I’m of the opinion that it’s a lot better to have a surplus than to not have enough of something.

That’s the situation facing Middle Tennessee St. coach Rick Stockstill heading into the 2008 season, as he has not one, but two, proven, talented quarterbacks who are both worthy of starting.

This could be a problem for some (see Brown, Mack, and Koetter, Dirk), but given the way things transpired for the Blue Raiders last season, it’s anything but a problem for Stockstill, a former QB himself.

MTSU started the season with junior Joe Craddock taking over for the departed Clint Marks, and Craddock threw for 548 yards and three touchdowns against Florida Atlantic, Louisville, and LSU.

But come the fourth game of the season, and freshman Dwight Dasher was under center – not because Craddock was ineffective, but because he was injured.

Whatever the reason for the switch, it proved to be effective. Dasher’s debut starting was a losing one, as MTSU dropped to 0-4 with a 20-17 loss to Western Kentucky, but he was impressive, throwing for 169 yards and rushing for 53.

He remained under center for the next game against FIU and had a real coming-out party, throwing for 240 yards and three scores and running for 58 yards and two touchdowns in a 47-6 win.

The fantastic frosh went on to start the next four games, and all but one were wins, with the only loss coming via a last-minute field goal by Virginia. In that four-game stretch, Dasher threw for 688 yards and 6 touchdowns and only two interceptions, and ran for 363 yards and a touchdown.

But in the second quarter of a 48-28 win over UNT, Dasher hurt his knee, and came in Craddock, who threw a touchdown pass late in the first half of to put Blue Raiders up 30-21 and finished out the game in Dasher’s absence.

With Dasher sidelined for the next game against ULM, Craddock stepped in again, and all he did was throw for 401 yards and four touchdowns and run for 70 yards and a score in a 43-40 win.

Craddock started the final two games, which were losses to ULL and Troy, with Dasher seeing only limited time.

Even though the defending co-Sun Belt champions finished a disappointing 5-7, their duo of signal-callers put up good numbers, combining for 2,407 yards, 21 touchdowns, and only nine interceptions through the air, and adding another 652 yards and four touchdowns on the ground. Craddock threw for 1,259 yards, 12 touchdowns, and five interceptions, while Dasher threw for 1,148 yards, nine touchdowns, and three interceptions, and was the team’s leading rusher with 530 yards and three touchdowns.

So, who’s going to start this season’s opener as Troy? There’s no telling at this point, as both impressed in spring practice, leaving Stockstill no choice but to delay his decision until fall camp.

But, either way, quarterback isn’t a position the Blue Raiders have to worry about, which is a good thing for a team who has some holes to fill in other key areas.

Gone are DeMarco McNair, who scored 13 touchdowns last season, leading receiver Taron Henry, and starting offensive linemen Franklin Dunbar (draft) and Mark Fisher (injury). On defense, corners Bradley Robinson and Roy Polite are gone, along with defensive ends Tavares Jones and Erik Walden.

However, the pieces are there – Phillip Tanner showed promise at running back, and on defense, several key components return, including linebacker Lonnie Clemons (45 tackles, 7 tackles for loss, 3 sacks) and defensive backs Alex Suber (59 tackles, 7.5 TFL, 3 forced fumbles) and Jeremy Kellem (42 tackles, 2 sacks, 3 INT, 2FF).

If those holes are filled then the Blue Raiders can be one of the bevy of teams with a shot at the Sun Belt title.
Will it be Craddock or Dasher leading them there? We’ll see but whoever it is, they’re in good hands.

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