Urban Meyer can't really go anywhere without having to address the topic.
It's like a tick. A flea, even. The Ohio State quarterback quandary is unlike anything Meyer — or any college football coach for that matter — has had the pleasure of working through.
You know the story. The Buckeyes lost Braxton Miller to yet another shoulder injury less than two weeks before their season opener last August. J.T. Barrett then became a household name on his way to finishing fifth in the Heisman Trophy voting, only to break his ankle against rival Michigan in November. Then, Cardale Jones notched three postseason wins and Ohio State won the first ever College Football Playoff National Championship.
Come spring practice, Meyer knew he had an unprecedented situation on his hands. He's spoken to the media four times during his team's 12 practices to date (No. 13 is Wednesday morning), and you better believe he's been asked about the position each time.
The latest was Monday morning, less than a week before the annual spring game Saturday at 1:30 p.m. at Ohio Stadium. He's been asked about controlling egos, how he thinks it'll play out this fall, whether or not he'll consider using a "specialty quarterback" in the offense and what it's like to have such a ridiculous luxury.
This time, though, it was regarding the Spring Game and how he sees the workload split up among those who are healthy.
"I try to say its the same as the beginning of spring practice," Meyer said, veering off on the tangent of discussing the proclaimed "Magnificent Three" he so dubbed them at the National Championship celebration in January. "It's day-to-day, get Braxton healthy, get J.T. as many reps as he can, he's limited because of his foot and then Cardale as many practice reps as he can."
"I'm not even there yet as far as, I don't know who our quarterback's going to be."
That's very likely to be true — but Meyer gave that response when he someone wondered about those guys who physically can play Saturday. Not those who cannot.
So the reporter asked again, correcting Meyer regarding what he was after, and the head coach gave a brief response.
"Spring Game, Cardale will go and Stephen will go," Meyer said. "J.T. can't go."
What more can he say? Barrett and Miller have been rehabbing furiously in order to get as good a chance as possible to win the starting job in the fall, which is really all Meyer can and is willing to say regarding their health.
"For me to start saying, 'Keep this guy healthy, keep that guy healthy.' I don't know," he said. "Braxton, he had double labrum surgery so I like ... Exactly where we need to be. At the end of spring practice we get J.T. Barrett a million reps. Probably more than I thought we would get him."
Too often, when athletes suffer major injuries they go down again by trying to return too quickly. In the case of Barrett and Miller, Meyer knows that no news is good news. As long as there aren't any setbacks, each day is deemed a positive.
Miller hurt himself again in a none contact drills last fall, but Meyer's been cautiously optimistic about the two-time Big Ten Player of the Year's recovery.
"I've been told rehab is going good," Meyer said. "The only person I really trust in this — I think medical guys, they have jobs to do, but the player knows."
Athletes know their own bodies better than anyone else, which is why Meyer believes Miller's progression is going the way it should be going.
"I've known Braxton a long time and almost every day 'How's it going? Talk to me,'" Meyer said. "And he says it's going very well."
Miller's also been down to Alabama visit with Dr. James Andrews three times since his surgery, according to his head coach.
"We're pretty pleased with what's going on," Meyer said.
Barrett is throwing this spring and has been seen jogging gingerly on that surgically repaired right ankle. He participates in 7-on-7s and even some two-minute drills, a calculated risk, but one the coaching staff feels comfortable because of how well his return is moving along.
"We practiced better this year than we have in the past. I think (defensive line coach) Larry Johnson does a good job, guys aren't flopping around." Meyer said. "You handle that situation, because if you re-injure it he's done for the year."
Jones' own progress will be on display Saturday at Ohio Stadium — how much he plays is still up in the air. There's no sense in risking his health, too.
But while Collier and his understudies should get the bulk of the reps in the scrimmage, the pest that is the dilemma surrounding the most important position in the sport isn't going to stop fluttering around Meyer's head anytime soon.
"I won't say I'm ignoring it, but I'm ignoring it," Meyer told SI.com Tuesday.
"How will you manage the game and manage a sideline?" Meyer said. "Those are Aug. 15-type questions"
The clock's ticking.
