dudeman0501
03-08-2004, 10:48 PM
Miami Transfer Battling for Bama's Backup QB Spot
http://files.aximsite.com/sec/marcguillon.jpg
SOURCE: SECsports.com
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. (AP) -- Marc Guillon had trouble sleeping the night before, knowing he'd be playing football on a Saturday afternoon at Alabama's Bryant-Denny Stadium.
So what if it was just a scrimmage, and only a couple of hundred fans would be on hand.
''I was really looking forward to it all week,'' Guillon said after Saturday's scrimmage. ''It feels great being out here at Bryant-Denny on a sunny Saturday afternoon. It feels wonderful.''
Once a coveted quarterback prospect, Guillon's brief college career has seen him go from one high-profile school to another striving for playing time and a comfortable situation.
He transferred from Miami after his freshman season and spent last fall running the Crimson Tide's scout-team offense. Now instead of running the opposing team's plays to help prepare the defense, he's finally getting to focus his energies on Alabama's system.
''I was probably in 20 percent of the (season's offensive) meetings, because I had to go do scout team stuff and learn what they were doing for the week,'' Guillon said. ''So really I didn't learn anything. I knew a few basic things, but not nearly as much as I know now.''
He's getting plenty of chances to put the knowledge to use with starter Brodie Croyle and Spencer Pennington both limited somewhat for spring practices while nursing shoulder injuries.
''I feel like right now I'm getting more (repetitions) than any QB in the country in spring ball,'' Guillon said.
He and Michael Machen shared snaps in Saturday's 106-play scrimmage at Bryant-Denny. Guillon had a solid day, going 14-of-27 for 175 yards with two touchdowns and no interceptions.
''Marc has progressed rapidly,'' said Dave Rader, Alabama's offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach. ''He shows glimpses that he can be a good quarterback.
''The best thing about Marc is that his best practices are in the scrimmages. That's a nice attribute for a quarterback to have.''
Rader also praised Guillon's ability to see the field while staying in the pocket.
''Marc has one of the best pocket presences that I've ever been around,'' Rader said. ''He really looks beyond the line and looks downfield.''
Gullon passed for 4,750 yards and 43 touchdowns his final two seasons at Mirmonte High School in Chico, Calif.
Those credentials landed him with the Hurricanes. He played in two games as a freshman, going 3-of-5 for 53 yards with a touchdown before a shoulder injury ended his season.
Despite the early playing time, he decided to transfer to Alabama even with slim chances of unseating Croyle this season.
''It just wasn't working out down there,'' said Guillon, who has three years of eligibility remaining. ''Just conflicts with coaches. They were telling me one thing and then doing another and really weren't straight up with me. That stuff happens. It was just time to move.
''I learned a lot from it. I learned how to deal with coaches and that type of stuff. I couldn't be happier here.''
http://files.aximsite.com/sec/marcguillon.jpg
SOURCE: SECsports.com
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. (AP) -- Marc Guillon had trouble sleeping the night before, knowing he'd be playing football on a Saturday afternoon at Alabama's Bryant-Denny Stadium.
So what if it was just a scrimmage, and only a couple of hundred fans would be on hand.
''I was really looking forward to it all week,'' Guillon said after Saturday's scrimmage. ''It feels great being out here at Bryant-Denny on a sunny Saturday afternoon. It feels wonderful.''
Once a coveted quarterback prospect, Guillon's brief college career has seen him go from one high-profile school to another striving for playing time and a comfortable situation.
He transferred from Miami after his freshman season and spent last fall running the Crimson Tide's scout-team offense. Now instead of running the opposing team's plays to help prepare the defense, he's finally getting to focus his energies on Alabama's system.
''I was probably in 20 percent of the (season's offensive) meetings, because I had to go do scout team stuff and learn what they were doing for the week,'' Guillon said. ''So really I didn't learn anything. I knew a few basic things, but not nearly as much as I know now.''
He's getting plenty of chances to put the knowledge to use with starter Brodie Croyle and Spencer Pennington both limited somewhat for spring practices while nursing shoulder injuries.
''I feel like right now I'm getting more (repetitions) than any QB in the country in spring ball,'' Guillon said.
He and Michael Machen shared snaps in Saturday's 106-play scrimmage at Bryant-Denny. Guillon had a solid day, going 14-of-27 for 175 yards with two touchdowns and no interceptions.
''Marc has progressed rapidly,'' said Dave Rader, Alabama's offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach. ''He shows glimpses that he can be a good quarterback.
''The best thing about Marc is that his best practices are in the scrimmages. That's a nice attribute for a quarterback to have.''
Rader also praised Guillon's ability to see the field while staying in the pocket.
''Marc has one of the best pocket presences that I've ever been around,'' Rader said. ''He really looks beyond the line and looks downfield.''
Gullon passed for 4,750 yards and 43 touchdowns his final two seasons at Mirmonte High School in Chico, Calif.
Those credentials landed him with the Hurricanes. He played in two games as a freshman, going 3-of-5 for 53 yards with a touchdown before a shoulder injury ended his season.
Despite the early playing time, he decided to transfer to Alabama even with slim chances of unseating Croyle this season.
''It just wasn't working out down there,'' said Guillon, who has three years of eligibility remaining. ''Just conflicts with coaches. They were telling me one thing and then doing another and really weren't straight up with me. That stuff happens. It was just time to move.
''I learned a lot from it. I learned how to deal with coaches and that type of stuff. I couldn't be happier here.''