The quarterback is the most important position on a football team. It is expected that the quarterback will step onto the field and do everything he can to make the offense successful. The intensity which he exhibits fuels the defense to meet its respo nsibilities on the opposite end of the field.
Yale looks to Chris Hetherington, JE '96, to fill this role. Hetherington has not shirked the responsibility and instead meets it with equal intensity. He entered Yale football as a wide receiver, and the transition to quarterback has not been withou t uncertainty.
There is no doubting the athleticism of the 6'3" 223 lbs. Hetherington, but could he pick up the tools necessary to lead a team as quarterback? Coach Cozza believed so. He said, "He has a very strong arm, and he's a good runner; this gives an added dim ension to the option." This week's performance against Brown re-affirmed Hetherington's ability to lead the team and removed any doubt that he is the center of the offense.
The Eli offense produced an astounding 532 yards against Brown, of which Hetherington ran for 166 and passed for 223, finishing with the second-highest number of individual yards, 389, in Yale history. To finish off the week, Hetherington added Ivy Lea gue/ECAC Player of the Week honors. The win was not perfect, but Hetherington performed brilliantly, converting on key drives and leading the team to its 42-38 victory. He was able to complete critical passing plays, but not to be outdone the team showed its mettle, coming from behind to win.
Yale has been predicted to finish last, but they aim to surprise. "We have a great team, better than most think," Hetherington said. We are "out to prove we are a good team." Yale may be the underdog, but in Hetherington's hands, don't count the Bul ldogs out.
-- Rob Rodriguez
Copyright 1995, The Yale Herald, Inc. All rights reserved.
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