Andrew Luck gets it.
This is what everyone you ask seems to say about the Stanford quarterback, and that was my first impression as well after I asked Luck some questions for the first time Friday.
The redshirt sophomore will likely be the No.1 pick in the 2011 NFL draft if he chooses to come out early. That’s what Carolina Panther fans are hoping for, of course, but Luck made no indication which way he was leaning on that huge decision that must be made by Jan.15th.
“It’s not a forbidden topic or anything, but I really am trying to avoid thinking about it until after this game,” Luck said, speaking of No.5 Stanford’s Monday night Orange Bowl showdown against No.13 Virginia Tech.
I was seeing Luck in person for the first time Friday, and he struck me as both humble and whip-smart. As far as his physical presence, he’s an absolute hulk compared to, say, Jimmy Clausen. At 6-foot-4 and 235 pounds, Luck has the size that NFL scouts crave. He also has an arm that one longtime observer of the Stanford football program calls “as good as John Elway’s when he was in college there.”
Luck didn’t shy away from “Will you stay or go?” questions at his news conference in Fort Lauderdale Friday and later in a smaller gathering with several reporters that included me. But he didn’t say much about the decision either.
“It’s a big life decision, and I better put some thought into it,” Luck said.
Luck does sound like he truly enjoys the college experience – he carries a 3.5 grade-point average in his architectural design major. He is also a big fan of the other Stanford athletic teams, staying up to watch Stanford’s women’s basketball team upset Connecticut and ended its 90-game win streak Thursday night.
He said of Stanford coach Jim Harbaugh’s similar stay-or-go decision on his own choice: “Obviously, it will be a factor.” But Luck wouldn’t rule out staying at Stanford even if Harbaugh leaves for a college or NFL job.
Mostly, though, Luck sounded focused on Virginia Tech. He seemed totally unaware that New Year’s Eve is tonight, for instance – or that the fervent wish of many Panther fans as the New Year approaches is that they will get Luck-y in 2011.
My extensive story on Luck, his background and his upcoming decision will appear in Sunday’s Observer and online.
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9 years ago
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If Harbaugh signs with the Panthers, my guess is that Luck will in fact leave college for the NFL. This will all need to be wrapped up rather quickly, so I hope Mr. Richardson has a plan. The scenario above could be one option. The second could be to hire a different coach and perhaps a different #1 pick. Cam Newton! Let's see how both potential #1's handle the spotlight of playing in a major bowl game. The results could be a telling tale from a maturity and ability standpoint.
The majority of you chumps just don't learn from your mistakes. The last month or so you have said it will be great if we get Luck. The chronic problem with that is atheletes, coaches, etc. around the country have never veiwed Charlotte the way you do. Now Luck may be waiting to see who emerges as coack for the Panthers, but for right now it sounds like he doesn't want to come here. You morons already disrespected great players like Kris Jenkins and Julius Peppers. While Kobe Bryant just didn't want to play here and then we land THE GREATEST BASKETBALL PLAYER OF ALL TIME as a owner but yet I sense that he doesn't have the support that I know you can give him. I can't help but feel like if Jordan was a white man even with no star power things would be a little different. The Bobcats are trying hard to give you what you want as fans but nothing is good enough! Why?
I said over and over that Michael Vick could be a great quarterback with the right pieces around him. But the majority of the fans in Charlotte didn't want him. Look at what he's doing now. The guy came out and said he would like to come here, but he wasn't good enough for you. No franchise can win without an elite quarterback these days and he's definitely in the top 3. If Andrew Luck doesn't want to come here we can't miss out on Cam Newton. This is another chance to get a special quarterback. Yes his record isn't squeaky clean, but so what? This guy has an NFL arm and will be able to escape the pocket when protection breaks down. And like Vick with all of the ridicule he's faced he is going to come to whatever team that chooses him with a chip on his shoulder.
GOOD GRIEF KENNETH!!! I said the EXACT same thing last week for another article. that is spooky as crap dude... spooky as crap!
They don't understand what we are
trying to tell them.
They (those nay-sayers) are picking athletes based on cosmetic reasons only.
Although i think Luck will be a good QB, after his first two INT game, watch what they cry about then.
I feel like a chump after reading Kenneth's and I'm Going to Do It's comments. Where you two bullied in school? What you've just said is one of the most insanely idiotic things I have ever heard. At no point in your rambling, incoherent response were you even close to anything that could be considered a rational thought. Everyone in this room is now dumber for having listened to it. I award you no points, and may God have mercy on your soul.
Exactly Lazer!
Way to throw the race card out there Kenneth! I'm sure that has a lot to do with it. Black athletes are paid insane money. There's even a black president. And yet, every time a black person does something wrong or isn't awarded a prize, it's because they're black! That's so old and played out. AND it disrespects all those who really have struggled with discrimination and fought for equal rights.
Kenneth everything isnt based on race. Your failures in life are most likely due to your own ignorance and nort your color of skin.
We here in Charlotte don't like ruffians like they do in Oakland Kenneth. I was actually reading what you had to say until you threw out the race card. Don't you remember Shinn? When he left he had no support from this city at all. That followed over to the Bobcats because Charlotte has felt like we were taken for a long ride on a short pier. Shinn is the reason that there is no support for pro basketball in this town. There is lots of support for the Panthers.
Stop with the race card already. You may be motivated by race, but not everyone else is. Play ball not race!
Luck will get physically wrecked in Charlotte. The offensive line is as bad as the quarterbacking. He will get smashed to pieces if he tries to take the time to throw good passes.
He has to consider that the Panther backfield is a really bad workplace. Unfortunately for Charlotte, he is a pretty smart guy.
What would we all talk about if we didn't have the race card to through out? Facts maybe? If Jordan were white... you mean like Shinn? Kenneth, get over whatever racism is burning your soul! It's about performance. Jenkins and Peppers wanted out cause they wanted big market money.
As to Newton, If Luck doesn't come out, Newton would be a good choice, although not #1 overall. Why is Charlotte such a terrible place for an athlete anyway? I guess Buffalo, Detroit or Cincinnati are better? Get a grip man.
Peppers hasn't done jack in Chicago and Jenkins has been constantly out with injuries. The Panthers were smart when dumping those two chumps. Kenneth knows nothing about football.
Every year that Jenkins hasn't been hurt he has been the best d-tackle in football and a pro bowler. Check your stats. And Peppers is regarded as the best defensive end in football by everyone except for the dumb Panthers fans that wanted to see him go like yourself. You probably never even played flag football.
Jenkins stole money from every team he played for. He was hurt all of the time!! I like Peppers, but in no way is he the best defensive end in football. If Vick were playing for the Panthers, he would have been smashed playing behind a horrible offensice line. Jordan Gross making the pro bowl was a joke!!
maybe in 2050 we'll be able to post a response without leaving the "racial" imprint. i hope so. just wish i could have been around to witness it.
The fact that the announcement did not make official the FIRING of Marty Hurney says everything about the ineptness of this franchise and the continued mediocrity for the future.
kenneth is the moron.
the race card in regards to MJ? Seriously? the only guy in this state in the last 100 that is more beloved is billy graham.
saying luck wouldn't want to come here is stupid. if charlotte is so bad, why do all the current panthers say they want to stay and they all love it here and this is a great place to raise a family.
please stop being an idiot if you want to be a panthers fan. it is guys liek you taht give us a bad rap
Harbaugh is leaving Stanford. most of the OL is leaving Stanford. Andrew Luck is leaving Stanford.
We will have the best QB since John Elway. He is also an Anglo American.
perry fewell is a great coach people. He was Buffalo's interim and actually had that team winning somehow. In Ny, his Giants were 2nd ranked defense in the league. Throw in Andrew Luck and some other very good pieces and the Panthers may actually be a very good football team. I can't believe I just said that. I am from Philly and am an Eagles fan. Back in 1998, they were horrible. They had the #2pick. Say what you want about McNabb now (I think the right move was made and should have been done 2 years ago) He brought the Eagles pride and made the team a winning franchise, along with Andy Reid, who is one of the better coaches in the NFL. My point is you have to get to the bottom to get back to the top. Andrew Luck and some other key pieces will get the Panthers winning again and much better than before. This turnaround depends on your GM though. I think he has made some questionable key personnel decisions. The #1 key that has decimated this team on defense. I think Carolina underestimated how much Peppers meant and did for this defense. But the Panthers had no choice really as he wanted to win and leave. Now look where he is. About to make a serious push for the Superbowl
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