The status of Towson quarterback Sean Schaefer?s health is still up in the air after he missed Saturday?s game against No. 8 Massachusetts with an unspecified illness. Tigers coach Gordy Combs said Monday that Schaefer?s status for Saturday?s game at Villanova will be determined soon.
In Schaefer?s absence, junior quarterback Andrew Goldbeck stepped into a tough situation, having not taken a snap with the first team all week. Goldbeck was 14 for 23 for 101 yards with an interception, throwing a number of short passing routes and screen plays in Towson?s 35-0 loss.
The Tigers (4-2), who dropped out of the Sports Network top 25 poll after entering last week?s game at No. 22, hope to know today whether or not they?ll be going with Schaefer or Goldbeck, who started as a redshirt freshman in 2004.
“He?ll be more attentive in the meetings,” Combs said of Goldbeck?s involvement this week. “It?s a difference when you know you?re going to play and when you?re maybe going to play.”
If Goldbeck is the starter this week, look for Towson to open up the playbook a little more.
Entering last week, Schaefer was among the Atlantic 10 Conference leaders in passing. He has completed 66.9 percent of his attempts for 1,454 yards and seven touchdowns in five games.
The Tigers turned the ball over four times Saturday and allowed UMass to pass for five touchdowns ? something they can?t do against Villanova (2-4) this week.
“We have the capacity to play very well, and if Schaefer can?t play, we have to give the support to Goldy,” Combs said. “And that means in every aspect of the game.”
MISSING SCHAEFER
» Before last weekend, sophomore quarterback Sean Schaefer hadn?t missed a start in 16 games since taking over as the starter at the beginning of the 2005 season.
» Schaefer is already eighth on the program?s all-time passing yardage list, with 4,226 yards in 16 games. His 27 passing touchdowns rank 10th.
