Father and coach, Roderick Reed sees both sides of A&M's QB situation

As Aggies celebrated a 33-20 football victory over Florida on Saturday, a fierce debate was taking place in “The Swamp.”

One guy argued that Marcel Reed should be Texas A&M’s starting quarterback.

Another guy argued that Conner Weigman, when healthy, should maintain that role.

One guy was a father. The other guy was a football coach.

Ironically, they were the same guy.

Roderick Reed was a bundle of nerves on Saturday when Marcel, A&M’s redshirt freshman backup to the injured Weigman, made his first collegiate start.

“My wife (Tamika) … she’s a Christian lady. She says prayers, and let’s the Lord have it,” Roderick said. “I’m always trying to help the Lord a little bit. She’s way more calm.”

Roderick, amiable with a big smile and easy laugh, typically has been calm, cool and collected on the sidelines for almost 120 football games as Tennessee State University’s head coach.

But up in the bleachers of Ben Hill Griffin Stadium, he was stressed.

“It’s more nerve-wracking as a father than as a coach,” Roderick said. “As a coach, I was locked in on every facet of the game — down and distance, field position, offense and defense.

“I was really locked in when Marcel was out there, too. What does he see? What doesn’t he see? I admired his ability to do things off script.”

So did the other 89,992 in attendance. Well, at least the Aggies among them did.

Among Marcel’s highlights they celebrated:

• Scrambling 31 yards to convert on second-and-21.
• A 20-yard pass to Moose Muhammad III on third-and-10.
• A 29-yard touchdown pass to Theo Melin Öhrström.
• A quarterback sneak for a touchdown.
• A 73-yard touchdown pass to Cyrus Allen.
• A wicked juke that almost faked a Florida defensive back out of his shoes. It was a move reminiscent of when Marcel was a star high school point guard at Montgomery Bell Academy in Nashville.

“He put him in a blender on that one,” Roderick said of the last highlight. “He went back to basketball on that one. He crossed him over.”

When the clock ran out, Marcel had completed 11-of-17 passes for 178 yards. He also rushed for 83 yards. He produced three touchdowns.

Those impressive numbers were a heck of a birthday present for Roderick — the dad — who turned 57 the next day.

But Roderick — the football coach — was more impressed with zeroes. As in zero interceptions and zero fumbles.

“We talk daily, and the biggest thing I talk to him about is protecting the football,” Roderick said. “The quarterback’s job — in my opinion — is to move the chains, take what the defense gives you and ultimately protect the football. He hears that from me every day. When we talk after practice, the first question I ask is, ‘Did you turn the ball over today?’”

A quarterback who completes more than 60 percent of his passes, is a running threat, produces multiple touchdowns, avoids turnovers and leads his team to an SEC victory on the road should be a starter.

But so should a guy who’s passed for more than 300 yards three times, has thrown multiple touchdown passes in six games and has started in six victories. Weigman has done that.

“As a coach speaking … I’m not a big proponent of guys losing their starting job when they’re injured,” Roderick said. “Selfishly, as a dad, I want to see my son out there.

Zoe Kelton, TexAgs

Through 11 games across three seasons, Conner Weigman has passed for 2,100 yards (178-of 295) and 18 touchdowns. He’s also rushed for 225 yards and two TDs.

“Marcel’s got to put together a body of work. He had a great game. One game doesn’t make a quarterback. One week. you can be the hero, and the next week, you can be the goat. Each week, it starts over on Monday.”

Up in “The Swamp” bleachers, in between the debates he was having within himself, Roderick received handshakes, pats on the back and well-wishes from countless A&M fans.

Among them was Chad Weigman, Conner’s dad.

“He said, ‘We’ve got your back,’” Roderick recalled. “I said, ‘We’ve got yours. Whatever happens, I wish Conner nothing but the best. I hope he gets well.’

“I’m just excited about A&M. Those guys can execute at a high level.”

A&M coach Mike Elko has a problem. But it’s a good problem.

He’s indicated the starting quarterback on Saturday night vs. Bowling Green will be a gametime decision.

In fact, he said the starter could be a gametime decision for the remainder of the season.

There may be disagreements on who the starter should be, but ultimately, Aggies fans just want to see a quarterback lead A&M to more victories.

To that, there is no argument.