Josh Nunes Named Stanford's Starting Quarterback

Stanford coach David Shaw put an end to months of speculation today by naming redshirt junior Josh Nunes Andrew Luck's successor at quarterback. The announcement comes 10 days before the Cardinal opens the 2012 season against San Jose State.

Nunes and sophomore Brett Nottingham emerged as the favorites to replace Luck in the spring, but neither quarterback separated himself in the race. Nunes orchestrated the first-string offense during the Spring Game, but the competition was too close to call entering the fall.

Shaw has said he wants a QB who helps him sleep at night, while Andrew Luck Director of Offense Pep Hamilton said the competition would come down to who could "best manage bad plays." Shaw's choosing Nunes, who has one more year of experience with the offense and is regarded as a solid game manager, over Nottingham shouldn't come as much of a surprise.

As a longtime reader predicted in an e-mail to me this morning:

I believe we saw how David Shaw thinks in the last 0:57 of the Fiesta Bowl, with respect to how he is thinking in picking his QB. Which means Nunes, as the "sure" and less flashy thing, and not Nottingham as the deeper threat but more vulnerable to mistakes and turnovers.

The quotes around "sure" are apt. Nunes has appeared in four games (all in 2010) during his time on the Farm, completing 1-of-2 passes for seven yards.

Congrats to Josh; we're looking forward to watching you manage some big wins this season, flashy or otherwise.

What do you think of the decision?