Thursday, October 30, 1997

ACU center learning to make snap judgments

By Ted Dunnam / Abilene Reporter-News

Since moving from defensive end to center, Richard Bogdon has learned that snap judgment comes in to play much more often on the offensive side of the ball.

That judgment, too, has been taxed this year.

When Abilene Christian University plays Texas A&M-Commerce Saturday in Commerce, Bogdon will be snapping to his third different starting quarterback this season.

Mitch Alvarado began the year as ACU's No. 1 quarterback, but a torn anterior cruciate ligament ended his season. Then redshirt freshman Aaron Darden took over and was impressive in two games, but Monday head coach Jack Kiser dismissed Darden from the team for recurring violations of team rules.

Now, ACU's starting quarterback is Josh Rabe, a true freshman from South Garland High School. Stephenville's Kyle Dempsey now serves as Rabe's backup.

Throw in three different tailbacks and two fullbacks the Wildcats have used considerably this year and Bogdon is seeing a lot of different faces in the ACU huddle.

"It's been tough for us to establish consistency on offense, but at least I've known what to expect in practices before that week's game," Bogdon said. "It hasn't been a total surprise. You just learn how to adjust. I guess it could be worse."

Bogdon said that in the spring, he actually was listed as the team's fullback, but that "I was there for two weeks and never took a snap. Then they decided they needed me at center, and I said ÔHey, whatever's good for the team.' "

Since that conversion, the 6-2, 245-pound Bogdon has been the team's center.

One advantage he'll have this week is going up against a defense he's already faced.

"They like to use a lot of blitzes so we'll all have to be alert as far as picking up the right guy," Bogdon said. "For me, it's sort of like playing defensive end and defending the option. You just have to make sure you get the right person."

Bogdon's responsibilities are definitely more complicated on offense. There may be one defender over the center. Or two. Or a middle linebacker. Maybe a safety.

Then he has to worry about snapping the ball and blocking the right person.

"A lot of times, it's not that tough, especially if we go on quick counts," Bogdon said. "The difficult thing has been that we've had the three quarterbacks back. Sometimes you don't even know if the quarterback's under center. Other guys, you don't ever know they're there when you snap the ball."

Rabe stepped in last Saturday's 23-17 win over Tarleton State and completed 20 of 30 passes for 279 yards and two touchdowns, proving that ACU can win with a third-team quarterback.

For his statistics alone, Rabe didn't go unnoticed. But if you've ever seen him on the field, he has the build of someone who could be occupying Bogdon's position.

"People are always commenting to me about his size," Bogdon said. "I don't know how much he weighs, but he's got to be over 200 pounds. But he's done a real good job and it's been a smooth transition for us."

Bogdon hopes the offense can get the job done against A&M-Commerce this weekend, somthing it didn't do in the teams' first meeting, a game which ACU won 26-10.

"We're hoping we will be the ones to win this game this time," Bogdon said. "The defense took care of us in that game. We blew a lot of opportunities to score and put the game away. We realize they're a better team, and we'll have to play better."

A win this Saturday would give ACU a 7-2 record with two games remaining. Are the playoffs still a possibility?

"That's out of our hands so we can't really worry about that," Bogdon said. "We're just going to try to win these next three games and finish 9-2 and put the playoff stuff on the back burner."

With the revolving door at quarterback spinning every week, don't be surprised if Bogdon is taking snaps by the season's final game.

"I don't think you'll see me at quarterback," he said. "I don't think I have the arm for that."