It surprises me that he is leaving, given what I thought he thought of UM and the team, and what his tweet tag lines were recently.
However, UM will be fine and potentially better without him. I like Ah Yat, Vidlak and Huot. I assume Flowers will be very good sooner or later. There are still some qb's in the portal, and there will be more portal qb's in the spring.
McDowell didn't play great on Sunday, nor in the prior two playoff games. We needed a much better game from him on Sunday, but didn't get it. I thought he'd play better, being the championship game and in Texas.
I agree that he had a nice season and was big in taking us to the championship game. Showed nice improvement. I think he had more potential too. But he probably wasn't going to be one of the top UM qb's, in my view. Not even close.
He was not accurate enough throwing and had other limitations. Some qb experts and coaches have told me that qb's tend not to get more accurate with time and practice. They pretty much have it early or they don't. Accuracy is only one important skill for a qb, though.
My view is that the coaches never had good confidence in him, let alone full confidence. I believe they limited the offense because of that. I know they limited the offense earlier in the season. Maybe he felt or sensed the coaches lack of confidence in him.
He threw some nice downfield passes in a game or two earlier in the season, but for the most part, threw shorter passes. He didn't throw many picks, but I wonder if that is because the offense was limited with and for him. He did throw over the middle, short, relatively well.
I wonder why he seemed to quit running and scrambling in the last several games. That seemed odd. He turned down some open field and even first downs. Just seemed weird to me.
I wonder if he was having some issues with the coaches in the last game, or recent games. Don't know, just wonder. He seemed to get hurt late in the first half in the last game. I saw him running on sideline a lot after halftime, and also on the exercise bike. Had never seen him do that in prior games.
A parent told me that he never seemed to fit in. His mom told me that he and the family liked Missoula. I don't think he loved the weather, and he hasn't even had a Montana winter yet.
I liked what he said when he came to UM and a few other times. However, I thought it was odd he had committed to Southern and then changed his mind right away. Made me wonder if he was a bit flaky.
On the one hand, I wish him well. On the other hand, I think F-him. He can do what he wants. It's his choice and his life. Maybe he will get to a situation where he excels. I can see him improving, but I don't see him being a great qb at a higher level.
I assume I will get some better and more specific information. I'm curious. His departure does not concern me in the least. I think Gillman's younger brother is coming to UM. My impression is that recruiting has gone very well. I assume there are or will be schollies held back for some portal guys.
It will be interesting to see what else comes out. I don't know Nebraska has for qb's. If they are thin at qb, then he may have a nice opportunity. He could get some decent NIL money.
Nebraska has landed a top qb recruit, actually the top recruit. The recruit's uncle is the Neb. o-line coach. "Nebraska has landed a game-changing addition in quarterback Dylan Raiola, the No. 1 signal-caller in the Top247 rankings, who signed with the Cornhuskers on Wednesday morning as National Signing Day began. Raiola flipped from Georgia after a late charge from the Cornhuskers, and he becomes the highest-rated recruit in program history."
https://www.cbssports.com/college-football/news/dylan-raiola-signs-with-nebraska-no-1-qb-in-2024-flips-from-georgia-becomes-programs-highest-rated-recruit/
Go Griz!
ray:
