Murray State University Athletics
Fisher is front-runner at QB, the first new starter since 2000
7/23/2004 12:00:00 AM | Football
It may take some getting used to, but the Racers will have a new starting quarterback under center for the first time since the 2000 season. Stewart Childress, who had a lock on the position since 2000, has exhausted his eligibility after becoming the second-leading passer in school history.
Backup Stephen Hatchell, who stepped in for an injured Childress for the final eight games of 2003, transferred to Campbellsville College after the spring semester.
So when Adam Fisher, the likely No. 1 signal-caller steps onto the field to open the 2004 season, a new era of Racer football will begin.
Racer head coach Joe Pannunzio, who signed Fisher from Coffeyville (Kan.) Community College last January to challenge Hatchell this spring, expects there to be a new atmosphere in the offensive huddle, as well as a new quarterback.
“Since he's been here, I've been real impressed with his ability to lead the offense,” said Pannunzio, who enters his fifth season. “He took control of our offense in the spring. He reminds me a lot of (former Chicago Bears quarterback) Jim McMahon because of the way he carries himself. He likes to mix it up with the defense, and I think our offense responded to that.”
Fisher, who wears a bandana on his head everywhere he goes and is always encouraging his teammates to work hard and get the job done, says his leadership style comes from playing a lot of his career on the defensive side of the ball.
“In high school, I played safety and quarterback, and was actually recruited to Coffeyville as a safety,” he explained outside the Stewart Stadium weight room. “When I moved to quarterback, I did what came naturally, and that was to be vocal and aggressive.
“This spring, it took about seven to 10 practices before I got comfortable with the team, but once I started working with the number-one offense, the guys responded to me and we started to develop some chemistry.”
Confidence in his abilities is a big reason he chose Murray State over a host of other Division I schools. When making his decision, Fisher wanted to go to a school where he could be the starter.
“I wanted to go to a school where I had to earn it,” he said. “I didn't want anything given to me, because you earn the team's respect when you go out and earn it.”
In addition to his leadership qualities, Pannunzio likes the way Fisher plays the position. At 6-foot-2, 200 pounds, Fisher doesn't have a cannon for an arm, but it's more than adequate. The Racer coach likes Fisher's decision-making abilities above all else.
“He's a guy who doesn't make a lot of mistakes, and that was what we needed,” the coach explained. “I think we gave some games away last season by not taking care of the football. He's got a good arm, but not great. Sometimes people overestimate arm strength. There have been guys who have rocket arms but can't find the open receiver or make poor decisions.”
At Coffeyville last season, Fisher threw 13 touchdown passes and, as a freshman, tossed 19 touchdown strikes. For his junior college career, Fisher threw for more than 3,000 yards, but insists that when he takes the field for the Racers in 2004, he won't be worrying about numbers.
“My goal is to win the OVC and do well in the playoffs," said Fisher, a native of Garden Plain, Kan. "As far as personal goals are concerned, I don't care about anything but the team goals. I learned after my freshman year to be a team player. My job is to get the ball to the guys who can make plays, and we have a lot of them in our offense.”
