MSU head coach John L. Smith has wanted to make a decision about who would be the starting quarterback for a while now.
The problem is, he can't.
"If the knucklehead hadn't gotten hurt, this decision probably would have been made in spring," Smith said, in reference to sophomore quarterback Drew Stanton's injury in last year's Alamo Bowl.
Stanton's injury has opened the door for senior Damon Dowdell or redshirt freshman Stephen Reaves to possibly be the starter in the Spartans' season opener at Rutgers on Saturday.
The three quarterbacks have been battling all August for the starting job. Smith has yet to see any significant separation between them and said a starter probably would not be named until game day.
"They're still fighting and still competing," Smith said. "I want you guys to come to the game to find out who we're starting."
The situation is somewhat similar to last year's situation when
Smith named then-senior Jeff Smoker as the starting quarterback about two weeks before the opening game. It's a three-man race and, once again, there's no favorite.
"The competition is real good," Smith said. "We're going to keep them competing for another week and all year long."
Smith said he has liked what he has seen out of Reaves. As the days go on, Smith is becoming more confident in the 6-foot-1, 206-pound left-hander. He already has dubbed him the most talented of the three, thus the reason he is still in the race to be the No. 1 quarterback.
"(Reaves) had a good week," Smith said. "He's getting a more firm grasp on the deal, and we are getting more confident in him."
Dowdell has the most experience of the three, starting six career games, the last coming in 2002 against Penn State. He only played in two games last season, against Rutgers and Louisiana Tech.
Likely the decision will come down to a knee - specifically, Stanton's.
"I'm really thinking he's going to be OK. I'm hoping - we're keeping our fingers crossed," Smith said. "He is getting stronger, and his leg is getting stronger."
Even if he doesn't win the job right away, Stanton seems to have confidence in whoever may become the starter for game one. The competition has elevated the level all three are playing at, he said.
"All of us have stepped up our game a little bit, and whoever comes out of the pack will be ready to go and lead this team to victory," Stanton said.
MSU offensive coordinator Dave Baldwin said there is a process to picking a starter. Baldwin, Smith and quarterbacks coach Doug Nussmeier have been meeting since the first practice to discuss who the No. 1 quarterback will be.
"Doug Nussmeier will tell me, and then I will concur with him - yes or no. Then we'll tell Coach Smith, and if he says the other guy, then we'll play the other guy," Baldwin said. "Every throw has been evaluated, and we've had meetings on a daily basis of who we think it should be."
Whoever is chosen to start the Rutgers game won't necessarily be the starter for the rest of the year.
Although Smith would like to see a clear-cut favorite, he hasn't seen it yet. Baldwin said they need to pick the player who will best perform this week.
"We want to choose the best guy to win the first game of the season," Baldwin said. "It's a huge decision, but it's one they'll make with their play."
