NEW SMYRNA BEACH, Florida – So amazingly spry was Terry Sims' after Saturday's grueling 120-play scrimmage in the August humidity that he could be both diplomatic and profound when asked about a football technical question.
Before that, Offensive Coordinator Allen Suber contended the primary reason his career pass completion percentage rate is 14 points lower than Quentin Williams was that the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference's (MEAC) defensive talent was in its heyday, even as he was torching it.
"Oh, I'm sure he DID say that," Sims said with a smile.
No, no, no, Sims wasn't implying that Suber's full of it. Well, he kind of was, but it was in a GOOD, respectful way and only in a way that those in the football brotherhood can appreciate and understand.
And, of course, no way are we belittling the amazing accomplishments of Suber on the field, or suggesting he's a better offensive coordinator than he was an on the field quarterback. In fact, when the Hall of Fame committee does it's concaving this week, his tenure will most definitely be on the agenda.
Then again, this gave us alleged football experts an excuse to blather rather than file scrimmage reports as we spend our August month churning stuff like this to complete midweek studio time and weekend opines to stir you up for the fast approaching season. And that gives us an opportunity to remind you to purchase your season tickets if you haven't done so yet…here's the link (PDF).
Still, here are the numbers we discovered updating the Wildcats Football records in preparing for the September 1 kickoff at Tennessee State.
We start with Bernard Hawk and the late J.D. Hall, both of whom who were Black College Football versions of Dan Marino back in the day. Both over 7,000 career yards and a combined 100 touchdown passes.
Hawk's career completion percentage: 49.4 overall.
Hall's: 48.5 overall.
Then you had Suber, who ran the "Wyatt Bone" on his way to 79 touchdowns, and responsible for and almost 8,000 total yards.
Suber's career completion percentage: 49.5 overall.
Now, let's jump to today and our two most recent signal callers.
Quentin Williams: SIXTY-THREE PERCENT (63.8 actually).
Larry Brihm, Jr.: FIFTY-NINE POINT EIGHT. He was 22nd in the FCS (Football Championship Subdivision) last year. And with the exception of a few low-level arena/indoor football guys, he represents the highest level of quarterback we've produced with him on the active roster of the CFL's Calgary Stampeders.
So…are we a more efficient passing team these days?
"All I can speak on is all the offense we've had here, since I've been here," said Sims the diplomat. "Yes, the style of football has changed. We're trying to put ourselves in a position to get our skill guys to make plays."
Okay, Subes. What was that about the defense again?
"Things were more physical back then," Suber said. "The NFL guys from the MEAC back then were the defensive guys. [Justin] Durant and Kendall Langford from Hampton – second round draft pick. Nick Collins and Rashean Mathis from here – second rounders. Curtis Deloatch from North Carolina A&T. Tracy White from Howard and that other safety [Antoine Bethea] who played for the Colts.
To say the least, it was a talented defensive league.
How would Suber had fared today? Get ready. This is where the fun starts.
"Oh, I would be loving it," Suber smiles. "That's how I see it every day. I'd have Erik Lash on backside X – it'd be 1A and 1B with Shawn Ford and Taji Parrish at the W. Mookie…Antonio Stanley, he'd be at the other slot. Then, I still have guys like Eric Reed, Pat Brown was a downfield threat. Andre Thomas ran a 4.1."
The additional fun about this is that as you're listening to Suber, you can imagine Hawk talking about Leon Gonzalez, Sebastian Brown and Arthur Simmons the exact same way. Same for Hall about Jeff Parker, Carl Gibbons and Troy Grant.
And is this system that good to where we're once again putting out NFL receivers like Jawill Davis and finally quarterbacks like Brihm?
"A little bit of both," Sims said, again diplomatically. "It's all about putting the best possible product on the field."
So are the Wildcats a more efficient passing team these days? Is Suber a better signal caller than field general? Should we start considering Williams and Brihm in the same elite category as Hawk, Hall and Suber?
"I'll leave that up to you," said Suber as he made his way off the field after a long day.
"That's for folks like you," said Sims, who exited the field, even he felt like he just woke up.
And we'll leave it up to you, and remind you about season tickets as another week of #CatsCamp concludes.
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