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Bees' Hayward hopes it is better to give than to receive
Originally Posted Online: Sept. 04, 2009, 6:07 pm
Last Updated: Sept. 04, 2009, 6:19 pm
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By Tom Johnston, tjohnston@qconline.com
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That Mike Hayward is expected to be an impact player for the St. Ambrose University football team is no gigantic stretch. The junior has been dynamite for the Fighting Bees since stepping foot on campus. Last season, he was named an NAIA All-American when he set single-season school records for receptions (88), receiving yards (1,292) and touchdown receptions (11) en route to being named the Mid-States Football Association's Midwest League Player of the Year. He will not, however, even get a chance to surpass any of those numbers this year or become the school's all-time leading receiver – a mark he is just 273 yards shy of. Beginning today when the Bees host Trinity International in their season opener at Brady Street stadium, he will be the one throwing the passes instead of being on the receiving end of the pigskin. The Bettendorf High School product shifts gears and goes back to the position at which he starred as a prep. "Mike has done a fantastic job; I could not be happier with what Mike has done throughout camp in getting ready for this first game,'' said third-year head coach Mike Magistrelli. "He's done a tremendous job in the leadership role as quarterback and is also making great decisions with the football right now and really becoming a student of the game.'' Hayward, despite only taking a few snaps with the starters his first two years, says he's ready to continue SAU's strong QB tradition. His only concern is having enough arm strength for the 40-some passes he will be throwing a week. "There's nothing really new to me,'' said Hayward, confidently ready to assume his different key role with the Bees. "I had to get back into the throwing again, but making the reads and leading the offense? I'm always comfortable with that.'' Billy Rembold agrees. The SAU sophomore will slide into Hayward's vacated receiving role and reprise a script that played out well at BHS when Rembold was a sophomore called up to varsity duty when Hayward was quarterbacking. Like the coaches, Rembold sees Hayward as ready for the job. "He knows the routes we're supposed to be running and that will only help him as a QB – knowing where we'll be and the timing,'' said Rembold, "He's doing a great job.'' Magistrelli sees that, too. The coach said it's funny to watch Hayward throw a pass and then follow it downfield as he runs to talk to his young receiving corps. "Playing receiver gives him a much better overall understanding of the pass game,'' agreed Magistrelli. While Hayward has eyed this opportunity for two years, he was content being on the receiving end of passes. Incumbent Jim DuPage held the job Hayward's freshman year and transfer Will Ducey took it last year after Hayward's breakthrough receiving debut. This past year, though, Hayward won the job over former Bulldog teammate Danny Tharp, who is sidelined after rotator cuff surgery. Taking a redshirt, Tharp will have two post-Hayward seasons remaining and that gives the Bees a long-range plan. Short-term, the job is Hayward's and he is ready for it. "Being a quarterback is a lot more mental and you have to watch more film – you have to be a lot more prepared,'' said Hayward. "As a receiver, you look at reads and run your route. As the quarterback, you have the ball in your hands and are making decisions on every play. I'm up for that challenge and to lead the team.'' Of course, there is always trepidation over a move such as the one Hayward is making. "Anytime you take a player of that caliber, an All-American receiver, you've got to think long and hard about it,'' said Magistrelli. "But you watch him play quarterback and run the offense from there, boy, it makes it look like a very good move. ... The transition went very smooth. We expect Mike will have the same type of impact at quarterback he had at wide receiver for us. '' 
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