Dear Nate Montana,
As I was driving home from work last night, your name came up on AM570's "Petros and Money Show." I thought it was a little odd to have a story about Notre Dame's third string QB leading the 6 o'clock hour of sports talk radio in Southern California, but they cover college football pretty well (added to the fact that they're a national show now), and I figured it'd just be another story about you getting busted for drinking again. I was surprised to hear, however, that the story was confirming that you had decided to transfer to the FCS' University of Montana so that you could get some playing time.
To me it seemed like a pretty weak decision, a choice pushed by your father, most likely, to try and get you to a school where he could push people around to get you the playing time that you haven't earned. The sports talk show hosts kind of agreed, and came down on you pretty hard for making the choice. Then, this morning, ESPN ran a story praising you for making such a smart decision. You were the odd man out, with Rees, Crist, and some new recruits, and you deserved a shot. Of course, you have to take into account that ESPN has a huge boner for the FCS, and they're most likely drumming up business for their showing of the FCS playoffs later in the year.
However, the difference in opinion among the media (and I assume, fans) combined with the silence of Notre Dame regarding this whole issue, made me desire to dig a little deeper. I wanted to look at the choices you've made as a player, and then judge your decision like an informed fan, rather than just based on the bad taste I have in my mouth.
You started at Cardinal-Newman High School in Santa Rosa, CA. After not getting enough playing time, or exposure, your family transferred you to De La Salle, one of the most respected high school football programs in the country (although, Servite fans are still a little sore towards them). De La Salle has had some greats play for them. Players like Maurice Jones-Drew, Armani Toomer, and Matt Gutierrez (I should have put "greats" instead of greats). Surely, your time there would turn you into a top prospect by the time college rolled around. Well, that wasn't meant to be. A lack of playing time (even Wikipedia lists you as a "reserve quarterback"...you should fix that), yet again, turned you into an unranked QB coming out of high school (but who cares what Max Preps thinks?) and you had a decision to make.
This is possibly where you made one of your best decisions. In 2008, you enrolled at Notre Dame, and came to the team as a walk-on. And you made the team! Sure, it had a little to do with your name, but the son of Joe Montana working hard to walk on and earn a spot with the Fighting Irish was the stuff of legends. This was a move that could turn your whole image around (you know, the image of a spoiled son of a former NFL hero, who lacks talent at his dad's former position, having his dad push people around to help him continue toward a career path he has no business being a part of). However, you just didn't know how to ride out a good thing.
After finding yourself way down on the depth chart, keeping in mind that you weren't a scholarship player, you left Notre Dame to go play for Pasadena City College. After redshirting your freshman year there, PCC's coach was convinced to let you play. After about three or four games, depending on who you believe, you got benched. Boy, this didn't sit well with you or your father, and as quickly as it started, your career at PCC ended. Then it was back to Notre Dame as a walk on. I'm surprised they let you try out again, but it was a good idea, because in the preseason Blue and Gold game, you played so well that you earned the temporary title of #2 QB and got offered one of our extra scholarships. All of the sudden, everything was working out. You may have gotten busted for underaged drinking in July of 2010, but hey, that Keystone Light is a hard thing to turn down when you're just two month shy of your 21st birthday. We don't judge you for that one around these parts (mostly because there are so many other reasons to judge you).
When Dayne Crist got hurt against Michigan last season, you got a shot! Your big chance on one of football's biggest stages. You, with one of football's biggest names. But, it wasn't meant to be. You were passed up in on field performance by true freshman Tommy Rees, and you fell down the depth chart once more. Coming into the next season with the Irish, you saw a bunch of talented recurits, heard Brian Kelly say that the team would only carry four QBs into spring, and decided to jump ship.
To help yourself play right away, you went to the University of Montana, where they say you are starting classes today. You're a walk on who needs to prove himself, once again, but everyone is kind of assuming that the coaching staff at Montana will be persuaded to select you as the starting QB. Maybe. Maybe it'll only last for four games, and you'll find yourself stuck one last time. At least you'll have that degree from Notre Dame, wait no, I mean, Montana to fall back on.
I think the South Bend Tribune summed up your little journey pretty well when they said, "If Nate Montana's talent ever catches up with his aspirations, it won't be in a Notre Dame uniform." I guess they could have put, "...his dad's aspirations..." and it may have worked even better.
I wish you all the best at the U of Montana in this upcoming season, Nate. But, if I was a betting man, I'd guess that this part of your QB journey is going to end just like the rest. Eventually, you're going to have to face the facts. Just because your dad was a famous QB doesn't mean you get to be the same.
Although, it must be hard to watch your younger brother Nick setting up to be über-succesful in Washington.
Yours in Touchdown Jesus,
This Long Suffering Fan
-- Sent from my Palm Prē
0 comments:
Post a Comment