Huber develops into Titans' leader

The Newton Falls High graduate won the starting job at quarterback this year.
By BILL ALBRIGHT
VINDICATOR CORRESPONDENT
NEW WILMINGTON -- Not to be outdone by the Pittsburgh Steelers who had Kordell Stewart in his role of "Slash," Kevin Huber has handled those responsibilities for the Westminster Titans for the past two seasons.
During the 2001 campaign, one never knew where to find Huber on the field when the Titans had the ball. One time he might line up at wide receiver, then he might take a snap from center as the Titans' quarterback in the red zone.
"Honestly, the way the situation evolved was that I told Coach [Jerry Schmitt] that I didn't care where I was at. I just wanted to play," said Huber. "With my athletic ability, I feel that I can play somewhere on the field with these guys."
As for the red zone responsibility, Huber said that was due to his ability to do many things.
"We go a lot of double tights and the coach likes to run a little bit of option down there," explained Huber. "Matt [Robison] is a great quarterback, but he is not exactly the most fleet-a-foot guy so he [Schmitt] wanted me to get in there and stretch things to the outside so they [the opponent's defense] couldn't jam the middle."
Emerged as leader
In the pre-season, Huber's status as a starter was still in the air. However, during the first few games, the Newton Falls High product has emerged as the leader of the Titan offense.
"Compared to what I had to do last year, this year I can concentrate more on my responsibilities as the quarterback," said Huber. "We have a lot of meetings during the week and it makes it easier for me to deal with the specific aspects of the position. I know if I am not performing well or I am not leading the team like I am supposed to, [Robison] will be ready to step right in."
Huber is not completely finished "slashing" -- he was the kicker in punt formation when the Titans opened the season against Walsh.
"I was our backup kicker in high school to a kid who went to Youngstown State," said Huber. "He worked with me over the summer and coach wanted me to do that because he felt that we could execute some fakes off the situation.
"I feel that the more things I can do, the better chance I have of being on the field and that is where I want to be. I don't want to be on the sidelines."
Got friendly word
"I knew the situation with our punter having graduated and we didn't recruit anybody for that position," said Schmitt. "[Huber] told me about his friend and I told him, 'You are practicing over the summer.'
"He was playing receiver, quarterback, punting and I told him that he was going to drive the team bus, you know, the whole deal. He is a kid who can do that and I think the more he is involved, the happier he is and the more he helps us."