📝 Gardner Minshew: Passing on Alabama opportunity was 'so tough'

[Matt Zenitz | mzenitz@al.com]

Gardner Minshew, the graduate transfer quarterback from East Carolina who committed to the Tide in February but ultimately decided to transfer to Washington State, was a counselor at the Manning Passing Academy last week and reflected on his decision to choose Washington State over Alabama.

While none of Alabama's current quarterbacks were available to the media during the interview session at the Manning Passing Academy last week, there was someone in there who was almost a member of this year's Crimson Tide quarterback room.

Gardner Minshew, the graduate transfer quarterback from East Carolina who committed to the Tide in February but ultimately decided to transfer to Washington State, was a counselor at the Manning Passing Academy and reflected on his decision to choose Washington State over Alabama.

It's well-known at this point that Minshew, who wants to be a coach down the road, originally chose the Tide because he believed a year at Alabama would help him get into coaching. According to Minshew, Nick Saban had promised he would eventually hire him as a graduate assistant. Nonetheless, Washington State ended up selling Minshew on the opportunity to play for Mike Leach, who said early in his first conversation with Minshew, "So do you want to come lead the country in passing?"

"It was so tough (passing up the Alabama opportunity)," Minshew said at the Manning Passing Academy. "I have so much respect for that staff. I do want to get into coaching eventually, and it's like going to Harvard school for coaching. So yeah, that was tough to turn down. And I have so much respect for Coach Enos, who recruited me mostly, and Coach Saban. But I think I have a great opportunity at Washington State and I'm looking forward to that."

For Alabama, Minshew would have primarily been insurance in case one of the Tide's current quarterbacks transferred before the season.

He realized he would probably never be the Tide's starting quarterback.

It's different at Washington State, which needs a new starting QB.

"Ultimately, I'm a player and I have a little bit of time left to play and I'm going to give it all I've got," said Minshew, who started five games as a junior at East Carolina last season. "My goal since I've been a kid is to play in the NFL. That's what I've got to do. I've got to chase that dream. And the coaching, it will be there."

Alabama wasn't the only SEC school that Washington State beat out for Minshew.

Tennessee recruited Minshew. There was also late contact from Arkansas and LSU.

"It was a whirlwind," said Minshew, who left East Carolina in late January. "But I'm very fortunate to take the path I've taken. I've met a lot of people, made a lot of great connections, but I'm ultimately so glad to be where I'm at. I think I'm in a great place."


Matt Zenitz | mzenitz@al.com
Gardner Minshew: Passing on Alabama opportunity was 'so tough'

 

[TerryP]

I have a hard time believing anything this kid says considering the reason for his transfer (close to home, family thing.) Setting that aside for a second...

"Ultimately, I'm a player and I have a little bit of time left to play and I'm going to give it all I've got," said Minshew, who started five games as a junior at East Carolina last season. "My goal since I've been a kid is to play in the NFL. That's what I've got to do. I've got to chase that dream. And the coaching, it will be there."

And he chose to attend Washington State, under Leach and his "Air Raid Offense?"

Air raid QBs haven’t succeeded in the NFL. Will Patrick Mahomes or Davis Webb?

 

[JoseyWalesTheOutlaw]

Best of luck to the young man. He should stay away from any dark closets.

 

[OldPlayer]

Good luck. Can't hate on a guy who is upfront and honest about his situation.

 

[TerryP]

Good luck. Can't hate on a guy who is upfront and honest about his situation.

Except he hasn't been upfront and honest from the start. He told the administration at ECU he was withdrawing and moving back to Mississippi because he had to deal with a family matter. He didn't. He even led his ECU coach to believe there was a possibility he'd return to ECU.

 

[TUSKtimes]

I think it would have been hard for anyone to resist Mike Leach's sales pitch. To be fair, I didn't see him playing much even in mop up.

 

[TerryP]

I think it would have been hard for anyone to resist Mike Leach's sales pitch. To be fair, I didn't see him playing much even in mop up.

How do you envision his sales pitch? He's certainly not basing it on what the kid wants to do--play in the NFL. Leach has on guy he can point to and even then he has to share credit with Hal Mumme (if not give the majority of the credit to Mumme.)

Air Raid QB's don't do well in the NFL. Tim Couch being the only exception and by "do well" I'm referring to number of starts, not the numbers found in stats.

 

[TUSKtimes]

How do you envision his sales pitch? He's certainly not basing it on what the kid wants to do--play in the NFL. Leach has on guy he can point to and even then he has to share credit with Hal Mumme (if not give the majority of the credit to Mumme.)

Air Raid QB's don't do well in the NFL. Tim Couch being the only exception and by "do well" I'm referring to number of starts, not the numbers found in stats.

If Leach is asking him if he wants to lead the nation in passing that's a pretty good calling card for whatever you want to do after Washington State. But I never fully understood the kid's decision to leave East Carolina. He was going to play, why would he choose to sit at Bama? Well, he wanted to get into coaching. Then he decides to do at Washington St. what he could have done at ECU. Close as I can get.

 

[BamaFan334]

He wasn't going to play here anyways. I wouldn't waste my potentially last year of football ever riding the bench at Alabama. I may have came out of high school given the opportunity to sit the bench, but definitely not after sniffing the field as a Junior anywhere. It would kill me to see the field and then go somewhere you'll never see the field again. He'll get to sling the ball around and maybe get his name out there like Faulk did, and maybe get somewhere based off Mike Leach's name.

 

[TerryP]

@TUSKtimes, Strictly my opinion here...

If you're "pitching" the NFL on why you should make it to the league...

Using passing yards as a measure from the Air Raid offense is about like using sacks allowed if you're an offensive lineman from Army.

 

[JoseyWalesTheOutlaw]

If the kid gets into a NFL game he will have to do the same as I and that is buy a ticket.

 

[OldPlayer]

Good luck. Can't hate on a guy who is upfront and honest about his situation.

Except he hasn't been upfront and honest from the start. He told the administration at ECU he was withdrawing and moving back to Mississippi because he had to deal with a family matter. He didn't. He even led his ECU coach to believe there was a possibility he'd return to ECU.

I mean in his dealings with Alabama. Heck, I bet a lot of players would like to leave their schools and be on the team, and maybe play, at Alabama. He committed, but then backed out when he confirmed that he'd be sitting on the bench. He's told his story in the press. I have no issues with him going elsewhere since it opens a slot for someone else.

 

[TerryP]

Good luck. Can't hate on a guy who is upfront and honest about his situation.

Except he hasn't been upfront and honest from the start. He told the administration at ECU he was withdrawing and moving back to Mississippi because he had to deal with a family matter. He didn't. He even led his ECU coach to believe there was a possibility he'd return to ECU.

I mean in his dealings with Alabama. Heck, I bet a lot of players would like to leave their schools and be on the team, and maybe play, at Alabama. He committed, but then backed out when he confirmed that he'd be sitting on the bench. He's told his story in the press. I have no issues with him going elsewhere since it opens a slot for someone else.

I guess for clarity's sake I should mention I work with two guys that cover ECU and both indicate he's a bit of a head case...a little bias on my part I'm sure.

 

[JoseyWalesTheOutlaw]

Good luck. Can't hate on a guy who is upfront and honest about his situation.

Except he hasn't been upfront and honest from the start. He told the administration at ECU he was withdrawing and moving back to Mississippi because he had to deal with a family matter. He didn't. He even led his ECU coach to believe there was a possibility he'd return to ECU.

I mean in his dealings with Alabama. Heck, I bet a lot of players would like to leave their schools and be on the team, and maybe play, at Alabama. He committed, but then backed out when he confirmed that he'd be sitting on the bench. He's told his story in the press. I have no issues with him going elsewhere since it opens a slot for someone else.

I guess for clarity's sake I should mention I work with two guys that cover ECU and both indicate he's a bit of a head case...a little bias on my part I'm sure.

Well your sue as hell are known for your bias ............can you feel me

 

[planomateo]

Clearly he likes pirates.

I'm hoping Davis Webb makes it big, he was the QB at my kids high school.

 

[TerryP]

Good luck. Can't hate on a guy who is upfront and honest about his situation.

Except he hasn't been upfront and honest from the start. He told the administration at ECU he was withdrawing and moving back to Mississippi because he had to deal with a family matter. He didn't. He even led his ECU coach to believe there was a possibility he'd return to ECU.

I mean in his dealings with Alabama. Heck, I bet a lot of players would like to leave their schools and be on the team, and maybe play, at Alabama. He committed, but then backed out when he confirmed that he'd be sitting on the bench. He's told his story in the press. I have no issues with him going elsewhere since it opens a slot for someone else.

I guess for clarity's sake I should mention I work with two guys that cover ECU and both indicate he's a bit of a head case...a little bias on my part I'm sure.

Well your sue as hell are known for your bias ............can you feel me

The "I hate all things orange" hangup I've developed over the decades?

 

[Tidestalker]

That whole story is crazy. He started 5 games is all?! QB's so valuable now a days. I give the kid credit in terms of thinking big picture originally at Alabama... I guess the thought of actually getting on the field was too much to pass up.

If he wants to be a pro QB passing on Alabama makes a ton of sense. He had little to no chance of seeing the field. Coaching makes more sense but as Selena Gomez once said... The heart wants what it wants :violin: