By Rock Westfall
Arch Manning flashed his talent and put the Texas Spring Game on top of the sports world. For one day, Manning confounded his many haters and doubters. He also defied comparisons to the career ghosts of Ron Powlus and Jimmy Clausen.
Sensational Superstar Performance Triggers the Country
Not much in the way of fireworks was expected at Saturday’s Texas Longhorn spring game. Starting quarterback Quinn Ewers saw limited action, as was planned. Head coach Steve Sarkisian said he knows what he has in Ewers, projected to be starting for the third straight year.
Instead, Sarkisian wanted to invest time in observing Arch Manning. Fans were fine with that because they much preferred to see the sophomore Manning anyway. Ewers is a talented quarterback, who is expected to have a very good season, but the Manning name and potential are monstrous. After Saturday’s epic performance, fans’ stock on Manning is higher than ever before.
Arch Manning hits Isaiah Bond in stride for his second 75 yard TD pass on the day pic.twitter.com/9YLPyOOCbk
— Nash (@NashTalksTexas) April 20, 2024
A Magnificent Golden Arch on First Play Leads to Perfect Start
On his first pass attempt of the spring game, Arch Manning threw a 75-yard touchdown pass. Subsequently, he completed his first ten passes. Manning finished the first half 11-13 for 189 yards and two TDs. By the end of the game, Manning finished 19-26 for 355 yards and three TDs with one interception. If not for a dropped pass, he would have tallied another TD completion.
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Sarkisian was concerned that Manning hardly played last year and that he desperately needed to play football. Sarkisian remains adamant that Ewers is the starter. But that will not stop the Arch Manning fanatics from demanding their hero gets the nod. Certainly, Manning will be pressing Ewers in summer camp. And if Ewers falters in any way, Manning looks ready to assume the mantle.
Can anyone say quarterback controversy? Well, not really as Quinn Ewers is entrenched as the starter, but you get the point.
What a day for @ArchManning pic.twitter.com/BsHfpwzXZF
— Barstool Longhorn (@UTBarstool) April 20, 2024
Haters Gonna Hate – Manning’s Performance Stokes Ecstasy and Rage
Still, not everyone is drinking the Burnt Orange Kool-Aid. Manning has plenty of detractors.
Millions of fans detest Manning for his name. It is said that he only got where he is by having one of the most royal names in the sport as the nephew of Peyton and Eli Manning and the grandson of Archie Manning. Additionally, his high school career at Isidore Newman in New Orleans is minimized under a low level of competition.
Manning was a consensus five-star recruit by recruiting services, although not everybody thought he should be rated that highly. Regardless, he had sit-downs with all of the major programs of his choice and could go anywhere he pleased. But Manning will never escape the stigma of being considered privileged, even if he wins a national championship.
The best evidence of that was on social media after the spring game. Many posts on X (Formerly Twitter) were filled with criticism despite his great performance. To these fans, Manning is seen as a blue blood trust fund baby who plays for one of the most historic (but also entitled and hated) programs in college football. Indeed, the Manning-Texas combination is jet fuel for loathing and resentment.
But Manning handles the animosity with pure class, a cool demeanor, and, on Saturday, with excellence. Of course, that only serves to trigger the haters further.
https://twitter.com/WASHWARRlORSfan/status/1782154863410864592
Manning Seeks to Beat the Hype that Destroyed Other Infamous Careers
Two career ghosts are lingering around Manning. Former Notre Dame QBs Ron Powlus and Jimmy Clausen are a cautionary tale of out-of-control hype and the pitfalls of expecting too much at a Mount Rushmore program.
Powlus was a decent enough person and did not ask for the buildup that he received when ESPN analyst Beano Cook touted Powlus as a certain two-time Heisman Trophy winner who would be the greatest QB in Notre Dame history.
Powlus was good but nowhere near great during his career, which spanned from 1994 through 1997. He never sniffed a Heisman or a national championship and was undrafted by the NFL. In fact, Notre Dame descended into a long period of mediocrity that began when Powlus took over the reins.
And then there was Jimmy Clausen, touted by Sports Illustrated as the “Kid with the Golden Arm” as a high school junior. Recruiting Services sold Clausen as a “once in a decade” prospect.
Clausen did not help himself with his brash and cocky demeanor in the face of lackluster Notre Dame seasons. The hype matched that of Powlus, although so did the results. Clausen skipped his senior season to enter the NFL Draft after his coach, Charlie Weiss, was fired for being unsuccessful with Clausen under center.
Powlus and Clausen’s warning from history is often projected on Manning. Arch can only kill the comparisons with performances like Saturday’s.
Maybe it’s just me, but I’m starting to think Arch Manning is getting a little overhyped. Reminds me of Jimmy Clausen when he was getting recruited. Let’s pump the brakes.
— Big Game Boomer (@BigGameBoomer) May 21, 2022
Burnt Orange Nation Sees the Future and That It Can Work
On Saturday, Sarkisian, Texas fans, and College Football Nation got a taste of what Arch Manning can be. Both his fans and critics are more emboldened than ever. The debate is raging even further and the national spotlight on Manning is brighter than ever. He became the story of the weekend, surpassing the start of the NBA and NHL Playoffs.
Indeed, in a spring game, Arch Manning put college football on top of the sporting world. One player rising one sport well beyond where it otherwise would be.
Only One Player Has the Potential to be the Caitlin Clark of College Football https://t.co/xEzv0ms0SS via @rockwestfall711
— Mike Farrell (@mfarrellsports) April 20, 2024
