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Overcoming odds

Newcomer is a leader as Crystal River's QB after being a longtime back-up and having to receive speech therapy.

By DAWN REISS
Published September 16, 2005

CRYSTAL RIVER - Pirates sophomore Shay Newcomer shakes the shaggy hair from his eyes. There is a quiet confidence about him.

Nothing cocky, just an emanating self-assurance. It comes from someone who should have every reason to not believe.

Crystal River looks nothing like the program it was a few years ago.

No 1,000-yard rushers. Gone are the days of dominance. And the last time the Pirates won a playoff game was 2001, a 35-23 decision over Suwannee in the opening round.

Last week, Newcomer was sacked four times in a 41-6 loss at Central, where Crystal River gained only 63 yards of total offense. It was Newcomer's first game as a varsity starting quarterback, a job he's held for 10 days.

He always had been a back-up. In Sharks youth football, the starting position went to someone else. At Crystal River Middle School, Newcomer took over only after the quarterback got hurt.

This year wasn't any different. When two-year starter Kyle Daquanna quit last week, Newcomer stepped in after being the back-up on the junior varsity squad last season. He never thought his dream would happen so quickly.

Newcomer is not only a player; he's a fan. He's a wealth of information on the NFL: rushing yards, height, weight, touchdowns, college history and just about anything else. He loves the Buccaneers and Gators, but his favorite player is the quintessential quarterback, Brett Favre.

Yet, it's not always easy for Newcomer to communicate all that knowledge. As soon as he starts to speak, his voice chokes up as he stutters. The more nervous he is, the more severe it becomes.

Years of speech therapy have helped lessen the impediment.

"It's not like a lisp," said his mother, Anne. "It will never go away, but he seems to manage it well.

"It's actually quite amazing," she said. "Usually people with speech impediments are quiet. But he's always liked to lead. He doesn't let anything hold him down. He just plows right through."

When Newcomer gets in the huddle, he just breathes and focuses on what he needs to do. With the adrenaline pumping, he said, it's easier to talk.

"I just have to deal with it," Newcomer said. "It isn't going to hamper how I play.

"Sometimes I do have trouble talking. I try to forget why I'm nervous and push myself through it. I know the quarterback has to be a talker."

In a short time, Newcomer has begun to prove he is a leader.

He has tried to rally his teammates, using knowledge gained from last year's 10-0 JV squad. He leads by action also, as a linebacker who isn't afraid to sacrifice his body.

"I'm not one of the pretty boys," he said. "I like to hit people."

Newcomer is confident that Crystal River can change direction from its downward spiraling course. He has been learning how to make decisions more quickly and hopes newly incorporated screen passes will help lift a sputtering offense lacking a strong line that would allow for more time in the pocket.

"He's dependable," teammate Frank Laga said. "He seems to have good field vision.

What Newcomer lacks in smooth handoff transitions, Crystal River coach Craig Frederick said, he makes up for with a strong arm, an ability to scramble and smart decisions.

Simply put, Frederick said, "Shay's done a great job."

[Last modified September 16, 2005, 01:35:22]