Friday Features: UWA QB Grammer wants to ‘pay it forward’ for Tigers
By Mike Perrin
Three-time letter-winner Austin Grammer’s name is in the Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders’ record book 15 times, not including his mention as a member of the All-Conference USA Honor Roll for registering a 3.0-plus grade point average in 2014.
So why is he now the starting quarterback at the University of West Alabama? Like most roster decisions, it’s complicated.
Grammer went to Murfreesboro after a stellar career at Tuscaloosa’s American Christian Academy, about 60 miles northeast of Livingston. After a redshirt season, he played in 10 games for Coach Rick Stockstill’s Raiders in 2013. As a sophomore, Grammer started all 12 games, throwing for 17 touchdowns and 2,557 yards with 12 interceptions. He also ran for 442 yards and six scores. His 65.4 percent completion rate ranked 17th in the nation, and fourth-best in Raiders’ history.
Grammer threw for the third-most yards in MT single-season history (2,999), fifth-most touchdown passes in a season (17) and the fifth-most completions in a year (221).
A year ago, following a close competition during fall camp, Grammer lost his starting job to Stockstill’s son, Brent – a redshirt freshman who finished with 4,005 yards through the air (12th in the nation) while setting Middle Tennessee records for attempts, completions, passing yards, passing TDs and 300-yard games.
After learning where he stood in the QB battle, Grammer visited with his coaches.
“A lot of people don’t know this,” the 6-foot-2, 205-pound senior said, “but I actually went to the staff and offered to play special teams. I felt I could contribute somewhere if it wasn’t going to be at quarterback. Coach Stock asked if trying receiver would bother me and I said, ‘Absolutely not.’”
Grammer moved to wideout – also playing a handful of snaps at QB (with a scoring pass against Alabama) and some at running back. As a wide receiver, he caught nine passes for 111 yards. “I enjoyed learning that side of the game and seeing everything from the other side of the passing game,” he said. “I just love playing football so it wasn’t something I loathed.”
But, his heart was at quarterback. He was no stranger to West Alabama, either. For one thing, he had been recruited by the Tigers’ staff, then led by Will Hall, before he chose Middle Tennessee. For another, Grammer had close connections with the school from a young age as a spectator.
“UWA has always had a place in my heart,” Grammer said. “One of my father’s best friends – if not his best friend – Wayne Hollyhand, played baseball at UWA and would always bring us to football and baseball games when I was growing up. So, I was aware of their success and athletic culture from a young age. My grandparents also live down the road on the water, and the rest of my family is just 60 miles away in Tuscaloosa, so it made the transition a lot smoother for me and I have absolutely loved it”
Grammer left many great friends and cherished memories behind in Murfreesboro. He is not interested in revisiting the decision that moved him from behind center. “I don’t want to touch on that whole ‘controversy’ too much,” he said. “Brent is a great quarterback and he got the nod, and that’s that. As you can see, he has taken that job and done really well with it, and I am proud of him.
“I played a little receiver in high school, but I have also been slightly athletic – at least I like to think so,” he said with a chuckle, “so I felt like I was capable. Like I said, it was a culmination of ideas to get me on the field somehow.
“I think the biggest thing I learned, and I learned it quickly, was how tiring receiver is to play. It made me respect those guys and the work it took not only to be in shape, but also to be consistent with route running and catching the ball. It helped me learn a position that I might coach one day, which was a cool experience as well,” Grammer said.
Grammer didn’t just show up expecting to be handed the starting nod for Coach Brett Gilliland’s squad.
“I really didn’t know anyone on the team personally,” Grammer said. “I played against some of the guys in high school, but didn’t know them on that personal level yet. I think my main focus was to just come in, focus and work harder than anyone else. I have always thought people will respect your hard work before they respect your words, and that was my goal.
“We probably worked harder this summer as an offensive group than I have in my career. We got together and threw a ton, and I really felt responsible for getting to know how each guy operated. I wanted to be on the same page with everyone, and we had a blast doing it.”
Asked for the qualities that make him a good quarterback, Grammer pointed to his personality as much as his physical tools. “I think I am a personable guy which helps me. I absolutely love football and love spending time with people. That goes hand-in-hand with the quarterback position. I am very knowledgeable of everything going on around me and I am athletic enough to get things done.”
Grammer got it done to the tune of 306 passing yards in just the first half of UWA’s spring game. In a 24-23 loss at North Greenville to open the season last week, he completed 29-of-42 passes for 266 yards and a pair of touchdowns with no interceptions. He also ran for a score as part of his 32 net yards on the ground.
The Tigers are on the road to meet Football Championship Subdivision Stephen F. Austin in Nacogdoches, Texas, on Saturday and open Gulf South Conference play at Mississippi College in Clinton on Sept. 19.
“My personal goal is to have fun and pay it forward,” the 22-year-old said. “I am the old guy now, which is weird, but I have learned so much in my career that I want to pay it forward to these guys and come back every year and see them take that next step. I personally don’t get caught up in stats, I couldn’t care less about those. The only stat I care about, and the team cares about, is wins.”
Grammer, who majored in Communications at Middle, lost a few hours in the transfer and switched to General Studies (“my easiest path to graduation, just six hours short,” he said) with plans to earn a master’s degree in Student Affairs. “I want to coach and get my master’s and I wouldn’t mind it being at UWA, honestly, but whatever door opens up to me I am willing and thankful to take that opportunity. I am very blessed and excited for the future.
“God has done nothing but bless me and my family with an awesome career and life together as a whole.”
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