GREENVILLE -- East Carolina coach Ruffin McNeill fielded at least five predictable questions on Monday about who he planned to name as the football team's starting quarterback before Sunday's season-opener against Tulsa.
By the fifth question, he decided to have some fun at his news conference.
"What I'm going to do is ask [assistant athletic director for media relations] Tom [McClellan] to have another press conference and whoever raises their hand first is going to be the quarterback in this room," McNeill said.
Pressed for an answer, the first-year coach said the competition between junior transfer Dominique Davis and sophomore Brad Wornick continues after a month of training camp to determine who will succeed veteran Patrick Pinkney.
McNeill, in his first head coaching job after 25 years in the college ranks, most recently as Texas Tech's associate head coach, has installed a new spread offense and now must appoint a quarterback to direct his no-huddle system.
He said the two quarterbacks are "battling," and no front-runner has emerged.
"I'm sure by this week, it'll work its way out," he said. "I'm pleased with it; I like where we are with it. We'll make a decision pretty soon. I'll let you know if something comes this week."
Wornick, at 6 feet 2 and 205 pounds, impressed the new coaching staff during the spring and worked into the conversation from the scout team with his consistency.
Davis, a former starter at Boston College, enrolled in the summer and has impressed the staff with his grasp of the offense. He is 6-3 and 215 pounds.
McNeill seemed in no rush to reveal a starter, preferring to talk about the offensive linemen who must protect the passer.
He said the Pirates won back-to-back Conference USA championships based on the performance of the linemen on both sides of the ball.
In jest, he required reporters to name an offensive lineman before they asked a question about the quarterbacks.
Asked if there was any chance he'd start both quarterbacks, McNeill deadpanned, "Yeah, at the same time."
Expanding his answer, McNeill said he is not partial to a two-quarterback system.
The veteran coach would prefer a starter to claim the position and grow into the job as the season unfolds.
"You hope you get one guy and let him lead," he said. "It's not a bad deal to have two guys ready to go."
He said the quarterbacks' seven-on-seven tape looked equally impressive.
"They are getting enough reps to make us feel good about either one of them right now," he said.
Losing 18 starters from a year ago, the Pirates are looking at a season of uncertainty with reserves forced to find their way in new offensive and defensive schemes. They will be expected to play fast on both sides of the ball.
McNeill said after years of coaching he's not nervous, even with so many new factors swirling around the program, mostly because he feels the team is prepared. He said the goal during camp was to ensure his team possessed leadership and that there was competition at each position.
"I think they have adjusted well," McNeill said. "Kids are like clay ... they adjust and mold and adapt. But only if you're honest with them. Only if you're up front with them and only if give them expectations before you ask them to do something."
