Tempo isn’t a word that just basketball coaches toss around.
It’s an important element to football as well. The ability of redshirt-freshman Brian Wiedeman to create a more upbeat tempo is a big reason why he has been named Northern Colorado’s new starting quarterback for Saturday’s homecoming game against Big Sky Conference foe Eastern Washington.
“I’ve always liked the intangible part of Brian,” UNC coach Scott Downing said. “This is a kid who has fun playing football. He brings the joy of the game back into the huddle. It doesn’t matter what offense you’re in, the quarterback sets the tempo.”
All that comes naturally, Wiedeman said.
“I’m just excited to play,” he said. “I like running around and staying active.”
Downing waited until Thursday to announce Wiedeman, a former Greeley West athlete, would replace junior Dominic Breazeale. Wiedeman came off the bench Saturday in a 41-13 loss to Idaho State and completed 16-of-26 passes for 210 yards and a touchdown.
“With his ability to run, Brian can create outside of the realm of the offense,” Downing said of the 6-foot-4, 200-pounder.
UNC (1-5, 0-3) seeks its first win as a member of the Big Sky. Eastern Washington (1-5, 1-2) also has struggled but has a win at Montana State.
The excitement over a Greeley native becoming the starting quarterback couldn’t come at a better time for a Northern Colorado program seemingly besieged by controversy. Media still inquire about the Sept. 11 stabbing of Rafael Mendoza by a fellow punter. Then two new issues surfaced.
UNC has self-reported a secondary violation to the NCAA after discovering assistant coaches held one extra practice session in the spring. One assistant has resigned and three will be disciplined. An assistant will be suspended for each of the next three games, beginning Saturday.
Senior Jacob Carlson, a starting defensive tackle, suffered facial fractures and was cited for disorderly conduct stemming from an off-campus altercation Sunday night.
