Chris Brown named Cal Poly starting quarterback for opener at New Mexico State

Chris Brown will be the opening game starter at quarterback for Cal Poly when they face New Mexico State on Thursday night. By Owen Main

Chris Brown or Dano Graves? Graves or Brown?

It’s Brown — at least for the first game. On Monday, Matt SantaMaria and Joshua Scroggin both tweeted that Brown will be the opening game starter for Cal Poly’s first game of the season on Thursday night in Las Cruces, New Mexico as the Mustangs take on New Mexico State.

In eight games last season (six starts), Brown led the team with 836 yards passing and was second with 685 yards rushing. The suspension of Kristaan Ivory makes him the top returner now in both passing and rushing on the team.

If you haven't heard yet, Cal Poly football has named Chris Brown the starting QB for Thursday's game at New Mexico State. #BigSkyFB

— Joshua D. Scroggin (@SLOcollegebeat) August 26, 2014

Chris Brown gets the start in the Mustangs season opeaner http://t.co/2hA4DvLxLc

— KSBY Sports (@KSBYSports) August 26, 2014

Amid the turmoil of the early portion of the football season, the “lost” story has been the battle to be the starting quarterback. It hasn’t been the four-man battle as it was last season, but both Brown and Graves logged significant time last season and either could have been the opening day starter.

Today, Walsh chose Brown, though the junior will have to earn his spot for the following week by playing well on Thursday.

Walsh said Brown earned the edge with his performance in the season finale last year. Nothing beyond the start is guaranteed. @fansmanship

— Joshua D. Scroggin (@SLOcollegebeat) August 26, 2014

After transferring from Air Force prior to last season, quarterback Dano Graves looks much more comfortable this camp. By Owen Main

For whatever it’s worth, Graves has looked a thousand times more comfortable this year than I think he did last year. To me, the biggest improvement has been how he’s looked as a passer both inside and out of a pocket. While Graves’ skills have really looked great to my untrained eye during camp, Brown showed some flashes of brilliance last season and is the more explosive runner. Coming into camp, I was fully on the Brown bandwagon, but watching Graves now in the new season, I think that both have their own unique set of skills that will help Cal Poly this season.

If Tim Walsh wanted breakaway ability, Brown has always been his guy, though I do believe that Graves will get opportunities throughout the season.

Last season, I think I said that all four guys would get a shot at quarterback. If Brown and Graves are the only two quarterbacks the Mustangs are forced to utilize this year, then one might even call it a move toward consistency. When it’s all said and done, I believe both guys will get a chance to prove they are a true number-one, top-flight quarterback. Cal Poly fans just hope at least one of them really is.