Randy Sanders just can’t wait to pick the new signal caller for his offense.
He’s been patient. He’s watched the film. But so far no one has stepped forward, and Saturday’s 21-21 Orange and White game was no help.
“I thought we’d be able to name a starter at this point,” Sanders said. “(Our quarterbacks) haven’t really separated themselves. I would like to think we’d be able to (pick the starter) after the first five, six, seven days (in the summer), something like that.
“We’re going to need to do something like that at that point.”
But Sanders may not be able to wait that long. Next week he’ll be visiting two of the candidates – Erik Ainge of Hillsboro, Ore. and Brent Schaeffer of Deerfield Beach, Fla. – while the incumbents – C.J. Leak and Rick Clausen – wait at home.
“I’m planning on going (to Oregon) next week and I have a recruiting area in Florida, so I’ll see Schaeffer while I’m down there recruiting,” Sanders said.
Neither visit is a definite sign that a freshman will take the reigns of the Tennessee offense in August, but Saturday’s spring scrimmage didn’t offer any answers either.
“I don’t know how much closer we are,” Sanders said. “I thought both of them (Clausen and Leak) did some good things. It looked like they both had some mistakes.
“We still missed some open guys that we’ve got to hit.”
Leak faired well, going 12-of-17 for 178 yards with an interception and a touchdown. Clausen had moments going 8-for-21 with an interception and no TDs.
Not the kind of numbers that satisfy Sanders, but both quarterbacks view the decision to not name a starter as a positive.
“That’s just to make sure we stay on our P’s and Q’s,” Leak said. “Talking to coach, he told me “You’d be the guy.’
“I’m just going to go about my business.”
Clausen agreed.
“It doesn’t really affect me because everyday I’m going out trying to perform as good as I can,” Clausen said. “That’s all I can really ask for.”
What Sanders can ask for is separation. He said even with the indecision, he had hopes for a strong offense in the fall.
“It’s hard to be a great, dynamic team with where we are right now,” he said. “The good thing is we’ll be better when we hit the game with UNLV. There’s no doubt about that.”
There seems to be no doubt in the receivers’ minds either. Redshirt freshman Robert Meachem, a recipient of Clausen’s passes on Saturday including one for 42 yards, said he’d be happy with whoever is throwing him the ball.
“I think that both of them can progress,” Meachem said. “It’s a tough job, so whoever wants it is going to get it.
“I’m comfortable with both of them.”
