BY TOM GROESCHEN
The Cincinnati Enquirer
There is no quarterback controversy at the University of Cincinnati. Chad Plummer will start the season opener vs. Tulane on Sept. 5, Deontey Kenner will relieve, and everyone seems happy.
In fact, Plummer and Kenner are such good buddies that they might just join hands and sing, "Peace Train." No war, this.
"I really don't see it as a competition, because we're both going to contribute," Kenner said Tuesday.
Plummer: "To tell the truth, it doesn't bother me who starts. I know I'm going to be playing either way."
Coach Rick Minter has called Plummer-Kenner his "two-headed quarterback" since the duo was a smash hit in the 35-19 Humanitarian Bowl rout of Utah State last December.
There had been some question as to who would start the '98 opener, but Minter laid that to rest Tuesday.
"I'd say right now Chad will start the game," he said. "He's our senior leader and fourth-year guy. Deontey will come in, but just when, we don't know."
To review:
< - Plummer, the senior, has started every game at quarterback for UC for two years. But he is a better runner than passer, rushing for seven TDs while throwing for only six in 1997. He will play wideout when Kenner comes in at quarterback.
- Kenner, a sophomore, split time with Plummer in the bowl game and threw for 124 yards and a TD. While a better passer than Plummer, he has yet to quarterback a full college game.
Wideout Jason Collins-Baker said the receivers don't have a preference.
"Deontey might have a stronger arm, but they're both pretty accurate," Collins-Baker said. "We don't notice much difference out there. Whoever plays is fine with us."
Plummer and Kenner could well alternate series, as they did in the bowl game. Much could depend on the flow of the game, and Minter likes the fact that opponents must prepare for two quarterbacks. But the main idea is to juice UC's passing game, with Plummer in 1997 ranking last in the league in passing efficiency.
"We need to strike more of a balance this year," Minter said.
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