Michigan State vs. Oregon: The Game Vernon Adams Has Waited for His Whole Life

Seated high above in the Ken Gunn Stadium press box at Walnut High School, the man who helped facilitate the most significant college football acquisition of the winter sat entranced, his eyes riveted to the 9.7-inch screen broadcasting inches from his face.

As Vernon Adams Jr. grabbed the baton from last year’s Heisman winner, Marcus Mariota, and seamlessly orchestrated the Oregon Ducks offense to play a familiar refrain—looking more like a man who had been there for three years rather than three weeks—Dean Herrington, his former coach at Bishop Alemany High School in Mission Hills, California, celebrated his many moments through his iPad more than 800 miles away.

Herrington couldn’t help but wear his emotions out in the open as Adams dazzled against the Eastern Washington Eagles, the quarterback's former team—not after everything the signal-caller went through to arrive at this point. Not after the whole thing nearly came undone by one simple math class.

Helping out his former assistant Ted Iacenda, now the head coach of the College of the Canyons Cougars, Herrington streamed Adams’ first Oregon performance while attending a community college football game played in a high school stadium.

“It was like he has been there forever,” Herrington said of Adams’ debut. “Making people miss, stepping up in the pocket, taking off and running if nothing is open—it’s just like he’s been doing the last few years.”

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It was a fitting next chapter in an unorthodox journey—one that is about to receive the attention it so rightfully deserves. With a light national schedule on tap in Week 2, all eager eyes will be on East Lansing, Michigan, as Oregon takes on the Michigan State Spartans—what promises to be a chaotic marathon that will breed enormous implications for the second consecutive year.

College Football Playoff, reputation, narrative, Heisman—throw it all in a giant blender, mix up the ingredients and let the flavors marinate awhile longer.

In the brightest early-season spotlight conceivable, Adams will play in the game of his life against the toughest opponent he has ever lined up against. After accounting for 121 total touchdowns and 11,670 combined passing and rushing yards at Eastern Washington, the undersized (5"11", 201 lbs) quarterback will be asked to validate a wildly successful, entertaining collegiate career in 60 minutes.

It’s a scenario so heavy that it should not be carried by one man. But in many ways, this is precisely what Adams has craved—the pressure that comes with being the guy at a major program.

“I want to earn the starting spot, earn everyone’s trust, win games, win a Pac-12 Championship, hopefully a Heisman [Trophy] and a national championship,” Adams told me back in February. “My goals are set high.”

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At the time we spoke, Adams was working out by himself, knee deep in classes and struggling with the reality of leaving the only collegiate program he had ever known—one of the few schools that actually saw something in him as an undersized high school quarterback—for a neon football factory.

This scenario was all made possible by the graduate transfer rule, something Herrington introduced to Adams shortly after the curtain went down on the first-ever College Football Playoff.

His former coach wasn’t interested in persuading Adams into leaving; Herrington simply wanted to ensure Adams had all the information necessary to make a change if he thought it could help him reach his lofty personal goals.

There was no shortage of programs eager to woo Adams once he announced his “free-agent” status. After garnering interest from Oregon, UCLA, Texas, Boise State and others, the quarterback who held offers from only Eastern Washington and the Portland State Vikings out of high school decided he was going to graduate and compete for the Ducks’ vacant quarterback opening in the fall.

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That was the plan, at least. However, Adams’ arrival was delayed after he failed to complete one class on time. June became July; July became August; fall camp opened without Adams in the fold.

Eastern Washington made it abundantly clear—and understandably so—that the quarterback would not be welcomed back if his transfer fell apart. With one last opportunity to make his move final—a moment that was covered more like a presidential election than a graduation—Adams passed his test August 13. He practiced the very next day.

Within weeks, he won the starting job over Jeff Lockie, fulfilling the first goal. This past Saturday, he debuted against his former team—looking infuriatingly comfortable given the circumstances.  

Adams completed 19 of his 25 passes for 246 yards and two touchdowns. He was also the team’s second-leading rusher, behind back Royce Freeman (180 yards), finishing the evening with 94 yards on 14 carries.

“He’s taken really well to the offense,” Oregon head coach Mark Helfrich said following his team’s 61-42 victory. “I think the biggest thing for a new player at any position—and in particular quarterback—is just knowing when you’re right and something doesn’t work and when you’re wrong and something does work. He’s had a really good feel for that and immediately wants to fix things that weren’t perfect.”

The debut wasn’t flawless. Beyond a few wayward throws, Adams was also cemented into the turf by his former teammate while sliding to avoid major contact. It was tough to see live. It looked even worse in slow motion.

Adams, however, appeared postgame with a smile stretching from Eugene to East Lansing. He texted his former high school coach that he shouldn’t fret any further—that he was absolutely fine. More significantly, he declared himself fit for Michigan State.

“Having that Eastern Washington game done with is going to help him out,” Herrington said. “He’s got some great friends over there, and I’m sure in the back of his mind he still feels a bit bad that he left even though it was the best thing he could [do] for his family. I think this will actually free his mind up a bit.”

For those about to ride the Vernon Adams Experience for the very first time, don’t expect to see Cardale Jones in bright colors. This is not the NFL prototype. Having played his entire collegiate career at Eastern Washington listed at 6’0”, Adams is now accurately listed at 5’11” on his official Oregon bio.

Despite lacking the size the position typically depends on, Adams’ physical makeup hasn’t hindered his productivity one bit. If anything, it’s allowed him to push defenses in terrifying and unusual ways.

Part of the allure of transferring to Oregon was fitting into an offense that suited his style and body type. Playing with the Ducks also allows him the opportunity to attract an entirely new audience.

“Being a shorter quarterback, I can do what I did here over there,” Adams said. “Winning games and being successful at Oregon can also help me accomplish my dream of either being a college coach or playing in the NFL.”

Ryan Kang/Associated Press

Those dreams will not be realized or dashed one way or another Saturday. After all, it’s only one game—a small portion of a robust sample size—albeit one that will be seen by new eyeballs catching a glimpse of Oregon’s new pocket-sized Bentley.

It is the opportunity of a lifetime—the one that wasn’t a realistic possibility a year ago. The one that seemed in flux six weeks ago. The stage, the one he has longed for, is his for the taking.

“He’s excited. It’s a national television game against a top opponent on the road,” Herrington said. “They had a good game last year, and I’m sure Michigan State can’t wait to get back at them. At Eastern it seemed like the bigger the game the better he played. So I’m sure he’s going to be excited to get out there.”

College of the Canyons will make its home debut against the Citrus Owls this week. The game will begin shortly after Oregon and Michigan State kick off, and Herrington will be in attendance, watching the action from high above, ready to help his former assistant run his offense.

Just like last Saturday, Adams’ former coach plans to have his iPad handy. It’s not the ideal viewing experience for a game of this magnitude, although perhaps, given everything it’s taken to get there, that’s how it was meant to be.

Unless noted otherwise, all quotes obtained firsthand.