ORONO – The University of Maine football team’s quarterback controversy is over – for this week, at least.

Second-year head coach Kirk Ferentz named sophomore Bob Zurinskas the starter Friday, relegating fifth-year senior Jeff DelRosso to a backup role. Zurinskas was 2-2 as a starter last season. DelRosso was 0-5 in 1990. But Ferentz said it was the work both did in preseason camp this year that led to his decision.

“I don’t think there’s a loser,” said Ferentz. “They’ve both performed well and both shown improvement. Both have our confidence. As a staff, we felt Bob had the edge. It’s his job to lose.”

Zurinskas, a 6-foot-2, 200-pound native of Brockton, Mass., won the job based on his superior mobility, according to Ferentz. Zurinskas, who completed 45 percent of his throws for 260 yards, 4 TDS, and 3 INTs in ’90, said he felt he earned the job.

“I worked hard at it,” Zurinskas said, noting he believes he’s a better passer this year. “I improved a lot to be able to start. I think I’m deserving of it.”

DelRosso, who completed 37 percent of his passes last year for 760 yards with 3 TDs and 8 INTs, said he was disappointed with the decision. He will now concentrate on being ready in case Zurinskas falters.

“It’s tougher, just staying upbeat,” said the 6-foot, 190-pound native of Cheshire, Conn. “I don’t know what to make of it. Worse things have happened, I guess. I’ve got to stay ready.”

Although the decision has been made, Ferentz said it is not written in stone. The coach said if Zurinskas falters he won’t hesitate to make another change, even before the Sept. 7 opener with Villanova.

“I think it will still be day to day,” said Ferentz. “We’ll give Bob the luxury of running the first offense. But if he has a couple of bad days in a row, we’ll change.”

Ferentz said he might even use both QBs in a single game.

“It could become a down and distance thing,” he said.

If it sounds like Maine is entering the new season with the same unsettled quarterback situation it had at the end of last year’s 3-8 campaign, Ferentz said there’s a difference.

“Going back to last year, Jeff had only played one or two games and Bob hadn’t played at all. Now, both have game experience. We know what they can do,” said Ferentz.

Chances are neither quarterback will get a chance to go 0-5 as DelRosso did a year ago. Third string QB Emilio Colon, a promising redshirt freshman from Haverill, Mass., has entered the picture, according to Ferentz.

“We don’t know what he’ll do in a game situation but he’s been awfully impressive in practice. Bob is No. 1 and Jeff is No. 2. Emilio is No. 3. We didn’t think Bob would take a snap last year and look what happened. Emilio’s had his redshirt year. We wouldn’t hesitate to use him,” said Ferentz, noting Colon was an option QB in high school and throws well on the run.

By Mike Dowd Of the NEWS Staff

ORONO – The University of Maine football team’s quarterback controversy is over – for this week, at least.

Second-year head coach Kirk Ferentz named sophomore Bob Zurinskas the starter Friday, relegating fifth-year senior Jeff DelRosso to a backup role. Zurinskas was 2-2 as a starter last season. DelRosso was 0-5 in 1990. But Ferentz said it was the work both did in preseason camp this year that led to his decision.

“I don’t think there’s a loser,” said Ferentz. “They’ve both performed well and both shown improvement. Both have our confidence. As a staff, we felt Bob had the edge. It’s his job to lose.”

Zurinskas, a 6-foot-2, 200-pound native of Brockton, Mass., won the job based on his superior mobility, according to Ferentz. Zurinskas, who completed 45 percent of his throws for 260 yards, 4 TDS, and 3 INTs in ’90, said he felt he earned the job.

“I worked hard at it,” Zurinskas said, noting he believes he’s a better passer this year. “I improved a lot to be able to start. I think I’m deserving of it.”

DelRosso, who completed 37 percent of his passes last year for 760 yards with 3 TDs and 8 INTs, said he was disappointed with the decision. He will now concentrate on being ready in case Zurinskas falters.

“It’s tougher, just staying upbeat,” said the 6-foot, 190-pound native of Cheshire, Conn. “I don’t know what to make of it. Worse things have happened, I guess. I’ve got to stay ready.”

Although the decision has been made, Ferentz said it is not written in stone. The coach said if Zurinskas falters he won’t hesitate to make another change, even before the Sept. 7 opener with Villanova.

“I think it will still be day to day,” said Ferentz. “We’ll give Bob the luxury of running the first offense. But if he has a couple of bad days in a row, we’ll change.”

Ferentz said he might even use both QBs in a single game.

“It could become a down and distance thing,” he said.

If it sounds like Maine is entering the new season with the same unsettled quarterback situation it had at the end of last year’s 3-8 campaign, Ferentz said there’s a difference.

“Going back to last year, Jeff had only played one or two games and Bob hadn’t played at all. Now, both have game experience. We know what they can do,” said Ferentz.

Chances are neither quarterback will get a chance to go 0-5 as DelRosso did a year ago. Third string QB Emilio Colon, a promising redshirt freshman from Haverill, Mass., has entered the picture, according to Ferentz.

“We don’t know what he’ll do in a game situation but he’s been awfully impressive in practice. Bob is No. 1 and Jeff is No. 2. Emilio is No. 3. We didn’t think Bob would take a snap last year and look what happened. Emilio’s had his redshirt year. We wouldn’t hesitate to use him,” said Ferentz, noting Colon was an option QB in high school and throws well on the run.