Michigan's Rudock, Morris Know Who Will Start At QB Vs Utah
ERIC OLSON, AP College Football Writer
Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh says the decision is made on who will be his starting quarterback for the season opener at Utah on Thursday.
Harbaugh is keeping it private for now.
Jake Rudock and Shane Morris were listed as co-No. 1 quarterbacks on the depth chart released Monday. Harbaugh said on the Big Ten coaches teleconference Tuesday that Rudock and Morris know which one of them will take the first snap against the Utes.
"I want both to prepare like they're going to be the starter. I don't know how to make it any clearer than that," Harbaugh said when pressed about not revealing the starter even though the quarterbacks know who it is.
Asked if he was being secretive to keep the Utes off balance, Harbaugh said, "If that's another positive or byproduct of it, we'll take that as well."
Rudock is a graduate transfer from Iowa who started 25 games for the Hawkeyes. Morris has started twice and appeared in 10 games for Michigan.
Other notes from the Big Ten:
MEYER'S QB QUANDRY?
Asked if choosing between J.T. Barrett and Cardale Jones for starting quarterback has been the toughest decision of his career, Ohio State's Urban Meyer said, "Thought it would be, and actually it has not been. I have an idea who's going to go early, but I also made a decision that when you have good players, you play them. I would anticipate throughout the course of the year we'll play both quarterbacks."
Meyer said he won't announce the defending national champion Buckeyes' starter before Monday's game at Virginia Tech.
GOOD FOR THE ECONOMY
The excitement is palpable in Kalamazoo as Western Michigan prepares to host No. 5 Michigan State for the first time. Friday's game is part of the 12-game, 10-year "Celebrate the State" series that has the Spartans playing four games against Central Michigan, Eastern Michigan and Western Michigan.
Three of the four games will be played in East Lansing, with the Spartans visiting each of the three schools once.
"We made this decision years ago to try to help the economy in the state of Michigan, bringing commerce to that particular city instead of going out of state," coach Mark Dantonio said. "A little unusual, but it also helps us prepare for road games as we move into the season, and we have some big ones."
EXTRA POINTS
— Minnesota's offensive line remained unsettled three days before the opener against No. 2 TCU. Coach Jerry Kill said he expects Ben Lauer, who started six games at right tackle last season, to be able to play after missing time in August with a knee injury.
— Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz said he's feeling better about his running backs after seeing LeShun Daniels and Jordan Canzeri go through preseason practices. Daniels will be the Hawkeyes' eighth different opening-game starting running back since 2007.
— Nebraska goes into its Saturday game against BYU with the nation's longest win streak in openers, 29 games.
— Hayden Rettig will be Rutgers' starting QB against Norfolk State on Saturday, but coach Kyle Flood is making no promises that Rettig will play in the second half. Chris Laviano, who had been competing against Rettig, is suspended for the first half for using a fake ID.
— Penn State has dominated the series against Temple, having not lost to the Owls since 1941. The teams meet Saturday in Philadelphia, and coach James Franklin said he likes playing the game because it gives his program exposure to alumni and potential recruits in the eastern part of the state.
— Bill Cubit, the Illinois offensive coordinator who became interim head coach after last week's firing of Tim Beckman, said co-coordinators Tim Banks and Mike Phair will run the defense without his input.
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