Fred Bowen's "The Score" column,
August 28, 2008, Washington Post

In This Pick, There's More Than 1 Winner

The University of Maryland football team plays its first game Saturday against the University of Delaware. The Terps' starting quarterback will be a fifth-year senior, Jordan Steffy. I'll be rooting for the Terps and for Steffy. But I will also be rooting for Steffy's backup, junior Chris Turner. Here's why.

During spring and fall practices, the Terps had a fierce competition for the starting quarterback position among three players: Steffy, Turner and Josh Portis, a junior transfer from Florida. Last week, Maryland's head coach, Ralph Friedgen, announced Steffy would be the Terps' No. 1 quarterback. Friedgen said the Maryland coaches had graded Steffy higher in the team's practices and scrimmages.

Naturally, Turner was disappointed. He had started eight games at quarterback last season when Steffy was sidelined with a concussion. Turner completed more than 63 percent of his passes and led the Terps to upset wins over highly ranked Rutgers and Boston College. After Friedgen's announcement, The Washington Post reported that Turner was thinking about leaving Maryland and transferring to another school.

But Turner decided to stay at Maryland, saying he has lots of friends at the school. He also stayed because of academics. He's studying politics and government, and being so close to the nation's capital is a big plus.

I think Chris Turner's decision to stay is a good example to kids. When you play on a team, you can't always be a starter or play your favorite position. When things don't go your way, you shouldn't get mad, pick up your stuff and leave your teammates. You have to keep practicing, sit on the bench and wait for your chance. Turner might still get a chance to play this season or next.

Turner's decision to stay at Maryland also shows he is more than just a quarterback. He's a friend and a student with interests other than football. That's important, too. Let's say you play soccer all the time and dream of being a starter on your school team. If all you do is play soccer and you don't make the team, you're sunk. Even if you love sports, it's good to do other things, such as reading and music, at school and at home.

By the way, Steffy is no slouch when it comes to school. He has graduated from Maryland and is working on his master's degree. Looks like the Terps will be in good hands no matter who plays quarterback this season.

Fred Bowen writes KidsPost's sports opinion column and is an author of sports novels for kids.

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