin," Bennett asked.
"You'll have to wait and see. If we have a special plans, I surely don't want to tell you right here in front of the TV cameras. It's a good question. He's a very talented guy. I've said this all along: when he gets his focus back [he'll be great]. You don't see 6-5, 235-pound guys that run 4.6 and can throw the football 70 yards walking around the street everyday. I hope there is a way we can use him in the future."
Bennett seemed to let the cat out of the bag on Wednesday, but it isn't a secret that Coastal's coaches want to get Childers into the football game. It does the Chants no good if he's sitting on the bench. However, the sophomore is probably the biggest enigma in the program, eliciting great expectations with his physical tools but failing so far to live up to that potential since being struck with meningitis before preseason camp in 2008.
Childers entered the Kent State game late and rushed twice for minus-four yards. He has great athleticism, making him an ideal fit as a running quarterback. However, he would be even more dangerous if he showed enough poise as a passer that Coastal's coaches trusted him to throw, truly giving the team a dual-threat quarterback.
Childers has often looked like he was going through the motions in spring and fall practice, showing very little emotion. I wasn't around the program in 2007 and for much of last year, but Bennett said Childers was a much different person before he got sick. Perhaps the emergence of Zach MacDowall as the team's undisputed starter has left Childers with little to fight for.
However, something might have clicked for him since the Kent State game. He's shown great poise during this week's two practices, zipping accurate passes all over the field. That could be a good sign. As good as MacDowall can be, Coastal would certainly improve with two quarterbacks playing well than just one.
"Have you been putting bugs in our offices over there, Justin," Bennett asked.
"You'll have to wait and see. If we have a special plans, I surely don't want to tell you right here in front of the TV cameras. It's a good question. He's a very talented guy. I've said this all along: when he gets his focus back [he'll be great]. You don't see 6-5, 235-pound guys that run 4.6 and can throw the football 70 yards walking around the street everyday. I hope there is a way we can use him in the future."
Bennett seemed to let the cat out of the bag on Wednesday, but it isn't a secret that Coastal's coaches want to get Childers into the football game. It does the Chants no good if he's sitting on the bench. However, the sophomore is probably the biggest enigma in the program, eliciting great expectations with his physical tools but failing so far to live up to that potential since being struck with meningitis before preseason camp in 2008.
Childers entered the Kent State game late and rushed twice for minus-four yards. He has great athleticism, making him an ideal fit as a running quarterback. However, he would be even more dangerous if he showed enough poise as a passer that Coastal's coaches trusted him to throw, truly giving the team a dual-threat quarterback.
Childers has often looked like he was going through the motions in spring and fall practice, showing very little emotion. I wasn't around the program in 2007 and for much of last year, but Bennett said Childers was a much different person before he got sick. Perhaps the emergence of Zach MacDowall as the team's undisputed starter has left Childers with little to fight for.
However, something might have clicked for him since the Kent State game. He's shown great poise during this week's two practices, zipping accurate passes all over the field. That could be a good sign. As good as MacDowall can be, Coastal would certainly improve with two quarterbacks playing well than just one.
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