Bates hasn’t played quarterback in a game since his final season at Omaha North High School in Nebraska. He caught the football as a rookie at Iowa State; he ran with it occasionally. But he didn’t throw a single pass as a true freshman during the 2007 season.
Saturday, the dust and the rust are going to be scrubbed away. Phillip Bates will test his arm before a relatively small crowd of fans and media during the annual spring game at Jack Trice Stadium. It begins at noon.
Needless to say, Bates is looking forward to a pass that won’t be thrown in privacy.
“I’m pretty excited,” said the Nebraska native. “It’s always a dream come true.”
The 6-foot-1, 207-pound sophomore-to-be added, “I’m getting a chance to show everybody I can play. They haven’t seen me ... The last time they saw me play quarterback was in high school. Now, I’m getting the chance to show everybody what I can do.”
While Austen Arnaud owns an edge in experience, ISU head coach Gene Chizik has insisted that the battle to start at quarterback in 2008 is wide open. He hasn’t dismissed the possibility that Arnaud and Bates will share snaps when the Cyclones begin the year Aug. 28 against South Dakota State.
Both players are getting their snaps behind center in spring drills. In fact, Chizik took some of the protective shroud away recently. Defenders were allowed to hit the quarterbacks — on rushing plays only — during a Sunday scrimmage.
“It’s fine with me. It lets me know what I can and can’t do,” said Arnaud.
And that’s the question with Bates. What can he do? ISU fans saw him catch a key pass in the victory over Iowa. They watched him rush seven times for a negative 16 yards. And his next completed pass as a college football quarterback will be the first.
Chizik gave Bates mixed reviews Monday. ISU’s second year coach said the sophomore quarterback threw a long touchdown pass in the latest scrimmage. Bates also handled himself well while carrying the ball.
“I’ll tell you, I was really proud of him,” said Chizik.
On the other hand, Chizik suggested Bates has work to do.
“His challenges will be in the passing game,” added Chizik. “He’s trying to progress. He threw an interception (Sunday) that we weren’t happy about. But, overall, just watching him throw the football, I think beyond a shadow of a doubt he’s made enormous strides all over the place.”
Bates’ self-evaluation of his latest scrimmage effort was much the same.
“I didn’t play too bad,” he said. “I still made some mistakes. But I just keep getting better. I’m making mistakes, but as long as I keep learning from them and get better, that’s all that matters.”
Whether it’s Bates or Arnaud running Iowa State’s offense, Chizik wants a more dynamic attack. A year ago, ISU’s longest rush — by Alexander Robinson — covered 37 yards. Todd Blythe’s 55-yard catch was the biggest play through the air.
That’s not good enough for Chizik. He wants the 70, 80 and 90 yard strikes. And he wants more of them. Through 11 days of spring ball, the Cyclones have seen some encouraging signs. There are more playmakers who know the playbook better.
Said Chizik, “It’s just naturally a progression for them to feel better and to be able to play faster and do the things it takes to become a better football player and therefore a better team.”
Arnaud summed it up with one quick verbal pass.
“Explosive plays are very important,” said the quarterback. “They turn into touchdowns. All the points we can get is definitely a lot better for us.”
