Go to the mobile version of this Web site.

Login | Contact Us | Site Map | Paid archives | Alerts | Electronic edition | Advertise | Subscribe to the paper | Today's Extras

Breaking News:

Subscribe

Perseverance pays off for CSU's Farris

Former walk-on, backup QB handed keys to the offense

By Jim Benton, Rocky Mountain News (Contact)

Published August 25, 2008 at 2:50 p.m.

Text size  
Colorado State senior Billy Farris will get his turn in the spotlight Sunday night when he opens as the starting quarterback against Colorado in the Rocky Mountain Showdown.

Photo by Tim Hussin © The Rocky

Colorado State senior Billy Farris will get his turn in the spotlight Sunday night when he opens as the starting quarterback against Colorado in the Rocky Mountain Showdown.

More College Sports

More stories »

It's not often a fifth-year senior quarterback who never has started a game could be called experienced.

But, just maybe, that's the case with Colorado State quarterback Billy Farris.

Farris, a former walk-on from Baton Rouge, La., has displayed plenty of perseverance the past four seasons. Now, after a long wait, he has earned the starting position heading into the season opener Sunday against Colorado at Invesco Field at Mile High.

Farris played in one game as a freshman in 2005, five games as a sophomore and three last season in his second straight season backing up Caleb Hanie.

"I'm ready to go," Farris said. "I've been waiting a long time."

In nine games during the past three seasons, he has completed 20-of-39 passes with one interception for 239 yards.

"Billy is a very intelligent young man," offensive coordinator Greg Peterson said. "He's a guy that's been around the game a long time. He'll bring some leadership, some focus, and he's a guy that's been in a battle, so he's got to bring some leadership with him.

"Your quarterback has to be in control of your offense and has to manage the football game. That means a lot of things, from calling the right plays, making the right adjustments versus certain defensive coverages and making accurate throws. He's got to be a guy that's always focused, he can't ever take a play off. Those are all things Billy is capable of doing."

Peterson isn't concerned about how Farris will handle his first start against an intrastate rival in front of a big Invesco Field crowd.

"He's been in game-day environments," Peterson said. "He's prepared himself well through his first few seasons of competition. He ought to be used to the noise and opponent."

Farris said the extra snaps he has taken in practice since he was named the starter two weeks ago have helped him prepare.

"I definitely feel more comfortable," Farris said. "I'm getting more reps. I'm confident, and confidence is a big help for you.

"I'm looking forward to the (CU) game. It's really exciting, and I like it. It's such a big rivalry."

CSU coach Steve Fairchild knows patience will be key in Farris' development as a starting quarterback.

"We still have to clean some things up at quarterback," he said. "It is a process. I don't care if you are Peyton Manning. That first year, there are some growing pains. There are some things you have to work through. We're going to have to do that and help the quarterback in every area around him."

Comments

Post your comment

Registration is required. Click here to create your free user account, or login below.

Comments are the sole responsibility of the person posting them. You agree not to post comments that are off topic, defamatory, obscene, abusive, threatening or an invasion of privacy. Violators may be banned. Click here for our full user agreement.




(Forgotten your password?)




News Tip

Know about something we should be reporting? Tell us about it.

Sponsored links



Reprints