ECU QB turning heads
Pinkney's athleticism a cause of concern for WVU coaches
When it was relayed to Skip Holtz the kind words Rich Rodriguez had for Holtz's quarterback at East Carolina, Patrick Pinkney, his response wasn't all that unexpected.
"Tell him we'll trade him,'' Holtz said with at least a hint of a chuckle.
Truth be told, Holtz would probably do just that. After all, Rodriguez's quarterback at West Virginia, Patrick White, is one for whom almost any coach in the country would trade.
So maybe Holtz wouldn't trade him.
"I love the guy we have. He's really doing a nice job,'' Holtz said. "He hasn't played a lot of football. He's only going into his third collegiate start. But I've been very impressed with the poise and the composure with which he's handled everything.''
As East Carolina's season approached in late August, Pinkney was barely on the Pirates' radar, much less their depth chart. He was buried at No. 3 on that depth chart behind starter Rob Kass -- a 6-4, 247-pound sophomore who was the backup to James Pinkney (no relation to Patrick) last season -- and another sophomore, Brett Clay.
Kass, though, was hit with a drunken driving charge just days before the season began and Clay was largely ineffective in ECU's 17-7 loss at Virginia Tech in the opener. Enter Patrick Pinkney, whose main claim to fame was the fact that his father, Reggie, was a star defensive back for the Pirates more than 30 years ago.
Pinkney actually entered the Virginia Tech game knowing he would play because Holtz wanted to use two quarterbacks. But after he completed 14 of 25 passes for 125 yards and ran for 48 more in Blacksburg, he earned the start the following week against North Carolina.
Read More: ECU QB turning heads [Charleston Gazette]
Leave a comment