Monday, September 8, 2008

Two weeks after Maryland quarterback Chris Turner considered transferring after he lost the quarterback competition to Jordan Steffy, he regained the starting quarterback job because of Steffy's thumb injury, suffered in the season opener. Saturday, he completed 13 of 28 passes for 207 yards and threw three interceptions in a 24-14 loss at Middle Tennessee.

It is a little bit crazy. I didn't see it happening, obviously. Like I said, as a backup, I had to be ready for anything. Here I am now. It has been a roller coaster, for sure. You all know it was pretty tough couple of days [after Steffy was named starter].

I'm just focused on right now. I'm not focused on the past. I am happy with my choice to stay, obviously. I am just here for my team.

It is definitely hard. It is almost like you didn't earn it, almost like you don't deserve it.

It is just Jordan, it's tough luck again. I don't know what else to say. I have jammed my thumb 1,000 times and it's the worst injury you can have as a quarterback and it's just a finger.

This is my job now. I didn't think much of my performance [in the opener]. I had, what, three pass attempts. I didn't do a good job on third down. I have a lot of room to improve, I'll put it that way. I guess I managed the last quarter well and got out with a 'W.' That was good. For one reason or another, things can happen. Injuries are the biggest thing. Unfortunately, Jordan got injured. That is why you prepare as a backup.

Quarterback is a funny position because it is really the only position where you don't play as a backup unless something happens. So in that sense you need to be ready. And quarterbacks take a lot of shots, when we get hit we get hit, funny positions. We don't give the hits, so in that sense we are a little more prone to injuries. So in that sense I did make sure I was ready.

-- Interview by Eric Prisbell