Washington Huskies Football: The Keith Price Show

Let’s play a game. Does anybody know who the two QB’s below are?

[table id=13 /]

If you said QB A was Jake Locker from 2010 and QB B was Keith Price from 2012, you would be correct. We hammered, and I mean HAMMERED Keith Price last year. He did this, he didn’t do that, he’s terrible, he’s inconsistent, put in Derrick Brown. But if you look at his numbers, they aren’t nearly as bad as we may have believed. In fact, they could be considered better than Locker’s from his senior year (obviously not factoring his rushing ability).

Additionally, let’s take a look at Price from a historical perspective:

Career Passing Yards: 5,953 (fourth all time)

Career Completion Percentage: 63% (first all time)

Career Touchdowns: 54 (second all time)

Career Passing Efficiency: 138.9 (first all time)

This is all before he plays a down in his senior season, and with a “down” year in 2012. He is going to break multiple records this year and do things that guys like Locker, Tuiasosopo and Huard never did. Look, the guy is a lightning rod for debate because he is the starting quarterback. His play last year was frustrating. There is no question about that. I have been openly critical of his play and decision making on several occasions.

Oct. 20, 2012; Tempe, AZ, USA; Washington Huskies quarterback (17) Keith Price against the Arizona Wildcats at Arizona Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

At this point, five weeks from opening day, I’m saying it’s enough. Enough questioning Price’s play from last year and enough saying that he shouldn’t be the starter. This is a guy who stayed true to his commitment after Ty Willingham was fired, and has spent the last five years of his life helping to rebuild the UW program.

This is a guy who had to follow the legendary footsteps of Jake Locker. This is a guy who set single season records and who failed to live up to unreasonable expectations. This is a guy who has done it all with a smile. There’s a reason they call him “Teeth.” He has been a class act since day one, and right now he is our best chance to win.

Keith Price is our best chance to go where we haven’t been as a program in over a decade. Want to get to 10 wins? Want to get that overdue win against Oregon? Want to be a Top 25 program all year long? We need No. 17 under center, and he needs our support.

Imagine this in a real life work scenario. You have been at your job for four years. Your sales numbers are off the chart, tops in the company, even with a down year last year because of a lot of circumstances beyond your control. How would you feel if the stock holders and board members were clamoring for your head? Would you be able to come to work each day with a smile on your face? Or would you hide in your bedroom? I would probably hide in my bedroom. Keith Price has done the opposite. He’s answered every question and shown up for work every single day with a giant smile on his face.

It’s football season. I’m all in with Keith Price. This is your team, sir. Everybody should get on board.

Go Dawgs, and bow down.