Post by fwp on May 1, 2010 7:39:16 GMT -5
sportsyakima.com/2010/05/warriors-running-answers-call-at-qb/
YAKIMA, Wash. — Talk about getting the call.
Athletes constantly refer to a promotion as getting “called up,” but in Ben Running’s case, there was never a more accurate description of how he was called to back into service.
At home in Medford, Ore., working and watching after his young daughter, Running received a call from a friend.
Expecting small talk, Running instead received an offer from Gabe Hatchett, a receiver for the Yakima Valley Warriors: How would he like to play some football?
Seems the Warriors had just lost quarterback Jason Williams to an injury and Hatchett thought of his former Southern Oregon University teammate.
Considering that Running hadn’t played football since his freshman year at Eastern Oregon University in 2005, and hadn’t played quarterback since high school, the offer seemed a bit far fetched. But the chance to reunite with Hatchett and also play quarterback convinced Running to make the drive to Yakima the next morning.
“If it wasn’t to play quarterback, I’m not sure I’d have come up, and if it wasn’t for him (Hatchett), I definitely wouldn’t have considered it,” Running said. “I came in completely blind. I had no idea what to expect.”
Whatever his expectations, Running more than met them in his Tuesday tryout. Two practices later, the 6-foot-5, 235-pounder was the Warriors starting signal caller.
Two games (a win and a loss) into his arena career, he’s the top-rated quarterback in the American Indoor Football Association, averaging 239.0 yards per game with 10 touchdown passes to just two interceptions.
That success didn’t surprise Hatchett — or Warriors coach Lance Brown.
“Before (last season) I practiced with him (in Medford) and it looked like he still had it,” Hatchett said. “He still had to come up and prove himself. Some guys get their shot and they’re back home the next day. Ben took advantage of his chance. I couldn’t be happier for him.”
“He was worth taking a serious look at,” Brown said, referring to Running’s prep resume. “We didn’t expect Jason to have an injury, but Ben happened to fall into our lap and … he’s been a great addition.”
Running showed some expected rust, but also displayed enough skill to make the Warriors’ decision simple.
“After watching him throw, no matter what he said, he was in fair shape and showed good arm strength,” Brown said. “He also had the desire to still want to play football.”
After his first game — a 64-48 victory over a Wenatchee Valley team that had routed Yakima Valley just two weeks earlier — Brown noticed several other qualities.
“His field awareness is good,” the coach said of a quarterback who has yet to be sacked. “He has a sixth sense (regarding the pass rush) in that maybe it’s time to move.”
“He has great pocket awareness,” Hatchett said. “Even though he’s a young quarterback, he stands in there like a veteran.”
Possessing the physical skills was an important first step. How quickly Running could develop cohesion with his new teammates was the next one.
Solving a significant piece of that transition puzzle, Running said, was quick chemistry with receivers Hatchett and former Eastern Oregon teammate James Mayfield, and a strong overall team bond.
“The biggest thing is that the guys on the team are great,” Running said. “They’ve been very supportive. We all get along.
“I’m a pretty confident person, so I knew I’d be able to compete. But fitting in with the guys (so quickly) gave me the confidence to make an impact right away.”
That’s also helped Running become a leader on the field.
“When he’s on the field, he commands the attention of the team,” Brown said.
“I think I’ve done well (leading the team), but you can’t become a leader in just two weeks,” Running said. “But as long as the players have faith in me and trust in me, I know I can become a better leader for this team.”
Running’s confidence has not only allowed him to quickly make an impact with the Warriors, it’s also had an impact on other players.
Hatchett, after playing on the league’s worst team in 2008, and a team that lost 13 straight last season, was “kind of shaking my head” after the Warriors lost their season opener.
“Then, all of a sudden (we get Ben here) and now we feel like we’re as good as anyone else in the league,” he said. “I’m really glad to be a part of this now.”
YAKIMA, Wash. — Talk about getting the call.
Athletes constantly refer to a promotion as getting “called up,” but in Ben Running’s case, there was never a more accurate description of how he was called to back into service.
At home in Medford, Ore., working and watching after his young daughter, Running received a call from a friend.
Expecting small talk, Running instead received an offer from Gabe Hatchett, a receiver for the Yakima Valley Warriors: How would he like to play some football?
Seems the Warriors had just lost quarterback Jason Williams to an injury and Hatchett thought of his former Southern Oregon University teammate.
Considering that Running hadn’t played football since his freshman year at Eastern Oregon University in 2005, and hadn’t played quarterback since high school, the offer seemed a bit far fetched. But the chance to reunite with Hatchett and also play quarterback convinced Running to make the drive to Yakima the next morning.
“If it wasn’t to play quarterback, I’m not sure I’d have come up, and if it wasn’t for him (Hatchett), I definitely wouldn’t have considered it,” Running said. “I came in completely blind. I had no idea what to expect.”
Whatever his expectations, Running more than met them in his Tuesday tryout. Two practices later, the 6-foot-5, 235-pounder was the Warriors starting signal caller.
Two games (a win and a loss) into his arena career, he’s the top-rated quarterback in the American Indoor Football Association, averaging 239.0 yards per game with 10 touchdown passes to just two interceptions.
That success didn’t surprise Hatchett — or Warriors coach Lance Brown.
“Before (last season) I practiced with him (in Medford) and it looked like he still had it,” Hatchett said. “He still had to come up and prove himself. Some guys get their shot and they’re back home the next day. Ben took advantage of his chance. I couldn’t be happier for him.”
“He was worth taking a serious look at,” Brown said, referring to Running’s prep resume. “We didn’t expect Jason to have an injury, but Ben happened to fall into our lap and … he’s been a great addition.”
Running showed some expected rust, but also displayed enough skill to make the Warriors’ decision simple.
“After watching him throw, no matter what he said, he was in fair shape and showed good arm strength,” Brown said. “He also had the desire to still want to play football.”
After his first game — a 64-48 victory over a Wenatchee Valley team that had routed Yakima Valley just two weeks earlier — Brown noticed several other qualities.
“His field awareness is good,” the coach said of a quarterback who has yet to be sacked. “He has a sixth sense (regarding the pass rush) in that maybe it’s time to move.”
“He has great pocket awareness,” Hatchett said. “Even though he’s a young quarterback, he stands in there like a veteran.”
Possessing the physical skills was an important first step. How quickly Running could develop cohesion with his new teammates was the next one.
Solving a significant piece of that transition puzzle, Running said, was quick chemistry with receivers Hatchett and former Eastern Oregon teammate James Mayfield, and a strong overall team bond.
“The biggest thing is that the guys on the team are great,” Running said. “They’ve been very supportive. We all get along.
“I’m a pretty confident person, so I knew I’d be able to compete. But fitting in with the guys (so quickly) gave me the confidence to make an impact right away.”
That’s also helped Running become a leader on the field.
“When he’s on the field, he commands the attention of the team,” Brown said.
“I think I’ve done well (leading the team), but you can’t become a leader in just two weeks,” Running said. “But as long as the players have faith in me and trust in me, I know I can become a better leader for this team.”
Running’s confidence has not only allowed him to quickly make an impact with the Warriors, it’s also had an impact on other players.
Hatchett, after playing on the league’s worst team in 2008, and a team that lost 13 straight last season, was “kind of shaking my head” after the Warriors lost their season opener.
“Then, all of a sudden (we get Ben here) and now we feel like we’re as good as anyone else in the league,” he said. “I’m really glad to be a part of this now.”