Georgia State coach Bill Curry said he declined to insert backup quarterback Drew Little into Saturday’s 40-17 loss to Old Dominion earlier because he said he wanted to give starter Bo Schlechter a reasonable amount of time.
“We talked about it all along, and Bo had started out very nervous a week ago and then rallied to play very well,” Curry said. “... But who knows? Maybe we should have done it in the second quarter. You can always look back and wonder if things could have been different before the score got to where it was when we finally put him in.”
Schlechter, after going 10-for-27 with an interception, was pulled just before the start of the fourth quarter. Making his second start as a quarterback, Schlechter said he had the usual pregame nerves, but couldn’t put his finger on why he and the offense came out so flat.
“I was well-prepared, but I threw a few too many bad balls,” he said. “Everyone has pregame jitters, but we never got into a groove.”
Schlechter had a tendency to lock onto his first reads, which enabled Old Dominion to correctly read a few pass plays. He looked much different than he did in last week’s season-opening win against Clark Atlanta, in which he went 13-of-18 for 196 yards and three touchdowns. In that victory, he often went through his progressions, something Old Dominion coach Bobby Wilder complimented him on earlier in the week.
Little, last year’s starter, didn’t play any better than Schlechter. He completed just six of his 17 passes for 59 yards with two interceptions.
More special teams
Georgia State special-teams coordinator Anthony Midget said he believes the two blocked punts were the result of punter Matt Hubbard not stepping in the right direction on his punts. The punter is supposed to step toward the long side of the last set of blockers, called the shield, as he kicks the ball.
Midget guessed that Hubbard stepped the other direction, into Old Dominion’s rush.
“They should not be able to come through the shield like that,” Curry said. “The protection should hold up. He’s a wonderful punter. He gets the ball off quickly.”
Schlechter usually punts, but Hubbard was in because Curry said Schlechter had a “foot issue. He couldn’t punt today.”
Both punts were blocked in the first half. One was returned for a touchdown. The other was partially blocked and led to a touchdown. Hubbard averaged 34.2 yards on 12 punts.
Low attendance
It would seem hard not to notice, but Curry and the players said they didn’t see all the empty seats in the Georgia Dome.
Announced attendance was 11,701. However, there seemed to be far fewer people present.
The students were the largest missing segment. Thousands showed up for the season opener against Clark Atlanta, filling up the end-zone seats as part of the 26,273 that attended.
However, perhaps hundreds of students showed up Saturday. The game was competing against many on-campus events, notably rush for sororities.
Athletic director Cheryl Levick declined to say she was disappointed in the attendance. However, she said GSU may consider moving some games to later in the day to better fit into the students’ schedules.
“Our students and our fans love Georgia State football,” she said. “Our season-ticket holders were there all game.”
The Panthers’ next home game will feature Murray State on Oct. 8.
Etc.
Starting center Ben Jacoby left the game with a knee injury. Curry said it’s related to an MCL, but doesn’t know if it’s a strain or tear. ... Offensive tackle Clyde Yandell and linebacker Mark Hogan returned after sitting out the opener.
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