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Show - V vV y " V k v ';i v' . " . - - - - - Vv.. . . -r Top Ute Quarterback Gordon "Scooter" Longmire drops back to pass in a recent game, as tackle Bruce Cousin 77 and guard Larry Reid 69 provide pass blocking. A muddy Fred Graves 47 walks otf the field; Graves is number one receiver in WAC. By BRUCE WOODBURY Chronicle Staff Being a quarterback of a major college football team is not considered as one of the easiest jobs in the world. Besides being a team leader the quarterback quar-terback must know all the offensive plays and formations, he must also know what the other ten men are doing on every play, but most of all it is the quarterback who is responsible for moving his team and scoring the points. In short, from the fans' 1 vr X 1 on Michigan State for his college career. As a Spartan Longmire didn't exactly set the world on fire. Laboring under the Daughtery system is not exactly a passing quarterbacks dream. Finally after his sophomore year Scooter dropped out of MSU and enrolled in a junior college near his home town. A few major schools were still interested in him and so after talking to then Ute coach Ken Vierra, Longmire came to Utah. After a year as a red shirt. Scooter became the Redskin quarterback last season. Because of injuries and other reasons his first year was not to wonderful. This year however, is much better. So far this season Scooter has been among the leaders in total offense and passing offense in both the Western Athletic Conference and the nation. His main rival for conference leadership in those categories is Wyoming quarterback Gary Fox, who will be Longmire's opposition Saturday afternoon when the Utes face the Cowboys. In the. upcoming Chronicle interview Longmire answers questions on what it's like to be a college quarterback. CHRONICLE: How did you get the nickname nick-name of Scooter? LONGMIRE: My dad gave it to me before I was born. We have a joke around our house that it would have been pretty funny if I had of turned out to be a girl. CHRONICLE: What's the hardest thing a quarterback has to learn in college? LONGMIRE: The hardest thing to learn in college is to read defenses. In high school you have to combat only a couple of basic formations, but in college the teams are switching all the time so you have to know what formations they are in to be able to pick the play to beat it. CHRONICLE: What qualities does it take to make a good quarterback? LONGMIRE: A good quarterback must be a natural leader. He must also be able to take pressure and punishment at the same time. Besides having the physical attributes at-tributes a quarterback must be able to make the right decisions in a split second. CHRONICLE: When did you first want to become a quarterback? LONGMIRE: When I found out that they didn't get hit. No, seriously, I have never been a real good follower and I like to make decisions, so when I found out that I could play quarterback. I stuck with it. CHRONICLE: Would you ever like to play any other position? LONCMIRE: Not after playing quarterback. quar-terback. Once you have been a quarterback quar-terback you always find yourself thinking like one no matter what position you are playing. CHRONICLE: What is the worst thing about being a quarterback? LONCMIRE: Having a season like we are having now. It's tough taking criticism from the press, but it's tougher when you know that your team mates are playing their hearts out for you and you can't seem to produce winning football for them. CHRONICLE: What do you do to get "psyched" for a game?" LONGMIRE: I don't get myself psyched per say. I try to get well prepared by studying all the plays and the other team's defense. I also put myself in the worst situation that could happen in the game and try to get out of it. . CHRONICLE: What's the biggest play you have ever been involved in? LONGMIRE: The first time I touched the ball my freshman year in high school was on the opening kickoff of the first game. I ran the kickoff back 101 yards for a touchdown touch-down but I didn't follow my blockers so I got bawled out by the coach when I got back to the bench. CHRONICLE: What's the biggest play that has failed for you in your career? LONGMIRE: One of the worst would have to be the pass I threw in the Arizona game last week, that Jackie Wallace intercepted and returned for a touchdown. CHRONICLE: How important is a good quarterback to a team? LONCMIRE: A team can win with a good athlete at quarterback and superb players at other positions, but a team will have a hard time winning if they have a super quarterback but no one else that is very good. CHRONICLE: How much responsibility to the team do you feel every week? LONGMIRE: When you win a quarterback is partly responsible because he knew where to attack the other team. The other members of the team are a big part in winning, though. When a team loses, however, the quarterback is more responsible because he probably didn't attack the other teams weakness. CHRONICLE: Do you want to play pro football? LONCMIRE: Yes. As a quarterback. I think that I have the physical tools to make it, the only question will be if I can learn all the complicated plays, etc. that you have to master to be a good pro quarterback. quar-terback. CHRONICLE: What about Wyoming? LONGMIRE: The Cowboys are good. They are not a big team but they are aggressive. The team, however, should be ready for them and we want the win. i Wnt of view it is the quarterback that is responsible for winning. !!lkeu 3 Special breed of cat t Py quarterback. It could be said that this ;ears Redskin signal caller, Cordon woter' Longmire is of that special breed ' quarterbacks, ithe ones who combine ntell.gence with physical ability to Prduce winding football, football has always been a part of schonT Nfe- As a fresnn in high Calif S home town of Tracy, fens vm'a' SC00ter started out as an of-fullhIl8Uard' of-fullhIl8Uard' later he was switched to i" ,fin he ended P ever since ' Pst'on he has played SilTZoutttand,ne high scho' wugh u h'S Prep career was offers , m0re than 100 scholarship Finally f. 'egeS around the country. W head L Was Personally recruited ad coah puffy Daughter he.seUjed |