Coaches fall back on LoVecchio's experience in quarterback decision
By ANDREW SOUKUP
Associate Sports Editor
Last Friday, Bob Davie addressed one of the biggest controversies surrounding the Notre Dame football squad.
Who was going to be the 2001 quarterback?
Would he go with the calm, experienced Matt LoVecchio, who led the Irish to a Fiesta Bowl berth? Or would he settle on either Carlyle Holiday or Jared Clark, two highly- touted quarterbacks who haven't played a down?
He did neither.
"I could almost go out on a limb here in April and say you're going to see two quarterbacks playing; you may see three," Davie said.
But when asked to name the probable starter, Davie responded without hesitation.
His man: Matt LoVecchio
The Audition
It's hard to imagine that one year ago LoVecchio was getting ready for his high school prom. He took a 2-2 team reeling from a last-second loss against Michigan State and led them to seven straight wins. The experience LoVecchio gained last season is what made him the most attractive starting candidate.
"The advantage Matt LoVecchio has is he's played in high-profile games," Davie said.
The highest-profile game LoVecchio played in was the 41-9 loss in the Fiesta Bowl. But he said the pressure didn't faze him. Instead, he found himself in an unfamiliar position — trailing.
"We were just put in a situation where we got behind," he said. "One thing led to another and it just snowballed."
Despite the loss, Davie knew LoVecchio got something out of playing in the Fiesta Bowl.
"Part of becoming a successful quarterback is to get your butt kicked a little bit," he said. "Certainly he had it in the Fiesta Bowl. That's got to be worth something. It is in my mind."
Center Stage
The composure LoVecchio showed after the Fiesta Bowl loss reflected the calm demeanor that made him the preferred choice last season. Davie and offensive coordinator Kevin Rodgers picked LoVecchio because he had the best grasp of the system, not necessarily because he had the most athletic ability.
LoVecchio didn't disappoint. He came out game after game and performed solidly. In his seven wins, LoVecchio threw for 11 touchdowns and just one interception. Had he been eligible, he would have finished seventh in the nation in passing efficiency.
But when spring practice opened, Davie made it clear the quarterback job was wide open. Although LoVecchio had the experience, Holiday and Clark could potentially overtake the freshman.
"If those other two quarterbacks play better than Matt, how much better are they?" Davie said. "That's the decision we have to make. They're going to have to be a lot better to overtake the experience factor that he has. Are they capable of doing that? Sure, they are. They're both very talented players."
"As far as they're concerned, in their minds they believe they have a chance to be the starting quarterback here," Rogers said. "That's what I want."
Davie gave all three quarterbacks an equal opportunity to shine. But having to share snaps and watch didn't faze LoVecchio. He continued to do what he does best — stay quiet and work hard.
"I'm just going to go out there each day and get better this spring," he said.
LoVecchio had to share playing time with Holiday and Clark. He watched as Holiday and Clark, each with a year on the sidelines, showed just as much talent and potential.
"You don't have to talk about competition at that position," Davie said. "There is competition."
"I legitimately am busting my tail to make sure everyone's getting equitable reps," Rogers said after one practice. "Some guys do better than others, but they're all getting better and they're all quality players."
Day after day, Davie said the quarterbacks kept getting better and better. One day, Clark would shine, and the next, LoVecchio would step up.
"There hasn't been one guy that has been consistently better than the others," Rogers said.
"Competition brings out the best in everyone," Davie said. "There's no question at that position, the standard has been raised because of those three young guys.
"Every day out here a different quarterback steps up and a different quarterback impresses you," he continued. "There's a fine line between each one of them."
Staying in the Spotlight
So how did LoVecchio distinguish himself — again?
"I think I'm just taking it day by day and working as hard as I can," he said.
If LoVecchio won't say his experience is a factor, his teammates will.
"Matt's played eight games," Holiday said. "That's a lot of experience and he's a smart kid. It would be hard to say someone could take his spot. You just have to go out and compete, and get whatever you can out of it."
There's no tension between LoVecchio, Holiday and Clark. All three are good friends on and off the field.
"It's a good situation," LoVecchio said. "Since we got here in August, everything's been good. We hang out on and off the field and we're there to help each other."
"We just push him to be a better person and player, just like he pushes us," Holiday added.
When Davie effectively named LoVecchio the No. 1 quarterback, it wasn't as much a matter of him playing significantly better in spring than the other quarterbacks. Talent-wise, all three quarterbacks are very close. LoVecchio's experience sets him apart.
"It's the combination of where he's been where he's played, and who we play early that gives him the advantage," Davie said. "You think about going to Lincoln, Neb., going to College Station, you like the idea that you've got a quarterback that's been in a game."
"The fact remains that we are playing Nebraska in the first game — away," Rogers said.
LoVecchio admits there's a lot of pressure associated with being the quarterback at Notre Dame.
"If you actually sat down and thought about it, things can get pretty overwhelming," he said. "I try to avoid all the talk and just go out there each day and go to practice."
"Matt's been tremendous," Davie said. "Sure, all the conversation's going to be about those guys that didn't play. That's just what it is here at Notre Dame. I think Matt's mature enough to understand that."
It's this calm, confident demeanor that sets LoVecchio apart. Despite all the attention focused on him last season and the quarterback situation this season, he loves playing football and he loves Notre Dame.
"I'd never trade this for anything," he said. "Football got me to Notre Dame, and I love this team. I'm happy."
Sharing the Lead
But is LoVecchio only happy because he played last year? It's hard to tell — and nobody knows how long LoVecchio will start. Davie isn't saying for certain that the quarterback job is just LoVecchio's.
"There's too much ability at that position to say, OK, this guy's the quarterback and that's it," he said.
Davie made it obvious LoVecchio will lead the Irish onto the field against Nebraska. But after that, it's up in the air.
"It's a long season, and all three of them have long careers here, so that can change," he said. "It all depends on performance."
Regardless of how much he ends up playing, LoVecchio plans on doing what he does best — working hard.
"We just mind our business and work hard on the field," he said about what the coaches plan to do with the quarterbacks. "I'm just going to go out each day and get better."
"Sometimes the guy that's played doesn't get as much attention," Davie said. "He's handled it great. He has a tremendous upside. He's made improvement this spring. I'm really pleased with him."
That's why LoVecchio is the No. 1.
All Sports Stories for Friday, April 27, 2001
