DesMoinesRegister.com
Ames, Ia. - He always looked the part. Now, Austen Arnaud is starting to sound like Iowa State's quarterback of the future.
Cyclone football fans have been touting Arnaud's abilities since his days at Ames High School. But that didn't prevent teammates from occasionally teasing the redshirt freshman.
"We always used to make fun of him," receiver Todd Blythe said during Monday's news conference. "At the beginning of the year, he'd get in the huddle and start tripping over his words and stuttering.
"We'd be like, 'Come on, man. What play are you trying to call?' ''
Arnaud continued settling into his role as Bret Meyer's backup. And when he took the field last weekend against Kansas State, Blythe noticed a difference.
"He got in there, and he was cracking jokes," Blythe said. "He was keeping everybody else calm in critical times.
"That's just a taste of what's to come. He's going to do a lot of good things."
Arnaud rotated with Meyer during a 31-20 win over the Wildcats, completing 5-of-7 passes and accounting for 149 total yards.
"We've always had confidence in him," coach Gene Chizik said. "I think the most important thing is he gained some confidence.
"I hope he did."
Chizik plans to use Arnaud at least 20 snaps during Saturday's game against Colorado.
Meyer will be making his 47th consecutive start, and his final appearance at Jack Trice Stadium. Arnaud, whose father John played defensive back for the Cyclones in the early 1980s, will begin competing for the starting job next spring
"What we'd like to do is kind of play it by ear," Chizik said, when asked how much Arnaud would play. "I thought it was a good twist to be able to use two quarterbacks. Both of them do things similar, but they do have some differences in there."
The most noticeable difference is experience.
Meyer has shown poise, despite being sacked 119 times in his career.
Arnaud talked Monday about finding a comfortable pace.
"I'm seeing things faster than they're really happening," Arnaud said. "I just need to slow stuff down."
Arnaud failed to connect with Marquis Hamilton on a potential touchdown pass. He also underthrew Blythe on a play that gained 51 yards, but ended short of a touchdown.
"I'm not as comfortable as I want to be," Arnaud said, "just because of limited reps."
More chances will come in the next two weeks, including a road trip to No. 5 Kansas.
"He's got a big arm. He's a big kid," Blythe said of the 6-foot-3, 222-pound Arnaud. "He's going to make a lot of big plays here."
Ames, Ia. - He always looked the part. Now, Austen Arnaud is starting to sound like Iowa State's quarterback of the future.
Cyclone football fans have been touting Arnaud's abilities since his days at Ames High School. But that didn't prevent teammates from occasionally teasing the redshirt freshman.
"We always used to make fun of him," receiver Todd Blythe said during Monday's news conference. "At the beginning of the year, he'd get in the huddle and start tripping over his words and stuttering.
"We'd be like, 'Come on, man. What play are you trying to call?' ''
Arnaud continued settling into his role as Bret Meyer's backup. And when he took the field last weekend against Kansas State, Blythe noticed a difference.
"He got in there, and he was cracking jokes," Blythe said. "He was keeping everybody else calm in critical times.
"That's just a taste of what's to come. He's going to do a lot of good things."
Arnaud rotated with Meyer during a 31-20 win over the Wildcats, completing 5-of-7 passes and accounting for 149 total yards.
"We've always had confidence in him," coach Gene Chizik said. "I think the most important thing is he gained some confidence.
"I hope he did."
Chizik plans to use Arnaud at least 20 snaps during Saturday's game against Colorado.
Meyer will be making his 47th consecutive start, and his final appearance at Jack Trice Stadium. Arnaud, whose father John played defensive back for the Cyclones in the early 1980s, will begin competing for the starting job next spring
"What we'd like to do is kind of play it by ear," Chizik said, when asked how much Arnaud would play. "I thought it was a good twist to be able to use two quarterbacks. Both of them do things similar, but they do have some differences in there."
The most noticeable difference is experience.
Meyer has shown poise, despite being sacked 119 times in his career.
Arnaud talked Monday about finding a comfortable pace.
"I'm seeing things faster than they're really happening," Arnaud said. "I just need to slow stuff down."
Arnaud failed to connect with Marquis Hamilton on a potential touchdown pass. He also underthrew Blythe on a play that gained 51 yards, but ended short of a touchdown.
"I'm not as comfortable as I want to be," Arnaud said, "just because of limited reps."
More chances will come in the next two weeks, including a road trip to No. 5 Kansas.
"He's got a big arm. He's a big kid," Blythe said of the 6-foot-3, 222-pound Arnaud. "He's going to make a lot of big plays here."
