Steel Valley grad thriving at Akron

For the first time in his college career, Steel Valley graduate and Akron quarterback Luke Getsy won't be an untested starter.

When Akron opens its season Sept. 2 at Penn State, Getsy will start his third opener. Finally, though, the question marks, skepticism and criticism that previously marked the career of the fifth-year senior and Pitt transfer have vanished.

Instead, it will be fellow WPIAL player, Penn State junior and former Penn Hills quarterback Anthony Morelli who will be heavily critiqued while making his first start after two years as a backup.

"Anytime you get a chance to play against another guy from the area is really fun," Getsy said. "It's going to be fun to see Anthony perform on his first day.

"(My first start) was a great experience. I was able to start a game at Pitt and had a big crowd around me. It was really fun. I prepared like heck for it and couldn't wait to get on the field."

Getsy received his first college start as a redshirt freshman, when he filled in at Pitt's season opener for a suspended Rod Rutherford, who was the Panthers' starter at the time. Getsy's next debut came when he got the nod for the Zips last season.

Thirteen games, a MAC title and bowl berth later, he's the owner of 17 school records.

"I saw the kind of players I had around me, and I was really excited coming to Akron," Getsy said. "I wasn't sure what to expect, but after being here for a couple months, I knew there was talent around me and knew the sky was the limit last year."

Getsy, rated the No. 10 quarterback in the nation by The Sporting News, finished with 3,455 passing yards, which rank him fifth on Akron's all-time list, and 23 touchdown passes, a single-season record.

Upon his arrival, Getsy had big shoes to fill with the departure of former Akron standout and Cleveland Browns quarterback Charlie Frye.

"It's exciting, that's for sure," Getsy said. "Just talking in the community, football is in the air now, and I don't think it was here when I first got here. We had Charlie Frye, but I think people just looked at Charlie Frye, and now, it's Akron football."

The ex-Panthers duo of Getsy third-year coach J.D. Brookhart, who served an assistant at Pitt for seven seasons, including four as offensive coordinator, is extremely responsible for the Zips' recent success.

Brookhart had four years to groom Getsy, which prevented the two from wasting any time breaking down the new system when they arrived at Akron in 2004. The dividends were obvious in Getsy's first year as the Zips' starter.

"I didn't know it was going to be like that," Brookhart said of Getsy rapidly breaking records. "He was a heady football player, who made good decisions. He shocked me with some of the decisions he made.

"I knew he was a good player, but I didn't know to what degree. He's been outstanding. Pretty amazing, really."

The road to success certainly wasn't a smooth one for Getsy. He left Pitt after losing the starting job to two-time All-Big East quarterback Tyler Palko.

Getsy was forced to pay his own way during his first year at Akron because Pitt wouldn't release him from his scholarship. He also had to sit out in 2004 in compliance with NCAA transfer rules.

"I felt that it was the best thing for me to go somewhere else and try to get on the field," he said. "(Transferring) wasn't anything I regret. I don't hold any grudges against anybody. I felt it was the best situation for me to get out, and it was the best decision for me."

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