More on captains and the great QB debate

From MSU: Kirk Cousins is only the second sophomore in Michigan State’s 112-year football history to be named captain. Robert McCurry is the only other sophomore to be named captain, in 1946. McCurry is Michigan State’s only three-time captain (1946-47-48).

There's some perspective. Also, here's a quote from Mark Dantonio on the four captains:

    “It’s a great honor for Blair White, Ross Weaver, Greg Jones and Kirk Cousins to be elected team captains by their peers. Those four guys obviously stood out to their teammates in the leadership roles that they have assumed over the last eight months -- through winter conditioning, spring practice, the Bottom Line (summer conditioning) program and throughout preseason camp. Now, their jobs as team leaders truly begin.
    “It’s also important to note that all of the upperclassmen have leadership responsibilities on this team, but especially the senior class. The seniors must not only take ownership of this team, but they must be willing to embrace the leadership opportunities presented this season and exert themselves in those areas.”

    Now back to the question on everyone's mind. I happened to talk to both quarterbacks' fathers Thursday before the announcement, for near-future use on a story about this competition. The first thing worth noting on that is, neither of them have any idea how this will turn out.
    “I really don’t," Gary Nichol said. "I have my feelings and my thoughts and my confidences, but I don’t have any reasons to back it up. I have not talked with the coaches about it.”
    That confidence, he said, is based on Keith's rising confidence. And that has been obvious to all who have encountered Keith in the past few weeks.
    “The best indication is not stats, it’s not what the coaches say or even what the players say, it’s the look on your son’s or daughter’s face,” he said.  
    Gary also said of his son: “Keith’s mindset is not about losing a scrimmage, or a practice, or a game or a position. It’s not about losing an opportunity to go to the Rose Bowl. It’s about winning a Rose Bowl.”
    The Cousinses will take their minds off things, for a few hours anyway, with some father-son golf on Friday.
    “The anxiety is really minimal because we really believe that God has his hands upon Kirk’s life," Don Cousins said of his son. "If he doesn’t get the starting job, Kirk will say, ‘God must have something better in mind and I’m going to trust him.’ And that’s why Kirk has less anxiety.”  
    He also foreshadowed today's announcement.
    “Kirk is an outstanding leader, and the reason why, fundamentally, is that he has a true and genuine and authentic concern for other people."
    And Don admitted to occasionally engaging in what I consider a no-no for fathers of quarterbacks: Reading message boards. He ran across a post in which someone claimed that a "reliable source" said Kirk is simply happy to be at MSU and would happily accept the backup role.
    “Ever since he signed with MSU, Kirk has wanted to be the starter and has worked hard to get there. I don’t know who that guy’s source is, but he doesn’t know Kirk Cousins.”
    This is as close as it can get. Time to bust out the Magic 8-Ball.