SMU's Holder Started at QB Against Navy and Completed a Pass Against his Late Father's Old Team

Earlier in the week, the Washington Post had a really great story about Southern Methodist's holder Garrett Krstich coming back to play at Navy. Krstich was a walk-on at SMU, barely sniffing the backup quarterback role until last year, when he started four games. Injuries dogged him his whole career and after a rough season last year he underwent surgery in the offseason to repair three tears in his labrum. As a fifth-year senior who couldn't afford grad school, he was unsure about playing again, but when the schedule came out for this season and he saw they would be playing at Navy after his rehab, he decided to come back.

His father, Jeff Krstich, was an offensive lineman for the Midshipmen and was co-captain for the 1969 team. Garrett said he and his dad watched every game together—"it was like our day together, no interruptions, just watching and rooting for Navy"—and in 2007, when Garrett was a freshman in high school, they visited the campus and toured the Navy stadium and locker room before the Army-Navy game. A few weeks later, Jeff died unexpectedly of a heart attack during a pickup lacrosse game.

So when Garrett saw he had a chance to go back and play in the same stadium he toured with his dad, he did whatever he could to get on the roster, even though he could "barely throw a football five yards."

He's primarily played as the holder on extra points and field goals, but today he got to start the game at quarterback. He threw a quick out on the first play from scrimmage for no gain (tough spot!). He was then subbed out on the next play and got a hug from virtually every coach and teammate on the sideline.

h/t WaPo

[CBSSN]