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ASU's Edwards says he's doing fine
Star quarterback had surgery on knee Jan. 14; he expects to participate in spring practice
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Quarterback Armanti Edwards led Appalachian State to consecutive national championships before the Apps came up short in 2008.
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Published: January 27, 2009
Armanti Edwards, who had arthroscopic surgery on Jan. 14 to repair a slight meniscus tear in his right knee, said that he's free of pain and looking forward to his senior season of football at Appalachian State.
Edwards was recognized during an ASU basketball game Saturday for winning the Walter Payton Award, which is given annually to the top player in the NCAA's Football Championship Subdivision.
Edwards said his knee is fine.
"They just cut a little piece off and I should be back to full speed in a few weeks," said Edwards, who said that he is working out with weights and will begin running this week.
Edwards said that he plans to participate in spring practice, which will begin in late February. DeAndre Presley, Edwards' backup who played some last season as a freshman, is expected to get the majority of reps at quarterback during spring drills to gain additional experience.
Edwards said he finished last season playing with a bruised hip and pain in his knee, and that the knee altered his running ability.
"Every time I tried to run there was a sharp pain and it wouldn't allow me to run," Edwards said.
Edwards said that the injuries didn't alter his throwing ability. After throwing two interceptions through 11 games, Edwards was picked off five times in a 33-13 loss to eventual champion Richmond in the FCS quarterfinals. That loss ended ASU's bid for a fourth straight national title.
Edwards chalked it up to a bad game.
"That's all it was," he said, adding that he won't forget it.
"It will never go to rest. It was the worst offensive game that we've ever had. It's just made everybody more determined in the offseason.
"Even though we won the Southern Conference it was just a bad way to go out, so everybody is hungry and mad about the situation."
Edwards said that he was surprised a few weeks ago to learn that Scott Satterfield, the Mountaineers' quarterback coach who essentially served in an offensive coordinator's role, wouldn't return to ASU next season, but that he understood. Satterfield took a job as co-offensive coordinator at Toledo. He's one of two ASU assistants to have moved on. Antonio Carver, the Mountaineers' receivers coach, accepted a job as receivers coach at Eastern Michigan.
"You understand it," Edwards said. "It's a business. It was shocking when I heard it because I didn't know it was coming. But I was the first one (Satterfield) talked to and I understand. I wish the best for him and he wished the best for us."
Edwards laughed at the suggestion that he might be offensive coordinator next season.
"I don't think I'd do too good at coaching," Edwards said.
■ Tommy Bowman can be reached at 727-7320 or at tbowman@wsjournal.com.
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