SZVETITZ COLUMN: Criticism part of job title – just ask QB, coach

If anyone knows what Chris Todd is going through, it’s Gene Chizik.

There are two people on a football team who get the most finger points, boos and hate mail.

The head coach and the quarterback.

And both Chizik and Todd have gotten their fair share of all three over the last year. And probably some more that we can’t talk about in a family newspaper.

Todd’s struggles have been well documented, analyzed and dissected by every armchair quarterback with a pulse.

His shoulder’s messed up. He’s thinking too much. He’s too slow. He’s too indecisive. He’s anticipating too much. He’s not anticipating enough. Where’s the backup? Where’s the freshman? Where’s the Pepto-Bismol?

And all that, and more, it’s to be expected, says Chizik.

It’s part of the job.

It’s what you sign up for.

As the quarterback, you’re the first one to get the credit and the first one to get the blame. And they say you have to have big shoulders to be a lineman.

And in the SEC, it’s magnified 100 times.

Maybe 1,000.

Because in this billion-dollar league, it’s do or die. It’s win or get out.

“What have you done for me lately?” takes on a whole new meaning, because everyone’s got short-term memory loss. If you can’t impress right now, you need to go. There are no growing pains, just groans and pain.

And the boos aren’t the only thing fans will hurl at you.

It’s just that way. For a quarterback and a head coach.

And if you don’t like it, go sell some shoes, because you’re in the wrong business.

“If you’re not mentally tough enough to get through those things, then more than likely you shouldn’t be a quarterback in this league,” Chizik said. “That’s just the way it is.

“I mean it’s no different than coaching, right? You get the good and you get the bad, and it all comes with the deal.”

And if anyone can sing that song, it’s Gene Chizik. He knows it by heart.

Remember 5-19? Remember the airport? Remember the boos?

Remember?

All part of the territory. All part of the job.

And, like Chizik says, you know what you’re getting.

When you think about it, a quarterback has to be even tougher than a head coach. The coach gets paid millions of dollars. He can cry himself to sleep on his checkbook.

All a college quarterback gets is dirty looks in class, a table by himself in the cafeteria and a lonely walk back to his dorm or apartment.

Then, he’s got to face off against 11 guys the next Saturday who want to put him in traction.

The quarterback is the only position on the field where it’s one on 11. Everyone else has got to beat the guy in front of him.

The quarterback has to beat all 11 defenders — with his mind, feet and arm.

All part of the job description. Sounds awesome, right?

“I think you have to be tough to be a quarterback anywhere, because so many people want to pin all the great stuff on the quarterback and they want to pin all the bad stuff on the quarterback,” Chizik said. “I think it’s human nature. It’s from the beginning of time.”

On the eighth day, Adam was booed by the animals.

But don’t feel bad for Todd. Or Chizik, for that matter. They know they’re both one win away from being the toast of the town again.

They also know they’re one loss away from the wailing and gnashing of teeth.

Why? Because that’s football.

The way it was, the way it is and the way it will always be.

Amen.

MIKE SZVETITZ is sports editor of the Opelika-Auburn News. He may be reached at or 737-2513.