Brian Hartline got right to the point Tuesday in his media session. Anyone wondering about his decision to name LSU transfer Michael Van Buren over Luke Kromenhoek as USF's starting quarterback didn't have to wait long for an answer.
"Yesterday we decided to name Mike Van Buren the starting quarterback here in South Florida. You know, it was well earned. I think it was a heck of a competition. That's why it took so long when kind of considering the timing of it all," he said before anyone had a chance to ask him about it,.
"We just felt like whichever way we went, the opportunity to give them two weeks of prep to be the best version of themselves on a game plan or to get their minds wrapped around and build chemistry, more targeted chemistry, was important to get it done this week instead of maybe next week. So trying to give whoever came out with that first opportunity, given the best opportunity to be the best in Game 1, that was the goal."
It really wasn't a surprise that Van Buren won. He has more in-game experience than Kromenhoek and gives the Bulls someone who can use his legs to keep drives alive. That's not to say he's another Byrum Brown who was a threat to run on every play, but Van Buren will scoot when necessary.
That's not to say USF won't need Kromenhoek in this season and that he won't be effective when his number is called.
"The first thing I would say is, one, the growth they had from spring to now was awesome, and that's what made it a competition. We know we're going to need both these guys to win at the highest level, have a chance to compete for conference championships if we earn that opportunity," he said.
"I don't see very many times where you don't have to get a little banged up in the quarterback room and rely on that room being strong. That being said, we put a big emphasis on practices, very, very important, but also the scrimmages. And so again, games aren't the same as practices and scrimmages aren't the same as practice."
The last scrimmage seems to have been the one where Van Buren managed some separation from Kromenhoek.
"I felt like in the last scrimmage, Mike did a really good job handling adversity and taking care of the football and the body of work. When assessing it all, that's kind of where it led. He's done a much better job communicating in the huddle, and Luke does a great job of that too," Hartline said.
"I think in the end it was just the body of work overall. In our minds it, came down to wanting to make a decision and give whoever that would be the opportunity of almost two weeks of prep to get for that first game. So it was more the timing than it was anything else."
His versatility is another plus. But being the opening game starter carries with it an obligation to continue to improve weekly if USF is going to get where it wants to go.
"If they're one of those guys that feel that they're going to shut it down and they've already arrived, and that was really their main goal of just being a starter, you probably got the wrong guy. That's a bad talent eval. I would say that, frankly, the guys that become starters, that was always, you know, the first first check mark. It's like playing Mario Kart, just a checkpoint. He didn't finish the race yet," Hartline said.
"The ultimate goal is always still the ultimate goal. If we have starters on this team that just want to be starters and have no aspirations to play in the NFL, or play at the highest level, or chase championships, or earn their job, we can only say then we named the wrong guy. That's not just the quarterback. That's every position."
As a player, Hartline practiced what he now preaches. In 2009, he was the fourth-round pick of the New York Jets out of Ohio State, and the initial reviews on his selection were underwhelming.
The Phinsider noted: "Just average speed...Doesn't get a lot of separation...Isn't a vertical threat...Will drop some catchable balls...Has a tough time beating the jam..Not overly productive...Never a featured target...Limited upside."
That player with the "limited upside" stayed in the league for seven years and played 104 games. He got enough separation to catch 344 passes for 4,766 yards and 14 touchdowns. He made it by never believing he had it made.
That's the attitude he wants his Bulls to have.
"I'm not saying (the goals) all attainable and they're all able to reach something. But if I have don't those goals, it's not really the right mentality of guys we're looking for," he said.
"We're not here to threaten anybody. In the end, your job is rented and the rent is due every week. If you think you own something, you don't. You're probably setting yourself up for failure. Once you think you/ve got it, you're about to get it."
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