Florida A&M to start freshman Junior Muratovic at quarterback vs. Fort Valley State

The Thursday Thoughts!

Over the past few days, I have engaged in several discussions on Facebook about Florida A&M University Coach Willie Simmons's decision to bench junior quarterback Rasean McKay in favor of a true freshman, Junior Muratovic, this coming Saturday against Fort Valley State. The discussions have centered around concerns that a few posters have raised about the “optics” of Florida A&M, one of the most storied programs in the history of football, having a white starter playing the lead position at a prominent HBCU.

Rasean Mckay struggled behind less than stellar pass protection from the offensive line in his start against the Jackson State Tigers this past Saturday.

My edited response to one Facebook follower who asked whether I was aware of the role that race has played with respect to historical discrimination against Black quarterbacks is as follows:

“Greetings and my apologies for not circling back to your thread sooner. Yes Brother, I'm fully aware of the issues regarding race, the quarterback position, and I most certainly considered the optics as you ask. As a Morehouse Man and FAMU Rattler, I have a particular love for writing about topics regarding HBCUs and their rich history! Growing up literally on the FAMU campus, I remember quite well how white quarterbacks have been on the team, with a few even starting since I was in middle school in the mid-80’s. Off the top of my head, I can recall white QB's Todd Lanter, Ray Domingo, Jose Laureano, Ben Dougherty, Ryan Stanley, and now Junior Muratovic playing for the Rattlers and winning ball games.

I also personally knew/know or have met Black Rattler quarterbacks like the great Emory Collier and James Tullis, both of whom were like uncles to me having played with my old man on the '59 and '61 championship teams; the legendary Ken Riley, father of my classmate, Ken II, who due to racial customs, was switched from QB to cornerback when he was drafted by the Cincinnati Bengals; Albert Chester and Sammy Knight (leaders of the '78 championship team), as well as guys closer to my age like Tony Ezell, Keith Brown, and Quinn Gray--all Black Rattler quarterbacks who won their share of games on The Hill while wearing the Orange and Green.

Such is why I stated that at the end of the day, as the Rattlers football team will always be my first love, I trust Coach Willie Simmons to evaluate each player at each position and to play the one performing the best. I truly trust his judgment on a position thst he played and dominated at Shanks High School, Clemson, and would have dominated at FAMU as a graduate student if the University's attempted move to D-1 didn't prevent his transfer from being completed.

FAMU Coach Willie Simmons, pictured above, was a star quarterback at Clemson in the early 2000's

Last point: Florida State University Heisman Trophy winner Charlie Ward's father, Charlie Sr., also played with my dad on FAMU's '59 and '61 championship teams. When Charlie Jr. signed with FSU in the late 80s, many Black people, including my dad and many of his old teammates, were concerned that Florida State would never play a Black quarterback as they remembered first hand what it was like in Jim Crow era Tallahassee at FSU from their own school days. They also remembered how the best Black quarterbacks were often moved to receiver, halfback, and defensive back upon entry into major white schools, including then recent star high school quarterbacks Deion Sanders and Tracey Sanders who were converted to the defensive backfield at FSU.

Tampa Tribune article written by legendary Coach Jake Gaither in 1962 featuring Charlie Ward, Sr. among other FAMU returning stars from the ‘61 championship team.

Thus, when Charlie Ward became the FSU starter in '92 and won the Heisman in '93, his play, as did the play of Andre Ware, Doug Williams, Randall Cunningham, and Warren Moon in the late 80’s and 90’s, shattered the notion that Black quarterbacks lacked the intelligence and leadership ability to play.

Charlie Ward, Jr preparing to pass against Notre Dame in his Heisman winning senior season in 1993.

But consider this: what if Florida State Coach Bobby Bowden had used the logic I am reading from some critics of FAMU having a white starting quarterback and said, "surely there is a white quarterback that can play better than Charlie?" Ward may never have gotten his chance to shine and by shining, paving the way for Kordell Stewart, Michael Vick, Russell Wilson, Pat Mahomes and countless other Black QBs who have dominated in the 21st Century.

In fact, Coach Bowden, even when Charlie was struggling some early in '92, realized that he was the better player than his white freshman backup Danny Kanell, such is why the recently deceased coach played the QB that gave him the best chance to win out; Ward led his team to an 11-1 record in ‘92, and a 12-1 record and a National Championship in ‘93.

Coach Simmons is seeking to do the same right now, which is why I, and many other Rattlers, are not doing the "surely the Black QB is better" bit. Having played the game and having watched it since I could walk, the young Black QB, Rasean McKay, struggled for 3 1/2 quarters last week against Jackson State while the young white QB, Muratovic, did well in 1/2 a quarter.

Junior Muratovic drops back to pass against Jackson State. Photo credit Vaughn Wilson

So, we Rattlers will see how Muratovic does as a starter this Saturday against a good Fort Valley team and if he falters, I am sure that I and other true fans will call for the 3rd or 4th team Qb's, both Black, or for McKay to get another look. Why? Because as one of the most storied programs in college football history, a SWAC and Black College Championship is THE annual goal--period!”

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