Chants’ Ross focused on present as end nears

Alex Ross has made it consistently clear that of all the topics he’ll happily oblige with insight or perspective, he has almost no interest in discussing whichever individual record or milestone he’s about to pass next.

Which, inconveniently for Coastal Carolina’s star quarterback, runs in direct conflict with the seemingly unending string of school and conference records he continues to obtain.

Next up on that list is the Big South record for total offense in a career. With 10,435 combined passing and rushing yards to this point, Ross needs only 137 yards Saturday in the No. 4-ranked Chanticleers’ game with Kennesaw State to pass former Charleston Southern quarterback Collin Drafts’ top mark of 10,571.

It will be yet another highlight on a resume that already includes every significant program passing record and several other conference marks, but Ross wasn’t budging on that matter this week.

“No, I don’t think there is,” he said simply, when asked whether one of those feats means the most to him. “I honestly don’t even keep up with all that stuff.”

In fairness, it’s too long a list for anyone to try to keep with at this point.

But it was only natural this week to try to lend some perspective to Ross’ superlative collegiate career as he enters what could be his final home game at Brooks Stadium.

And as long as personal records weren’t the subject, he was pretty open with his thoughts on entering his final games in teal – however many that turns out to be – as well as what’s missing from that resume and what might come next when it’s all done.

“It definitely has a different feeling,” he said of entering the final stretch of his senior season. “In the past you just know that you’re going to be back for another shot, and this year coming up on the end of the season, you know this is it. You’re not going to be able to play college ball anymore. You’re wrapping up your career here and you’re wrapping up everything you’ve done, so it definitely has a different feeling.”

It’s only fair that the time for truer reflection will come sometime after the season ends, and while Ross doesn’t want to dwell on the accomplishments he’s racked up in his time in Conway, he willingly offered up the two he hasn’t that remain on his mind.

“I wanted that undefeated regular season. I haven’t done that, and I’d say the biggest thing is a national championship, which I haven’t done yet,” he said. “So that leaves a big question mark for the rest of the season, and I guess I’ll be able to answer that question more after the season.”

The Chants saw their bid for a perfect season end two weeks ago in a 33-25 loss at Charleston Southern, but they rebounded last weekend with a 46-0 win over Gardner-Webb and would seem positioned for a top-8 seed in the FCS playoffs – and another home game – if they take care of business the next two games against Kennesaw State and Liberty.

That win last week was encouraging in so many ways for the Chants, but what stood out to offensive coordinator Dave Patenaude was that Ross looked as healthy as he’s been since the start of the season.

Seemingly unencumbered by the nagging ankle injury that has lingered most of the fall, Ross completed 14-of-16 passes for 209 yards, two touchdowns and one interception along with 20 rushing yards before leaving the game with a lopsided lead.

It was a classic Alex Ross performance from Patenaude’s perspective.

“I think you don’t appreciate it until you step back,” he said. “Last week we had to check most of the protections the whole game, which he did a great job with. I think he’s only missed one in the last month and he only missed two throws [in that win]. I think when you step back and watch the film, you really appreciate what you have there.

“But our plan’s not to stop playing at home this week. Hopefully we’ve got a bunch more games ahead of us. I feel great for him that he’s finally healthy, he’s finally feeling better about what he’s doing, feeling more and more confident that he can make all the throws, push off that ankle, do those things, and hopefully he can lead us on a good run.”

Meanwhile, Ross also opened up this week about the future.

He graduated cum laude with a degree in business management last December and is on track to get his M.B.A. this December, but he hopes to first utilize his virtual degree in football beyond whatever happens the rest of this season.

“Yeah, I’ve thought about it. I’d love to go play in the NFL. I’d love to play football for the rest of my life,” Ross said. “It’s something I enjoy doing, it’s something I love doing. I just love this game, and I think I’m going to be able to have that opportunity. With the numbers I’ve put up in college, I think I’m going to get a shot. It all depends on what I do after I get that shot. That’s going to make the difference. I think I’m going to get my opportunity, but that’s not something that I’m focused on right now. I’m focused on the season right now – this Kennesaw State game and then Liberty.”

Ross may have been undervalued coming out of Buford High School in Georgia, where he was a state championship-winning quarterback, but he’s not concerned that his height (6-foot plus a little bit, as he puts it) will keep him from getting his chance.

Patenaude says a slew of NFL scouts have passed through this fall to take a look at the Chants in general and they’ve had encouraging feedback to say about Ross, although he admits it’s been hard to fully evaluate him as he played through that ankle injury.

“They’ve all been in, they all like what he’s doing and they really appreciate how he handles a game,” Patenaude said. “… I think the thing they all say is he’s really polished, has a good understanding of where he’s going with the ball, good arm strength, moves around well and has great presence. Those are things I’ve been talking about for three years.”

Like Ross, though, the coaches aren’t thinking about any of that just yet. The focus is on making sure he and the Chants have as many games left this season as possible.

After which, there will be a more fitting time for a fuller reflection on the most accomplished offensive player in program history.

“No matter who you are, there’s always life after that person. No matter who you are, there’s life afterward,” Chants head coach Joe Moglia said. “I’ve said this so many times about Alex, I think the No. 1 area where he’s meant so much to our program is as a leader. …

“Certainly when it’s time for Alex to go, I’m just rooting for his success. I hope he gets the opportunity to play at the next level, and whatever he winds up doing when football is over he’s going to be successful.”

In the meantime, though, there’s still work to do on that ever growing collegiate resume of his and this season of great expectations for the Chants.

This story was originally published November 13, 2015 at 9:38 PM with the headline "Chants’ Ross focused on present as end nears."