His development with no spring practice will be a key for Oregon faithful
A spiteful response from Eastern Washington University over the decision by quarterback Vernon Adams to transfer for his final year to Oregon could potentially slow his development within the Ducks’ high-powered offense for the 2015 season.
Adams, who’ll graduate in May from EWU, still has one year of eligibility remaining and has chosen to take advantage of the departure of Marcus Mariota by heading to Eugene. That option is available thanks to an NCAA rule that has drawn the wrath of EWU head coach Beau Baldwin.
Baldwin said that Adams will keep his scholarship, but he won’t be able to work out with the team during spring practice, use the weight room or any other athletic facilities. As Baldwin put it, “We’re not rolling out the red carpet around here for a guy that’s playing against us Game One. He’s going to have to figure out where to work out.”
Oregon plays host to the Eagles in the season opener for both teams, Sept. 5, and since Adams won’t officially be a graduate student at the school until later this year, after he earns his diploma fron Eastern Washington. He won’t be able to take part in the Ducks’ spring workouts either.
The EWU athletic department is following in lockstep with Baldwin’s actions, taking down the website they created to promote his exploits.
The reason UO looked at the 5-foot-11, 195-pound Adams to replace Mariota is because he put up monster numbers in his three years at EWU, throwing for 10,438 yards and 110 touchdowns. He was twice named the Big Sky Conference Player of the Year, and finished second as a Walter Payton Award nominee, the FCS equivalent of the Heisman Trophy. In the 2013 season opener, he led the Eagles to an upset at Oregon State, and lost 59-52 at Washington last season.
Adams became an attractive option after the Ducks determined that the returnees, Jeff Lockie, Ty Griffin, Taylor Alie and Morgan Mahalak, are still raw talents, given Mariota’s constant presence on the field. In addition, new recruit Travis Waller’s 6-3, 185-pound frame probably needs to fill out a little more before he’s inserted into the line-up, which likely means he’ll be redshirted.
Part of what lured Adams to Oregon requires a tip of the cap to the largesse of Nike founder Phil Knight. In an interview with The Oregonian, the quarterback noted the facilities were a big selling point - the barber shop definitely caught his eye.
The indignation expressed by Baldwin is the sound of a coach who knows that everything was done by the book, but he still doesn’t like the book. The rule's been in place for the last few years, and Baldwin need only look west to Seattle to find another quarterback who left under similar circumstances to play for another school: Russell Wilson of the Seattle Seahawks. He played three seasons at North Carolina State, but left the school to play minor league baseball. Eventually, he played his final season at Wisconsin, where he led the Badgers to the Rose Bowl ... and a loss to Oregon.
Adams is a big loss for Baldwin and his team, and with the Ducks gaining popularity among football fans around the country, demonstrated by fan betting turning the team from an underdog to the favorite prior to the National Championship Game, Oregon is appealing for any ambitious college football player.
There is some concern about how Adams will keep his arm in shape, especially considering his past output and the production that will no doubt be expected of him by the Autzen Stadium faithful.
Adams said that he’ll be reduced to working out in the EWU student recreation center and throwing to friends. He won’t get a look at the Duck playbook until after he graduates from EWU, and will then go through a crash course during the four-week training camp in August. Of course, no one in Eugene anticipates he'll look at a blank chalkboard all spring and show up for fall practice without knowing plenty about what he'll be doing. After all, he'll be a graduate student.
None of this is ideal for a school looking to get back to the national championship game and win in January. However, the talent Adams has, coupled with the production capabilities of the Oregon offense should help ease some of that concern. And senior-season transfers are only likely to increase as the success those seniors experience, such as in Wilson's case, continue. Adams in next in line to experience that success. Or not.
Legally sanctioned sportsbooks such as those recommended at www.oregonsportsbetting.net/ will be featuring some higly competitive lines for betting on Oregon Ducks football games. And prop bets revolving around the Ducks are likely to create plenty of excitement as Adams acclimates to his new teammates and playing environment.