Quarterback controversy talk for Utah football seems to miss the point

Now that Issac Wilson has started two straight games for the Utah football team, there’s been a very interesting discussion spark up. Should the Utes just move on and make Wilson the starting quarterback? Is there a quarterback controversy?

The no-brainer answer to that question is “no, absolutely not.” As a general rule, I’m not someone who believes full bore in the “can’t lose a job to injury.” But I do believe that if you’re going to lose your job due to injury, you had to have struggled before you were hurt.

And your replacement needs to be lights out and far and away better than the person they’re replacing. Isaac Wilson has been very good for the Utah football team. But he’s been far from perfect. And the person who he’s replaced is Cam Rising.

Rising, by the way, was performing very well before the injury. Rising completed 62 percent of his passes for 346 yards and 7 touchdowns. Yes, that was against lesser opponents, but there’s no chance he would have lost his job if he’d stayed healthy.

Utah football has one starting quarterback and a very good backup

Before Rising was hurt against Baylor, he was 8-of-14 for 92 yards and 2 touchdowns. He also carried the ball twice for 21 yards. That last run being the one where he suffered an injury to his throwing hand. 

When Rising is fully healthy, he should be the starting quarterback. 

The Utah football team has a very nice situation going on. They’ve realized their backup can at least tread water until Rising is full strength. And he can keep them on the path to the playoffs until the starter is back.