‘ALL ABOUT WINNING’

EX-ROGERS HIGH QB WANTS MORE THAN BEARS’ PASSING RECORDS

By Paul Boyd

Posted: November 27, 2009 at 4:07 a.m.

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BENTONVILLE — Cody Kirby will likely own all the pertinent passing records before he’s finished at Missouri State next year, but the Rogers High graduate is looking for more.

Kirby wants to lead the Bears to the Football Championship Subdivision (formerly I-AA) playoffs.

He is No. 1 in school history in touchdown passes, second in attempts, completions, yards, 200-yard passing games and consecutive games with a completion (33).

But the Bears’ 6-5 record and the fact that their season is finished didn’t sit well with Kirby.

“The only statistic I look at is the ‘W’,” Kirby said. “Records are something to look at 20 years down the road. I’m not gonna say I could care less, but then again it’s all about winning.”

Missouri State coach Terry Allen said Kirby has been a “great fit” at quarterback for the Bears.

“The thing that stands out about him is his effort,” Allen said. “Cody’s the hardest working player I’ve had in 30 years of coaching.”

Kirby earned Missouri Valley Conference Freshman of the Year honors in 2007, second-team all-conference last year and was named honorable mention all-conference Wednesday.

Allen said Kirby’s arm strength and excellent feet help make up for the signal-caller’s lack of height.

“The only drawback for Cody is he’s not 6-2,” Allen said. “He’s 5-10 and his vision in the pocket is sometimes a problem.”

He completed almost 62 percent (181-of-293) of his passes for 2,120 yards this season, but also struggled with 16 interceptions and just 11 touchdowns.

“He had a good year, he didn’t have a great year,” Allen said. “He’s a heck of a player. He’s going to end up rewriting every passing record there is at Missouri State. For us to get to the next level, he’s got to cut down the turnovers.”

Kirby acknowledged he forced things at times.

“It’s disappointing,” Kirby said. “It came down a lot of times to trying to make too many plays ... in certain situations trying to force a pass or make a perfect pass instead of just letting instinct take over.”

Kirby was also sacked 29 times in 11 games this season, but refused to blame the offensive line for his problems.

“Looking back that’s probably more than we would have liked,” Kirby said. “That’s not on the offensive line. There were times when I should have gotten rid of the ball or tucked it and ran it.”

Allen said Kirby just needs to make better decisions.

“He just needs to slow the game down,” Allen said. “Everything he does, he does 1,000 miles a minute. But the older they get the more the game slows down for them.”

Kirby is encouraged about his senior season though with 27 seniors returning.

“In the offseason, I’ll be working on being able to manage the game,” Kirby said. “We have a lot of playmakers on the field and my is job is just to play my role and get those playmakers the football.

“The pieces are in place. The team chemistry is in place. Now it just comes down to doing it.”

Kirby said he will work hard in the offseason to try to reach that ultimate goal of making of the playoffs.

“This will be my last go-around,” Kirby said. “ I’ll make sure to do everything I can to be as full prepared as I’ve ever been.”

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