Halliday Says Too Much “Gunslinger” Mentality is a Bad Thing

Sep 14, 2012; Las Vegas, NV, USA; Washington State Cougars quarterback Connor Halliday (12) and quarterback Jeff Tuel (10) before a game against the UNLV Rebels at Sam Boyd Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jake Roth-US PRESSWIRE

Connor Halliday has been steadily growing in the Cougar offense since he was introduced to the Washington State fans against Arizona State last year, setting all kinds of freshman and first game records for a WSU quarterback. After being beat out in the Spring and Fall camps without much chance to compete because of a nagging internal injury, the sophomore has been reinserted into the starting lineup and seems to have a chance to finish the season in that role. It’s a slippery slope though, as he is figuring out, throwing some crucial interceptions over the past 2 weeks that helped the opposition revive their momentum. What’s the deal?

Some people have thrown the “gunslinger” label on him, which is a word describing a guy who’s not necessarily always aware of the danger that he tries to fit the ball into. The key is that a gunslinger can really move the ball and make some incredible plays throwing the ball, but sometimes you have to take the bad with the good. But Connor sort of denies all of that. “Well I think I’ve always kinda played with that type of mentality, but I think too much of that gets you in trouble. The interceptions I’ve thrown were more just poor reads. I have a little bit of that in me, but too much of that is a bad thing”.

Halliday threw the ball 60 times last week, so he definitely fits the name brand but he wants to be more of a quarterback that throws the ball a lot, smartly. ” I’ve made some poor reads, on that one I needed to get to my 3rd read”, Halliday on the 4th quarter interception that gave Colorado a glimmer of hope last Saturday. It’s going to take all that and more to beat Oregon on Saturday and get the Cougs in a position to get to a bowl later in the season.