North Carolina State University Athletics
Davis Gets Nod as Pack's Starting QB
8/25/2004 12:00:00 AM | Football
Aug. 25, 2004
Tony Haynes Raleigh, N.C.--There's now an answer to one of the most asked questions in the Raleigh area this August: Jay Davis will be the starting quarterback when NC State opens its 2004 football season against Richmond on Saturday, September 4. Wolfpack head coach Chuck Amato made the announcement following practice on Tuesday evening. Davis, a redshirt junior, beat out redshirt freshman Marcus Stone for a job that had previously been held by record-breaking quarterback Philip Rivers for the last four years. "We have two outstanding quarterbacks on this football team and Jay Davis has won the starting quarterback spot on our team and that's all the details we need to talk about that," Amato said. "I don't want to hear any more about it after today. It's no different than any other position. That's all I have to say; he'll be our starting quarterback and we're glad the thing has come to an end at this point." With that, Amato was whisked away on a golf cart by equipment manager Eddie Gardner. The announcement brought an end to a competition that began back in spring practice when Davis and Stone were given equal opportunities to take over the number one spot. And through the first two-plus weeks of fall camp, Amato never budged when asked about the Davis-Stone battle. The two players' statistics weren't even released following the team's first two preseason scrimmages. But on Tuesday, Amato decided to put an end to the questions and speculation. While Rivers was shattering almost all of the ACC's major passing and total offense records over the last few years, Davis waited in the wings. But because NC State was involved in so many competitive games during that period, he rarely saw any playing time. All told in 2002 and 2003, Davis played in a total of 10 games, going 17-of-28 through the air for 177 yards, one touchdown and one interception. But as Rivers' back-up, Davis did get plenty of reps each week, preparing himself to play just in case. A true freshman last season, Stone did a lot of watching and observing in 2003 before finally getting more practice reps last spring. "I think that was my advantage over Marcus," Davis said. "I've been around longer and I know the system a little bit better than him. He is more of an athletic guy with a big, strong arm and can run a little bit. I have been around for awhile, I have gotten reps and I think can only help me."
