More than the weirdo with the mustache

Gardner Minshew is one of the big surprises of the season opener. Fans and the media celebrate him for his looks, style and wit. But the 23-year-old is more than a meme incarnate – and could once again exceed all expectations.

It is Sunday, September 29, 2019. The Jacksonville Jaguars are guests at Empower Field at Mile High, as the Denver Broncos stadium has been called since this year. And: after almost three quarters, things are looking good for the hosts. The Broncos are 17: 6 in the front, the first win of the young season seems within reach.

But one man clearly has something against it: In a third down from the opposing eight-yard line, Jaguars quarterback Gardner Minshew initially runs out of options. The route combinations of the guests do not work, all receivers are covered and pass rusher Von Miller wins his duel against Cam Robinson on the left side of the offensive line.

But Minshew moves away from Miller’s pressure, he evades Derek Wolfe’s tackle attempt, leaves Adam Gotsis and also escapes Miller’s second attempt at a sack! Under pressure from three men, he throws the ball towards the end zone, where only teammate Ryquell Armstead can get the accurate pass. “Minshew Magic!” Yells NBC– Commentator Andrew Catalon into his microphone.

It’s an absolute highlight play, not just for a rookie quarterback.

But above all it marks the start of a comeback, ultimately the Jaguars win the game 26:24 and take their second win of the season. A solid start to the season, no more, and yet more than most observers would have expected the team after starting quarterback Nick Foles broke his collarbone in the Jaguars opening game. Minshew surprised almost all fans and experts.

Gardner Minshew: A call that changed his life

It’s not the first time in his career that Minshew has been underrated. And it’s not the first time he’s been telling the lie about his critics.

After high school, scouts rated his talent three out of five stars, and 69 quarterbacks of his year were rated better. Minshew attended the unglorious colleges of Troy, Northwest Mississippi Community, and East Carolina. In the latter, he even lost his job as a starting quarterback at times and was already thinking about ending his playing career and switching to coaching.

Only a phone call from Mike Leach was to steer Minshew’s career in a new direction. “Do you want to be the backup quarterback for Alabama? Or do you want to lead the whole country in Passing?”

The head coach of Washington State offered Minshew, who had also received an offer from Alabama, but knew that he would probably never play there behind Jalen Hurts and Tua Tagovailoa, the job as a starter at his school – and he hit it immediately. “Getting a call from one of your greatest coaching heroes and then being asked that question? It was surreal,” he later recalled the moment.

For Minshew, it was an offer that changed his life. Everything that followed was made possible, albeit by tragic circumstances.

The starter job at Washington State only became vacant after quarterback Tyler Hilinski was found dead. He had committed suicide when he was only 21 years old.

Gardner Minshew: Lots of Crazy College Stories

Minshew rose to be a crowd-pleaser in college in just a few weeks. In the pre-season training camp, the entire team grew a mustache. The 23-year-old was the only player who decided not to shave it off again – and has looked since straight out of the movie “Napoleon Dynamite”.

The entertaining college stories about Minshew are countless: On his first day with the team, wearing nothing but a jockstrap, he hit an ass bomb in the nearby pool, did his stretching exercises in the cabin several times completely naked, at parties he ran it the whole evening with a bottle of his favorite whiskey in the waistband of his jeans, and, and, and. It becomes clear: Minshew is a crazy bird – and his teammates loved him for it.

But Minshew was always much more than a funny guy. Even in high school, he took part in defense meetings several times in order to better understand certain schemes and tactics. Teammates at Washington State report no one trained harder than their quarterback. “Yeah, he got the mustache and yeah, he’s a nut, but the guy works his ass every day,” said Houston Smith, Minshew’s best friend in college The Athletic.

In addition, Jacksonville won the last two games with him Under Center, he has already been voted Rookie of the Week and recently also Rookie of the Month. The internet is already being flooded with Minshew memesReceiver DJ Chark recently gave his interview with a plastic mustache on his face and the Jaguars are selling the “Minshew Ticket Package” which, in addition to the tickets to the game, includes a fake mustache, a bandana and a photo in the appropriate gear on the field.

“I’m not surprised,” said defensive end Calais Campbell. “He’s one of those guys who you know can do anything. He’s got great instincts, magical.” And running back Leonard Fournette adds: “He’s stronger than you think. I don’t know if the mustache gives him extra strength or something.”

Minshew himself has so far been cautious. He is well aware that defense played a major role in both wins, and against Denver he also got support from a strong running game. “That won us the game,” he said after the game. “Leonard, Ryquell, the whole offensive line, the tight ends, they absolutely dominated.”

Minshew will face even more difficult tasks. For now, it remains to be seen whether the rookie really has the constant quality to be a permanent starting quarterback in the NFL. But he has already exceeded the expectations of himself once again. Four weeks ago no one wanted him to be a starter instead of Nick Foles; Minshew has shown that it is at least a good alternative. And maybe it will be even more than that.

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