This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2014, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
For varying reasons, the odds were not favorable of starting quarterbacks Taysom Hill of BYU, Chuckie Keeton of Utah State and Travis Wilson of Utah all remaining in their positions for a full season.
But who would imagined none of them lasting beyond the first weekend of October?
Hill is out for the season with a fractured leg and more extensive damage that was discovered in surgery. Keeton apparently will be sidelined all year after reinjuring his knee last month. Wilson likely will lose his job after Kendal Thompson sparked Utah's offense in a victory at UCLA.
The irony: Thompson's ascent is due mostly to his running ability, the same skill that exposed Hill and Keeton to injury and led to all those doubts about them surviving the season.
Personally, I'm convinced that coaches have to maximize their quarterbacks' strengths. If that's running, fine. The risk of injury is part of the game. UCLA quarterback Brett Hundley's absorbing 10 sacks against Utah is plenty of punishment itself, even on dropbacks.
"You've got to do what you've got to do to move the ball," said Utah coach Kyle Whittingham. "... You want to take as many hits off the quarterback as you can, but if you're a dual threat, you're a dual threat."
Then again, it was eerie to see Hill injured Friday, after being dragged down by USU safety Brian Suite — who ended Hill's freshman season in 2012 with a hit on his knee. In between, Keeton was injured last October when BYU linebacker Uani Unga tackled him on a scramble.
"I don't know if there's any correlation that you could say to running quarterbacks," USU coach Matt Wells said, citing "a weird coincidence."
Maybe there's a tempting-fate element with QBs as runners, but Keeton's 2013 injury came on a designed passing play. Hill was hurt Friday on a run-pass option play.
"I guess you've got to chalk it up to a combative sport," Wells said. "It's the ugly side of football, a little bit."
The lesson is that quarterbacks have to protect themselves better. Specifically, the next QB around here who's being promoted for the Heisman Trophy should throw his body in front of the campaign before it starts.
By the end of 2014, Keeton will have started and finished 27 of a potential 54 games in four seasons. Hill will have missed 15 of 39 games in three years.
Wilson may have some role with the Utes going forward, although Whittingham has always disavowed any two-quarterback system. Utah's coaches are evaluating the position, with no game until Oct. 16, but there's probably no turning back after Thompson beat UCLA.
This is how football works. It's a cruel business. Darell Garretson is in for Keeton (again), Christian Stewart will make his first BYU start Thursday at Central Florida, Thompson likely will displace Wilson and everybody will keep playing.
Even so, what's happened to Hill, Keeton and Wilson is disheartening. I mean, who could cheer against these guys? Hill is so competitive that he begged his brother, who's six years older, to play one-on-one with him and then would sulk in his room after losing. He's also thoughtful enough that he regularly volunteered to do the dishes — at his friend's house.
People involved with USU's program will tell you Keeton is a better person than athlete, which is saying something. Anyone would have wished Wilson success this season, after his career was in jeopardy last winter due to a medical condition.
And then the Southern California native was benched in the first quarter at the Rose Bowl. The switch may not have become permanent, even that night, except the Ute offense responded so well to Thompson.
This guy transferred from Oklahoma expecting to play, and he's certainly going to get that opportunity now. Thompson is not a great passer, but he fits offensive coordinator Dave Christensen's scheme by getting the ball into the playmakers' hands and running the ball himself.
The Utes will rely heavily on running back Devontae Booker, with the quarterback as a complementary player. That's exactly what happened on Utah's drive to the winning field goal, as Thompson ran for 6 and 18 yards to get things going and Booker produced 40 yards on six carries.
The Utes have an offensive formula now, with Booker and Thompson. It's like 2011 with John White and Jon Hays — the fill-in guy who ranks as Utah's most successful starting QB of the Pac-12 era.
Twitter: @tribkurt —
Quarterbacking records
Taysom Hill, BYU • 14-6 (2-0 in 2012, 8-5 in 2013, 4-1 in 2014).
Chuckie Keeton, Utah State • 19-11 (3-5 in 2011, 11-2 in 2012, 3-3 in 2013, 2-1 in 2014).
Travis Wilson, Utah • 11-10 (3-4 in 2012, 4-5 in 2013, 4-1 in 2014).
Note: Records based on games started, regardless of who finished the game.