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Thursday, September 7
Garrard comes up big after weight loss

By Eric Crawford
Special to ESPN.com

Last month when a reporter at Conference USA media day compared East Carolina quarterback David Garrard to Virginia Tech's Michael Vick, Garrard stopped the reporter cold.

"Vick?" Garrard said. "Really? That guy can really play. I don't know if I see myself at that level. I'm just a guy out here who is glad to have a chance to play."

But the better he gets, the more Garrard is drawing comparisons to the top quarterbacks at the college level. And Thursday night, Garrard will get to compare himself to Vick in person when 10th-ranked Virginia Tech visits East Carolina on ESPN.


	David Garrard passed for 2,359 yards and ran for 453 yards last season.

Garrard was voted preseason offensive player of the year in C-USA, but could begin to gain attention on the national stage with a big game against the Hokies.

His first trip to the East Carolina campus was as a 270-pound high school student. During a football camp, he told Logan he was a quarterback.

"He told me that, and I said, 'Here, throw this ball,' and he unleashed this bazooka and I said, 'Well, maybe you are a quarterback,' " Logan said. "He had a very graceful way and you could tell he was a gifted athlete, even at that size."

Garrard weighed 260 pounds during his redshirt season at East Carolina, then began a steady conditioning regimen that has him heading into his junior season at 238 pounds. He says he didn't realize how much the extra weight affected him until he lost it.

"Every day at noon, when it was as hot as it could get, I put on my sweats and ran three miles," Garrard said. "I had to learn not only what to eat but when to eat. Sometimes when you eat is more important. I just know that I'm a better player at 238 than I was at 260. I thought I was good when I was 260, but I can do a lot more now."

With his size and strength, Garrard is a threat throwing and running. He passed for 2,359 yards last season and ran for 453 more.

"David's weight never concerned me as much as his speed," Logan said. "When David was a freshman, he ran a five-second flat 40-yard dash. Now, he's down to 238 and you could strike a match on him. He has no body fat. He's running a 4.75-second 40, and that's probably as fast as he's going to get. But a 4.75 beer truck coming at you is a bad feeling, so when he takes off on a scramble, it's OK with me. He's a unique collection of physical gifts."

But Logan says bigger, stronger quarterbacks with good running ability have to learn to rely more on intellect than athleticism at times. After Garrard completed 22 of 29 passes for 264 yards and a touchdown in ECU's 38-0 season opening win over Duke, Logan was excited about another number -- a zero in the interception column.

"David's attitude is that, 'Nobody's going to bring me down,' but that's not so," Logan said. "That's how it was in high school for him, but now they will get to you. Sometimes you've got to throw the ball away, and David's learning that. It's a more intellectual approach, rather than relying on your physical skills. But if he gets that balance, he'll be even more dangerous."

Will he be dangerous enough to derail Tech? East Carolina has a history of knocking off big names, with wins over Miami in each of the past two years. A rebuilt defense looked good against Duke, allowing just 44 rushing yards and 140 yards overall. But Logan says it will take a much better effort to beat the Hokies.

"They look very mich like the team that played for the national championship last season," Logan said. "In their minds, that's their mission to get back there again. For us to try and find a way to win the game, we must have a no turnover game and obviously, we will have to create some turnovers. If we just trade possessions with these guys, I don't think we will be able to hang with them.

"They have talent everywhere. They have great flankers and they have re-loaded on defense. They have superb speed on the defensive side of the ball. Basically they have the complete pakcage."

Around Conference USA

Army
Todd Berry's first game with the Black Knights did in fact show a more balanced offensive attack. The team passed for 123 yards and ran for 120 and led until late in the game. ... Quarterback Patrick Jenkins competed 14 of 29 passes and had a touchdown ... Army hosts Boston College this weekend.

Cincinnati
The Bearcats ended a C-USA losing streak that stretched back to 1998, but they weren't overpowering in doing it. They needed a late touchdown pass from Deontey Kenner to Jason Collins-Baker to win 23-17. ... Ray Jackson, a transfer from Michigan, ran for 108 yards. ... Next up is a visit from Syracuse. The Bearcats will be looking to upset a big-name visitor for the second straight season, after knocking off Wisconsin a year ago.

Houston
The Dana Dimel era opened with a heartbreaking loss in overtime at crosstown rival Rice as the Owls scored on a one-yard dive on fourth down to win 30-27....The Cougars had sent the game to OT when senior QB Jason McKinley threw a six-yard TD to sophomore WR Brian Robinson with 1:50 left in regulation. McKinley finished the night with a career-high 32 completions (on 47 attempts) for 339 yards and two scores. ... Senior wide receiver Orlando Iglesias caught four passes for 49 yards in the first quarter before leaving the game with a sprained ankle. ... Things don't get easier for the Cougars, who travel to LSU this weekend.

Louisville
Saturday's stirring overtime win over archrival Kentucky may prove to be one of the more memorable victories in the program's history. Sophomore safety Curry Burns blocked an 18-yard field goal attempt as time expired to force overtime ... Junior running back Tony Stallings rushed for 144 yards in his first college start at the position and had the game winning score on a 25-yard TD run ... Making his first college start, sophomore QB Dave Ragone completed 23 of 30 passes for 256 yards and 3 TDs without an interception. ... The Cardinals host Division I-AA Grambling on Saturday.

Memphis
It was the same old story for the Tigers last weekend -- great defense and no offense in a season-opening 17-3 loss to Mississippi State. ... Senior tight end Billy Kendall extended his streak of consecutive games with at least one reception to 17....The Tiger defense held Mississippi State to 45 yards rushing on 35 carries and allowed just 127 yards of total offense....Junior defensive end Andre Arnold recorded three sacks for 15 yards of losses. ... Starting tailback "Sugar" Sanders didn't play against State (sprained ankle), but is expected to be available for Saturday's game against visiting Louisiana-Monroe this weekend.

Tulane
Starting quarterback Patrick Ramsey is expected to miss at least two weeks, including the Green Wave's next game, its Sept. 16 Conference USA opener against East Carolina, because of an injury to his right shoulder. ... Freshman J. P. Losman, who completed 5 of 10 passes for 35 yards on Saturday, will step into the starting role ... Tulane led 17-14 in the third quarter before wilting in a 49-20 loss to Ole Miss. ... The Green Wave is off this week.

Southern Miss
The Eagles still haven't won a non-conference game against a ranked team after Saturday's 19-16 loss to Tennessee. ... Junior QB Jeff Kelly led USM to 83 and 96 yard scoring drives in the fourth quarter as a Golden Eagles rally fell just short. Kelly finished the night 22-of-30 for 232 yards and a pair of touchdowns. He had a rough night in the pocket, however, as he was sacked nine times for 57 yards in losses....Senior DB Leo Barnes had a team-high eight tackles and an interception which he returned 26 yards....Saturday's game drew a Neyland Stadium record attendance of 108,064, which was the largest crowd to ever watch USM play....Southern Miss will have next Saturday off before traveling to Tuscaloosa to play Alabama.

UAB
The Blazers will get off to the latest start in Division I-A with Saturday's opener against visiting Chattanooga. ... They've been hampered by injuries in summer practices. Receivers Kenny Borders (hamstring) and Cedric Thatch (foot) could see action Saturday, but Royd Williams (ankle) will not. Also out will be sophomore running back Andre Ollie (knee) and senior offensive lineman James Orrick (knee).

Eric Crawford covers Conference USA for The (Louisville, Ky.) Courier-Journal.

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