GALLUP, N.M. -- Junior college transfer Royal Gill beat out backup quarterback Joey Vincent to become New Mexico State University's starting quarterback.
Head coach Hal Mumme named Gill on Wednesday at the Aggies training camp in Gallup.
"When coach told me, I was surprised because Joey has been doing so good," said Gill, a 6-foot-5 transfer from Pima (Ariz.) Community College. "I feel I am getting better and I'm picking up things more and more every day. I have to move forward and keep improving."
Mumme said in a news release that it was the hardest quarterback decision he'd made in his coaching career.
The competition was so close, he nearly appointed Vincent as the starter on Sunday. But he decided to let the competition run a little longer.
"Royal really had a solid Tuesday," Mumme said. "He's really picking up the offense well. Joey is an important of our team and I don't look at him as a second-team guy, he's more of a 1B. I have confidence in him if we had to go to him."
The competition for the starter's spot "put both quarterbacks through a lot of pressure and I don't know that I could have put
any more pressure on them," Mumme said.
Vincent, a redshirt junior, said Gill earned the job.
"Royal has really picked up the offense even more so than me,"
Vincent said. "Hes good, and I'll do what I can to stay as sharp
as I can and help Royal. We're friends and that's the most
important. I want to see him do well and see our team do well."
The Aggies will open the season Sept. 3 at home against the
University of Texas-El Paso.
Gill said he hadn't thought about the first game because he'd
been concentrating on improving and gaining the top quarterback
spot.
"But now I'm eager to get ready for the UTEP game," he said.
"It's a rivalry game and they are a good team.
"We have a tough schedule, but I'm not looking past UTEP."
New Mexico State will play Colorado, New Mexico and California
before conference play starts Oct. 1 at Louisiana Tech. The Aggies
are one of three new members of the Western Athletic Conference.
Mumme said his team will spend the next two weeks focusing on
the season.
"We'll work on some of the nuances of our offense and getting
ready for the opener, where there will be pressure," he said.
"Royal has spent a lot of time preparing by watching film and
being a student of the game. That will help him a lot in
preparation."