CMU QB Job Wide Open

April 1, 2004

Jeff Perry's decision to pass on his fifth season of football at Central Michigan University has tossed the quarterbacking job for the Chippewas wide open.

It appeared to be a two-man battle for the starting job until a third player tossed his hat into contention this week.

Senior Grant Arnoldink (Holland/West Ottawa) and junior Kent Smith (Toledo, Ohio/Start) have been neck-in-neck much of the spring before redshirt freshman Nick Gildersleeve (Monroe/Dundee) made a bid.

"Nick pretty much said in practice on Tuesday not to forget about him," said new CMU head coach Brian Kelly. "He made some big plays, so it's back to a three-horse race."

Perry, the starter in the first four games in 2003 before sustaining a season-ending knee injury, might have had the inside track on the job based on experience.

But, Kelly felt he made the best decision.

"I appreciate that Jeff knew other things were more important than playing football," Kelly said. "He had a long way to go in his rehab of the knee. It was probably the best decision for everybody."

Perry is a sociology major from Apple Valley, Calif. He completed 61-of-105 passes for 646 yards and five TDs before being injured in game four of 2003.

Arnoldink saw action in three games last season, completing nine-of-21 passes for 103 yards and a TD. While Smith did not see action last season, he did complete 10-of-32 passes for 96 yards and a TD in 2002. He also rushed 15 times for 106 yards.

Southpaw Kent Smith is among CMU's possibilities at QB this season.

"As I said before, this will be an ongoing process that goes throughout the spring and summer into fall drills before we settle on a starter," Kelly said. "There's so much to learn that it will take time."

The Chippewas started spring drills on March 19 and will conclude on April 17 with an intrasquad game. One thing that has impressed Kelly in the early going has been the team's willingness to work.

"The previous staff clearly instilled a good work ethic," Kelly said. "These guys come to practice every day and work hard. I like the way they are competing but I think the big thing is that we have to practice smarter.

"There's not a championship mentality yet. That comes with success. If we can have some early success next season, I think this team has the potential of competing at a high level in the Mid-American Conference."

CMU opens the 2004 campaign with a pair of road games against Big Ten foes -- Indiana on September 4 and Michigan State on September 11. The Chippewas then return home for an encounter with Southeast Missouri on September 18.

Mounting injuries at a couple of positions have slowed development this spring.

"We're thin right now on the defensive line and at wide receiver," Kelly said. "For the most part, it's not major but we need guys to step up and get back to practice."

CMU practices on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday in the mornings.

CMU NOTES

*CMU's MAC football game at Eastern Michigan on November 6 has been moved to Ford Field in downtown Detroit -- site of the last two Motor City Bowls.

*Junior defensive lineman Caleb Anthony (Ludington) has ended his career because of lingering injuries.

*Sophomore offensive tackle Joe Staley (Rockford) has been sidelined after sustaining a hand injury.