Pennington, Leftwich face off in battle of Marshall QBs

<p>Byron Leftwich met Chad Pennington the first day he arrived on the Marshall campus.</p><p>The two quarterbacks hit it off immediately, and the older Pennington took Leftwich under his wing. So he decided to take him to his very first lunch in college _ at McDonalds.</p><p>I told him he could have at least got me Wendys, Leftwich joked.</p><p>Kidding aside, the two formed a lasting bond. They play against each other for the first time when Pennington and the New York Jets host Leftwich and the Jacksonville Jaguars on Sunday.</p><p>Pennington and Leftwich helped put Marshall on the collegiate football map, and their matchup is big news in Huntington, W. Va. Just ask Marshall coach Bob Pruett, who plans to gather his team to watch the game.</p><p>Were extremely proud, Pruett said. Its a game where we as Marshall people root for both of them to do well.</p><p>Pennington was a junior when Leftwich arrived, and the first thing he noticed was his incredible arm strength.</p><p>I remember him standing on the 50-yard line and betting me that he could throw it through the goal post, Pennington said. I said, Theres no way. And he stood there flat-footed, slung it through the goal post. His physical ability is just unbelievable.</p><p>Pennington led the Thundering Herd to a 13-0 record his senior season and finished fifth in the Heisman Trophy voting. The Jets selected him in the first round in 2000, though he had to wait his turn to start behind Vinny Testaverde.</p><p>It took three years.</p><p>His first extended playing time came against the Jaguars last season, when Testaverde got hurt on the first play of the game. He went 21-of-34 for 281 yards and an interception in a 28-3 loss. The following week against Kansas City, Pennington became the starter.</p><p>The only thing I can remember is being sunburned and cramped up, Pennington said. But it was my first true NFL experience and its one that I will remember. It does seem like light years ago.</p><p>While Pennington started his career with the Jets, Leftwich continued the success his predecessor started at Marshall. He finished sixth in the Heisman voting last year and finished with 11,093 yards passing in his career _ second only to Pennington.</p><p>But his NFL career has taken a different path. The Jaguars drafted him with their No. 1 pick and threw him into the starting lineup as a rookie after Mark Brunell got hurt in the third game.</p><p>So far this season, Leftwich has gone 135-of-233 for 1,643 yards with eight touchdowns and 11 interceptions.</p><p>Ideally we would have liked to followed a similar path like Pennington followed there in New York, Jacksonville coach Jack Del Rio said. Mark was injured and so Byron was thrust into the lineup. It has accelerated the plan, but I think that in the long run there could be some benefits in terms of some of the things he is experiencing now.</p><p>Despite the varied routes they took to becoming the starter, Pruett sees several similarities in his two former signal callers.</p><p>Their preparation, their knowledge of the game, their fresh mind and the way they lead people _ they have great leadership and great personalities and theyre the ultimate team player, Pruett said.</p><p>Pennington and Leftwich talk once a week, catching up on their personal lives and giving each other advice. One of the toughest things theyve had to adjust to is losing.</p><p>Marshall always was on top of its conference when Pennington and Leftwich were there. But the Jaguars are 2-8 and the Jets are 3-7 this season. Pennington missed much of the season with a broken left wrist, leading to many of the Jets struggles.</p><p>Were both going through situations we havent dealt with in a long time, so we both kind of talk to each other about how to handle it and keep our heads up and keep working, trying to understand the overall process of reaching that goal of a championship, because thats what were used to, Pennington said.</p><p>Marshall is one of the few schools with multiple starters at quarterback in the league. If Chargers backup Doug Flutie starts Sunday, Boston College would have two with Matt Hasselbeck in Seattle. And if Brian Griese starts for the Dolphins, Michigan would have two with Tom Brady of the Patriots.</p><p>Leftwich and Pennington are the future for their teams. And Leftwich is thankful for all Pennington has done for him _ including that first lunch at Marshall.</p><p>Chad will be a friend for life, Leftwich said. You dont meet too many people like Chad, hes just a good guy. Well be friends forever.</p>

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