Experience is usually valued in a quarterback.

Yet when the Syracuse football team opens its 2004 season against Purdue on Sept. 5, its starting quarterback will be devoid of collegiate experience, having never thrown a pass in a college game.

It’s a scary thought, especially since it took nearly all of preseason camp for the coaching staff to finally decide on a starter.

The Orange spent nearly the entire preseason deciphering between true freshman Joe Fields, oft-injured Perry Patterson, and former wide receiver Xzavier Gaines.

And although the three split repetitions – giving each a fair shot at winning the job – Fields won out.

‘We want to give the kids opportunities,’ Syracuse head coach Paul Pasqualoni said at the beginning of training camp. ‘I don’t think it is a decision you rush into.’

Clearly, the coaching staff did not.

They waited until last Friday to announce the starter to the team, leaving just nine days before the season opener.

‘It can help and hurt the team,’ Fields said of waiting to name the starter. ‘It helps the team with the competition, but also, it wouldn’t hurt if the team knew who the guy is so they can rally behind that guy.’

Quarterbacks coach Steve Bush agreed with Fields. The competition for the job motivated each of them to work harder. But repetitions with the first team offense are a valuable commodity.

‘It can work both ways,’ Bush said. ‘It’s good when you have competition because it makes them all better and they all have some things they can bring to the table. They’re competing every day, so it motivates them.’

Each quarterback needed time to develop and learn the offense.

‘I haven’t been in a competition quite this fierce,’ Fields said. ‘The only thing I can compare this to is a Madden game with me and one of my friends back home.’

Patterson, with two years more collegiate experience than Fields, would naturally assume the quarterback position. Considering Gaines switched to quarterback just two years ago, Patterson seemed to have the inside track. Yet, he too, had issues.

After redshirting in 2002 and playing sparingly last season because of a knee injury, Patterson was still out of shape and overweight for spring practices.

The sophomore spent the summer getting in shape, lowering his weight and regaining some of the quickness he lost.

‘To play and be effective at this level,’ Patterson said, ‘you’ve got to be in top shape.’

In high school, Patterson suffered a knee injury during the district championship game. He listened to his team’s trainer, went to the weight room every day and rehabbed well enough to be playing basketball less than a month later.

‘He’s surprisingly quick,’ said George Savitsky, an assistant coach at McCaskey High School, Patterson’s alma mater. ‘He doesn’t look like he’s going 100 percent, but he surprises you.’

Although Fields will start, Pasqualoni has promised Patterson playing time, according to McCaskey head coach Scott Feldman.

Compared to the fiery, upbeat Fields, Patterson would have been a more laid-back leader. He usually leads by example, setting the tone by what he does on the field, rather than what he says.

‘That’s one of the biggest criteria we’re looking for is who can lead the team,’ Bush said. ‘We want a guy who can be the take-charge guy and take the bull by the horns and go with it.’

If anything, Fields fits that description.

At Booker T. Washington High School in Houston, Fields ran a similar offense to Syracuse’s. He impressed his coach, Joel North, with his consistent playmaking, and his ability to lead.

‘Joe has great field generalship,’ North said. ‘He’s a tremendous kid and has a lot of athleticism.’

The true freshman graduated high school in three and a half years so he could enroll at Syracuse in January. Doing so gave him a chance in the quarterback race.

By selecting Fields, Patterson could be a backup the rest of his career. Still, Patterson steadfastly denied he would transfer. Then again, that was at Syracuse’s Media Day on Aug. 12, before the starter was named.

Despite each player’s class standing and personal issues, Bush said none of that mattered. The job was awarded to the player who played the best and can do the best job for the team now – just as the coaches had said all along.

‘(To be a starter) is why they came here,’ Bush said, ‘and they’re all competitive guys. And they’ve been successful all their lives. And to take a back seat, it’s hard for these guys.’

For now, Patterson will watch from the backseat as Fields drives the offense.

Published on September 1, 2004 at 12:00 pm