North Carolina State University Athletics
Behind The Scenes With Tony Haynes: Jay Awaits His Day
8/12/2002 12:00:00 AM | Pack Athletics
Aug. 12, 2002
By Tony Haynes
Jay Davis must know what it feels like to be the Vice President of the United States. As the number two guy behind NC State's all-everything quarterback Philip Rivers, Davis' job description is simple: prepare yourself to play just in case something calamitous happens. In the world of Wolfpack football, some would probably say that an injury to Rivers would qualify as calamitous. However, in an effort to keep this whole discussion in perspective, I'll correct myself and say that an injury to Rivers would be distressing rather than calamitous.
Either way, I know some of you are already wanting me to bite my tongue. I'm sure the thought of No. 17 standing on the sidelines in street clothes has already ruined some appetites.
All of this brings me back to Jay Davis, who has the most thankless job this side of Dick Cheney. Other than close family members, a girlfriend and few acquaintances, no one really wants to see Davis on the field unless it's in a mop-up role during the late stages of a Wolfpack blow out. Were the redshirt freshman to enter a game any earlier, it would be a sure signal that something calamitous, uh, I mean distressing had happened.
To say that Davis is going through the school of hard knocks right now would truly be an understatement. In NC State's first preseason scrimmage on Saturday evening, he was asked to direct the second team offense against the first team defense. With George Anderson and Shawn Price teeing off from the ends, and tackles like Terrance Martin, Ricky Fowler and Jerrick Hall pushing in from the middle, Davis must have felt like a man standing at the bottom of a mountain during an avalanche.
"During the fall of the year, we go one offense versus two defense and vice versa," NC State head coach Chuck Amato said. "If Philip Rivers were on the second team, he would not be doing very well himself because he wouldn't have time to get his feet set. In our next scrimmage, we're going to make sure Jay gets to work with the first unit so he can get more comfortable and more confident. But he's coming along. He makes good decisions, he's smart and he's got a strong arm. He also studies the game."
Those attributes served Davis well during a high school career that produced some impressive numbers. In his senior season at Central Catholic in Clearwater, Florida, the 6-1, 206-pound signal caller passed for 2,815 yards and 26 touchdowns.
When he signed with NC State following Rivers' fabulous freshman campaign, Davis fully understood that his time on the field--at least for a few years--would be limited. Playing behind both Rivers and Olin Hannum last season, Davis served an apprenticeship under a pair of quarterbacks with two totally different styles. Rivers' pocket passing was often complimented by the running of Hannum, who had a few opportunities to drive opposing defenses batty with his late-game scrambles.
"We wouldn't do the things with Jay that we did with Olin," Amato said. "Olin Hannum was a rodeo guy; he was a dude, man. He would run into bulls and knock 'em down. Jay doesn't have the speed that Olin had, but Olin doesn't have the overall knack of being a throwing quarterback that Jay has."
And Davis threw the ball around pretty well in spring scrimmages. while hitting 53 percent of his passes, he earned a measure of confidence from his teammates.
Just like Rivers, Davis comes to work every day. He goes through the same drills, watches the same film and runs through the same plays.
It is in his job description to be ready... just in case.
