Months ago I expected it would be Perry and I hoped it would be Perry. More entertaining and interesting. Considerably more dispersion but that's a good thing.
I'm not afraid of losing, or nearly losing, to teams we should defeat. It takes two to be embarrassed and the Canes should never be one of them. Gators run away. We don't. However, I suspect Richt is more than somewhat gunshy given his recent ouster at Georgia and the impatience/outrage of Canes fans. Hence the more cautious strategic choice.
I literally paid no attention to Rosier in that Clemson game, despite being in the stands. I didn't view him as a Canes caliber quarterback so the details didn't matter. Two Clemson fans had relocated in the emptied stadium and sat behind me to my left. I turned and spoke to them about the status of our program, while Rosier was doing whatever he did.
Four years out of high school before being named the starter is not the blueprint or resume of an elite college quarterback. We can adjust and pretend all we want but as always I default to big picture logic, the more often than not role. At Alabama that type of quarterback can jump in and run the table, or nearby. We aren't close to Alabama level, despite all the adjusters who prefer to insist otherwise.
I suspect if Perry were a traditional pro style quarterback like Kaaya he might have been given the starting benefit of a doubt despite the growing pains. But with an athletic scattergun type the results can be all over the place. Richt steadily realized he didn't want to take that chance, that Perry was too far away.
Regardless, I applaud Perry for not enrolling early. I lose some respect for anyone who enrolls early. The high school experience should be played out and cherished to the finish, before doing the same at the next level.
