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Based on the reports and rumors of reports coming out of Boise State spring practice, Joe Southwick will be starting the Broncos' spring game on Saturday (5:00 p.m., Bronco Stadium, 7 big ones). I imagine this makes you feel things.
Southwick, more than any of the other three quarterbacks in the Boise State QB derby, has a polarizing effect on Bronco Nation. Some people love him, some people hate him, very few are ambivalent. This should make for an interesting spring game, with fans cheering and sighing and shrugging all at the same Southwick completion.
And when the spring game is all said and done, will Bronco Nation's Southwick feelings have changed? What does he have to do on Saturday to make Bronco fans happy and to make the four months before Michigan State go by with less Pepto? Probably depends whom you ask.
If you ask someone who loves Joe Southwick, a successful spring game would involve Southwick avoiding a string of mental mistakes and turnovers (a couple of bad plays are permissible so long as one is not running unawares out of the back of his own end zone for a safety), not looking dazed and confused in the pocket, and hitting open receivers. Basically, if Joe Southwick can keep from a huge, Brock-Osweiler-Vegas-Bowl meltdown, Southwick lovers will continue to love Southwick.
If you ask someone who does not love Joe Southwick, a successful spring game would involve at least one long touchdown pass on a beautifully thrown deep ball; a couple instances of avoiding pressure, escaping the pocket, and finding an open receiver for a big gain; no checkdowns ever; no incompletions ever; and a 50-yard pooch punt to the one-yard-line, a la Kellen Moore. What can I say. Joe Southwick haters - and by that I mean Nick Patti fans - are hard to please.
If you ask some one who does not have an opinion on Joe Southwick, a successful spring game would involve a well-played, defensive struggle or something. I don't know. This person really needs to come to OBNUG so we can give him or her an opinion on Joe Southwick.
Your turn
What are you expecting out of Joe Southwick on Saturday? Anything he needs to do to get into your good graces? Anything he needs to do to stay there? Share your thoughts in the comments.