Make a Choice, Lloyd: Michigan's QB Controversy-To-Be

Tuesday, U.S. Women's National Soccer Team head coach Greg Ryan decided to bench starting goalkeeper Hope Solo in the 2007 Women's World Cup.

Why is that relevant to the Michigan QB controversy-to-be?

It's hard to miss the parallels.

You should already know Chad Henne—he's second all-time at Michigan in completions and passing yards, and is currently tied with John Navarre for the UM passing TD record at 72.

Henne began the 2007 season on many people's Heisman watch lists, as well as the national watch lists for the Walter Camp Player of the Year, the Maxwell Award, the Davey O'Brien Award, and the Manning Award.

Get the idea?

Henne is good—real good.  Needless to say, Henne is the veteran QB on the Michigan roster, and one of the team leaders as well.

The same can be said for Brianna Scurry.

Like Henne, Scurry has a long track record of success.  She was the starting goalkeeper for the U.S. Women's National Team during the '95, '99, and '03 Women's World Cups, helping the Americans win it all in '99.

Needless to say, she's the equal of Chad Henne in American women's soccer.

But enter the young guns—Ryan Mallett for Michigan and Hope Solo for the U.S. WNT.

Mallett is the true freshman who stepped in after a knee injury sidelined Henne against Oregon.  After a lackluster start, Michigan has gone 2-0 with Mallett as the starter.

Solo is the goalkeeper version of Mallett—she stepped in for Scurry and quickly quieted critics with a series of solid performances.  The 26-year-old has gone 51 straight games without a loss, and is currently working on a streak of 298 minutes without allowing a goal.

Now, though, Coach Greg Ryan wants to go back to Scurry for just one game.  The plan is to use Scurry against Brazil in the semis, then reinsert Solo for the championship match against Germany—if the U.S. can get there.

The move has left many fans and supporters puzzled.  Why now?  Why with just two games left?

Looking at Michigan's quarterback situation, I can see a similar scenario playing out in the near future.

After all, Henne has been cleared to play against Northwestern, but coach Lloyd Carr has yet to name a starting QB.  Michigan's press release lists Mallett as the starter for Saturday's game.

Controversy?  You tell me.

Regardless, these are the facts:  Michigan is 2-0 with Mallett, who's clearly the future in Ann Arbor.  With Mallet's redshirt already off, will Carr use the rest of the season to prepare him for the next three years?

If Carr does start Mallett—as the pregame notes suggest—what happens when Michigan needs a steady veteran down the road?  Will Carr simply call on Henne, as Coach Ryan has done with Scurry, and hope that the confidence is still there?

My advice: Play one or the other.

No team needs controversy, especially at quarterback or goalkeeper.  These positions require more mental toughness than any other on the field.  

Being benched is damaging to a player's confidence, regardless of the reason(s). You can't simply sub one QB/GK in for another, as you would a waitress at a restaurant.

This isn't Applebees—"this is Division I football!," as Colorado head coach Dan Hawkins once gently put it.

Look, I understand that both teams are in tough spots. Henne got injured...and you have to play someone. Might as well be Mallett, right? And although Solo has played well recently, Scurry is 12-0 against Brazil with eight shutouts.  So she has the Brazilians' number, doesn't she?

It makes sense.  Both of the moves make sense.

But as the saying goes, "If you have two starting quarterbacks; you have no quarterback."

The same goes for goalkeepers in soccer.

The United States Women's National Team takes on Brazil in the semifinals of the Women's World Cup on Thursday.  The game will be televised live from China, at 7:55 EST on ESPN2.

The Michigan-Northwestern game will take place Saturday at 12 EST and will be broadcast on the Big Ten Network.