Hoya Staff Writer Tuesday, September 12, 2006 Lindsay Anderson/The Hoya As GU Looks for a Winning Season, the Quest For a Quarterback Continues.

When THE HOYA asked sophomore quarterback Ben Hostetler how he felt about his spot on the Patriot League Honor Roll, his response was hardly that of a humble, seasoned veteran. Nor was it, despite a 20-for-34 passing performance and two touchdowns, that of an arrogant all-star. Rather, Ben Hostetler was surprised. He didn’t even know. “Really? Sweet,” was all he could say. Indeed, it is Hostetler’s carefree nonchalance, and his long, curly hair, that has earned the second-year quarterback both “Hollywood” and “sunshine” as nicknames. But Hostetler’s image as a carefree skateboarder or surfer veils a strong sense of competition. The Ellicott City, Md. native was a three-sport star at River Hill High School, earning all-county honors in football, basketball and lacrosse. He was a U.S. Lacrosse Magazine all-America selection in 2005 after setting school records in goals, assists and points. That indelible drive put Hostetler where he is now: in the driving seat of Hoya football. He feels right at home at Georgetown, which is just an hour from his hometown, and he says he was wearing blue and gray long before he arrived on campus. “Growing up I really liked the Georgetown basketball team and I had a Georgetown jersey that I used to wear,” Hostetler says. “So, I don’t know, maybe it was meant to be?” This year, Hostetler and his fierce competitiveness triumphed in a battle with senior Nick Cangelosi and junior Matt Bassuener for the spot of starting quarterback. While incumbent Cangelosi injured himself in spring practices and has been largely unavailable this fall, Hostetler was named the starter shortly before the football team’s season opener against Holy Cross. Bassuener remains the backup. “It came right down to the wire,” Hostetler says. “It was really an honor to be chosen as the starter.” In the opener, with his signature curly red locks sprouting from underneath his helmet, Hostetler, usually unfazed, had to overcome pre-game jitters and a slow start. “I came into the game a little nervous and excited,” he says. “It was my first big game and I’m just a sophomore, so I didn’t want to let my team down.” Down 13-0 at halftime, Hostetler went on to run for one touchdown and throw for another in the second half of the Hoyas’ 26-13 loss. His 20-of-34 completion rate was good enough for 168 yards on the day – not to mention a spot on the week one Honor Roll. Hostetler “probably started a little anxious and he forced some things, made some mistakes,” Head Coach Kevin Kelly said. “But he settled down after halftime and made some adjustments. In the second half he played like how I think Ben can play.” While the Holy Cross game was Hostetler’s first as Georgetown’s No. 1 play-caller, he played in three games last season, even starting in a loss at Cornell. Now, he is no longer just a backup to Cangelosi. “Nick’s had a stroke of bad luck recently,” Kelly explains. “He got banged up in the spring and then again in the preseason. He hasn’t really been himself yet.” Cangelosi’s injury adds yet another chapter to the Georgetown football’s recent history of instability at the quarterback position. In the past five seasons, the Hoyas have had eight different signal-callers start games. Last year, Cangelosi led a stagnant Georgetown offense that scored just 13 touchdowns in its 11-game season. Hostetler, who carries 185 pounds on his unprepossessing 6-foot-2 frame, will try to do something this season that was tried last year with Cangelosi under former Head Coach Bob Benson: Run the Option. With a new offense in place and a new coaching staff at the reins, Offensive Coordinator and Quarterbacks Coach Jim Miceli sees the 6-foot-2 Hostetler developing nicely. “I think Ben’s a young quarterback and that’s going to get a lot better than he is right now,” he says. “His best football is in front of him.”Ben’s done an excellent job so far, so he’s our leader at this point,” Kelly agrees. But, adds iceli: “I feel comfortable with both [Hostetler and Bassuener] in the game. Every week, I see those guys getting better and better.” Hostetler, who had eight carries for 16 yards in the opener, thinks the team has adjusted well to the new offensive scheme, which features the Option prominently. “We started running it in the spring and we got a feel for it then,” he says. “But I think during camp all the pieces started coming together and we all started to make the right reads.” As good as Hostetler was at lacrosse, his football pedigree got the better of him. Hostetler’s older brother, Matt, played football at Brown, his father, Doug, for Penn State, but it is his uncle Jeff that is the family’s most well-known football player. A star at West Virginia, Jeff Hostetler quarterbacked the Giants, Raiders and Redskins over a 12-year professional career that spanned 1985-1997. He is best known for leading the Giants to 20-19 victory over Buffalo in Super Bowl XXV. When asked if his uncle had any advice for his young nephew, Hostetler says, “He just tells me to stay calm and do my thing.” So far, he’s been doing his thing just fine. – Staff Writer Bailey Heaps contributed to this report.