THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Saturday, September 2, 1995 TAG: 9509020537
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C5 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY ED MILLER, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Medium: 74 lines
Matt Byrne has been around long enough to know that when you play quarterback, ``it's either feast or famine. Either you play or you don't play.''
Byrne must be famished.
The fifth-year senior arrived at William and Mary in 1991, two record-setting quarterbacks ago. After a redshirt season and three years as a backup, he's finally getting the chance to start a season as the Tribe's No. 1 guy, tonight in Charlottesville against Virginia.
``It does seem like forever,'' Byrne said. ``I can't wait to finally do something here, to be honest.''
Byrne did not have a chance to do much as a backup to Shawn Knight the past few years. In 1993, he attempted just one pass. Last year, though, he played most of three games, starting two when Knight was injured.
Byrne blew hot and cold in those games. He completed 53 percent of his passes and tossed two touchdown passes. But he also had five intercepted.
``Some was good, some wasn't good,'' Tribe coach Jimmye Laycock said. ``Some was his fault, some wasn't.''
Laycock said Byrne was hurt by an inexperienced offensive line. While Knight, a consummate scrambler, could often make up for the line's mistakes, Byrne couldn't.
Laycock is expecting better from Byrne this year. Still, neither he nor anyone else is putting Byrne in the same class as Knight or Chris Hakel, the quarterback who preceded Knight. Byrne's not the latest in a long line, he's merely the latest.
That point was hammered home in preseason by Tribe players, who pointed out time and time again that the 5-foot-11, 175-pound Byrne won't be expected to dazzle, just to lead an experienced team that should have plenty of offensive weapons.
``With our experience, Matt doesn't have to make the plays Shawn did,'' tailback Derek Fitzgerald said.
``I don't think Matt's the type of quarterback that can carry the whole load and do it all,'' Laycock said.
What Byrne does bring is a good arm, decent speed, and a solid knowledge of the Tribe's intricate offense. He's run it in practice for four years, and spent the past two springs as the team's No. 1 quarterback, while Knight was playing baseball.
``He's fine in all areas,'' Laycock said. ``It'll boil down to his ability to make decisions. What to do in tough situations. When to pull it down, when to throw it away, when to go to the other receiver, when to scramble, when not. Those types of things. Just dropping back and throwing and those kinds of things, he's fine.''
Byrne thinks that having an experienced team in front of him can only help. So will the confidence that comes with being a starter, not a backup.
``It's a whole different perspective, a whole different mental state you put yourself in,'' he said.
Byrne's confidence this week was helped by the fact that he's faced Virginia before. When Knight was hurt last year, Byrne took over and completed 12 of 20 passes for 135 yards.
``It's a whole different atmosphere, with the crowd and the speed of the game,'' he said. ``Under the circumstances, things worked out decently. We had a couple of successful little series.''
Byrne said the Tribe won't be looking to score 35 points tonight, rather to test its offense against the best defense it will see all year. The experience should help Byrne, and the Tribe, prepare for its Division I-AA schedule.
``This is the same basic stuff I've been doing for four years,'' Byrne said. ``If I go out and play, I'm perfectly capable of executing any of our plays, so that we can score on anybody.'' ILLUSTRATION: Photo
William and Mary's Matt Byrne spent four seasons as backup prior to
becoming the No. 1 quarterback.
by CNB