Wisconsin head coach Luke Fickell has been tasked with a big assignment: find a way to develop a true freshman quarterback on the fly. It's not something Fickell even likes to do, as he prefers veteran play-callers over inexperienced ones. But this is his lot, and yet, he describes young Carter Smith's attitude as something incredible and a fire that he needs going forward.
"I don't know that the moment was too big. It wasn't like you could look in his eyes and be worried. That's not it. You know, that's a really good thing. "Luke Fickell
Fickell was responding to a question about Smith, but he answered it more broadly about freshmen. It's a trail that Fickell often frequents this season when describing Wisconsin. It's hard for true freshmen to play and contribute in college football, whether they are linemen, quarterbacks, linebackers, or wide receivers.
Fickell was impressed with Carter Smith but knows there's a lot of growth ahead of him
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The learning curve is often too great in their first or even second year, and their bodies aren't quite the right size. However, he's been thrusting the young players into the spotlight, and most have taken the bull by the horns and shone.
This is why, when Fickell looks into the eyes of his young quarterback, he sees what he sees you can't really teach: "attitude and a competitive spirit." He talks about when the opportunity comes, does the freshman take it and have a fire in their eyes, or do they shy away from the moment? For Carter Smith, it's seize and take.
Fans see that early with Smith and are excited as he develops and learns on the fly. It's tough for Smith to have to go out and take on the No. 2 defense in college football, Indiana, in his first collegiate start, but like Fickell said, the moment wasn't too big in terms of attitude, but the game did reveal to him that he still has a lot of room to grow.