Ypsilanti-Willow Run merger creates unique two-starter quarterback battle
The Ypsilanti Community HIgh School football team had its first ever football practice on Monday, August 12.
Melanie Maxwell | AnnArbor.com
Having two? Well, that’s usually not even possible, let alone preferable.
But that’s exactly what Ypsilanti Community High School coach Rufus Pipkins has on his hands. With the merger of Willow Run and Ypsilanti’s districts, Pipkins has not one, but two returning starting quarterbacks.
Marquis Smith started for Pipkins last year at Willow Run as a freshman and impressed with his legs and arm while Mike Caldwell started for Ypsilanti and is looking to do the same as a senior. Ypsilanti won only one game last year and Willow Run won just two, so neither has the spot in the bag and will push each other for the spot.
“We’ve got a healthy competition at quarterback, they’re really competing in a good way,” Pipkins said.
Caldwell is the senior and has faced superior competition in the Southeastern Conference, but he said there is no entitlement on his part. Caldwell said he and Smith are just competing hard and will see where the chips fall eventually.
He said the most important thing they try to keep in mind is that the end goal is the team winning.
“Me and Marquis, we push each other to the limit,” Caldwell said. “I mess up, Marquis messes up, but at the end of the day we both help each other out.”
If I’m in and I mess up, he’s going to correct me and I do the same for him,” Caldwell added. “We both want to win.”
Comments
Dan r OBryan
Wed, Aug 14, 2013 : 1:15 a.m.
its been a ypsi take over ,so you figure it ot
2kids1dog
Wed, Aug 14, 2013 : 3:42 a.m.
Dan- Let it go. It is water under the bridge. Let's move forward and make this new unified district something we can all be proud of! Our kids and the community deserve it!
AimeeMConat
Wed, Aug 14, 2013 : 12:52 a.m.
What they need to do is keep both as starters, but hire a third to make sure the two of them start.
dading dont delete me bro
Tue, Aug 13, 2013 : 7:53 p.m.
so 3 wins last season between both of them? sounds like a heck of a qb battle to me...
Pete Cunningham
Tue, Aug 13, 2013 : 4:35 p.m.
Just spoke to Rufus and he clarified that Mike's last name is Caldwell, though the roster had him listed as "Cadwell." The correction has been made.
YPboyWRheart
Tue, Aug 13, 2013 : 12:58 p.m.
Good luck. Will come and see you.
Mark Hergott
Tue, Aug 13, 2013 : 12:17 p.m.
I am a Willow Run Alumnus, and I have never been more proud of Willow Run AND Ypsilanti than today. I wish the best for Caldwell and Smith, as all of us should.
Pete Cunningham
Tue, Aug 13, 2013 : 3:12 p.m.
Mike's name was "Cadwell" on the roster I was shown, but we have rosters from last year that say "Cadwell" and Caldwell. I am checking with Rufus right now to see which is correct.