This is a pretty good read - hope he is a fast learner.
http://www.trib.com/articles/2009/06/28/sports/uwsports/6dfaba7f3a390745872575e200211915.txt
By AUSTIN WARD
Star-Tribune staff writer
Sunday, June 28, 2009 12:01 AM MDT
Robert Benjamin is signed and sealed.
Wyoming is only waiting for delivery now, and it might not be much longer until a perfect package arrives for the spread offense.
Phoenix College coach Land Jacobsen stopped just short of a guarantee, but he made clear his former quarterback and one of UW's most prized recruits will be in Laramie eventually -- dispelling some concerns the shipment might never arrive.
"He's going to make it," Jacobsen said. "He will make it; he will be there.
"He's taking his classes, he's doing real well in them, and literally from the last day of class in July, we'll get them on the transcript and FedEx it straight to Laramie."
Both UW and Phoenix have declined to offer any specifics about which classes Benjamin may have been missing or what exactly the problem might have been with his transcript, sighting confidentiality to keep his academic records private.
But Jacobsen did describe a full summer workload for Benjamin in the classroom that has him busy for about six hours in the morning four days per week in addition to a few hours at night. In between, the multipurpose weapon has maintained his studies on the field, as well.
"We work out twice a week, which is legal in the NJCAA," Jacobsen said. "You get two practices per week for two hours per time. He doesn't go to our meetings, but he goes out with us and does our workouts and our drills.
"I've called [UW coach] Dave [Christensen] each week and I tell him what he's doing and I told him, 'I know you don't have anybody like this kid.' This kid is big-time now, buddy."
Obviously that's why Christensen signed him so quickly, picking him up in December during his first month on the job.
The process has slowed down since then, and there have been whispers around the program the Cowboys might have to move on without him in the fall.
That's understandable to some extent since UW couldn't get him on campus for spring ball, and no matter how much prior experience Benjamin has in the spread, Christensen's attack can't be learned overnight.
But Jacobsen plans on having Benjamin in Laramie about a week before camp opens on Aug. 5, and where he goes from there is up to UW.
"I understand, they would have to say they'll move on and Dave's probably going to worry about it," Jacobsen said. "I don't want to get into it all, but he's doing really well in all his classes and he'll get his [Associate of Arts degree].
"The kid is the real deal. He's got to learn the offense, that's going to take some time, he didn't have the luxury of spring ball and all that, but, hey, he's got the ability. Will he be what he should be in the first game? No, he won't because he's got to learn so much. It's going to be a process for him."
It hasn't been easy so far.
But Jacobsen is sure of one more thing as well -- the wait will be worth it.
"I saw him the other day throwing, and I was just like, 'Whoa,'" he said. "If I had him back, we could win a national championship. But I had my chance with him. We're trying to prepare him for the next one.
"He came in here the other day with a Wyoming ski cap on, and I'm going, 'What are you doing with that on when it's 104 degrees?' He's just real excited, and you know, he felt real comfortable when he was up in Laramie and with what they're going to do offensively, likes Dave a lot. I think he'll be fine. He just wants to come in and get his shot."
There's no doubt he'll have one when he finally arrives.
Contact sports reporter Austin Ward at (307) 266-0634 or [email protected].
COWBOYS TRACKER
ALL ABOUT THE BENJAMIN: Wyoming's highly-touted transfer quarterback hasn't finished up classes at Phoenix College, keeping him from arriving in Laramie for offseason workouts after missing spring ball.
But Phoenix College coach Land Jacobsen stopped just short of guaranteeing Benjamin would report for fall camp.
HOLD UP: Neither UW nor Phoenix have been willing to identify what problems might have kept Benjamin from joining the Cowboys sooner, citing confidentiality to keep his academic records private.
Jacobsen did describe a heavy summer workload for the versatile athlete though -- both in the classroom and on the practice field.
HE SAID IT: "He's taking his classes, he's doing real well in them, and literally from the last day of class in July we'll get them on the transcript and FedEx it straight to Laramie." -- Jacobsen.
http://www.trib.com/articles/2009/06/28/sports/uwsports/6dfaba7f3a390745872575e200211915.txt
By AUSTIN WARD
Star-Tribune staff writer
Sunday, June 28, 2009 12:01 AM MDT
Robert Benjamin is signed and sealed.
Wyoming is only waiting for delivery now, and it might not be much longer until a perfect package arrives for the spread offense.
Phoenix College coach Land Jacobsen stopped just short of a guarantee, but he made clear his former quarterback and one of UW's most prized recruits will be in Laramie eventually -- dispelling some concerns the shipment might never arrive.
"He's going to make it," Jacobsen said. "He will make it; he will be there.
"He's taking his classes, he's doing real well in them, and literally from the last day of class in July, we'll get them on the transcript and FedEx it straight to Laramie."
Both UW and Phoenix have declined to offer any specifics about which classes Benjamin may have been missing or what exactly the problem might have been with his transcript, sighting confidentiality to keep his academic records private.
But Jacobsen did describe a full summer workload for Benjamin in the classroom that has him busy for about six hours in the morning four days per week in addition to a few hours at night. In between, the multipurpose weapon has maintained his studies on the field, as well.
"We work out twice a week, which is legal in the NJCAA," Jacobsen said. "You get two practices per week for two hours per time. He doesn't go to our meetings, but he goes out with us and does our workouts and our drills.
"I've called [UW coach] Dave [Christensen] each week and I tell him what he's doing and I told him, 'I know you don't have anybody like this kid.' This kid is big-time now, buddy."
Obviously that's why Christensen signed him so quickly, picking him up in December during his first month on the job.
The process has slowed down since then, and there have been whispers around the program the Cowboys might have to move on without him in the fall.
That's understandable to some extent since UW couldn't get him on campus for spring ball, and no matter how much prior experience Benjamin has in the spread, Christensen's attack can't be learned overnight.
But Jacobsen plans on having Benjamin in Laramie about a week before camp opens on Aug. 5, and where he goes from there is up to UW.
"I understand, they would have to say they'll move on and Dave's probably going to worry about it," Jacobsen said. "I don't want to get into it all, but he's doing really well in all his classes and he'll get his [Associate of Arts degree].
"The kid is the real deal. He's got to learn the offense, that's going to take some time, he didn't have the luxury of spring ball and all that, but, hey, he's got the ability. Will he be what he should be in the first game? No, he won't because he's got to learn so much. It's going to be a process for him."
It hasn't been easy so far.
But Jacobsen is sure of one more thing as well -- the wait will be worth it.
"I saw him the other day throwing, and I was just like, 'Whoa,'" he said. "If I had him back, we could win a national championship. But I had my chance with him. We're trying to prepare him for the next one.
"He came in here the other day with a Wyoming ski cap on, and I'm going, 'What are you doing with that on when it's 104 degrees?' He's just real excited, and you know, he felt real comfortable when he was up in Laramie and with what they're going to do offensively, likes Dave a lot. I think he'll be fine. He just wants to come in and get his shot."
There's no doubt he'll have one when he finally arrives.
Contact sports reporter Austin Ward at (307) 266-0634 or [email protected].
COWBOYS TRACKER
ALL ABOUT THE BENJAMIN: Wyoming's highly-touted transfer quarterback hasn't finished up classes at Phoenix College, keeping him from arriving in Laramie for offseason workouts after missing spring ball.
But Phoenix College coach Land Jacobsen stopped just short of guaranteeing Benjamin would report for fall camp.
HOLD UP: Neither UW nor Phoenix have been willing to identify what problems might have kept Benjamin from joining the Cowboys sooner, citing confidentiality to keep his academic records private.
Jacobsen did describe a heavy summer workload for the versatile athlete though -- both in the classroom and on the practice field.
HE SAID IT: "He's taking his classes, he's doing real well in them, and literally from the last day of class in July we'll get them on the transcript and FedEx it straight to Laramie." -- Jacobsen.
