“I’m not against him at all,” Richardson told The Herald in an exclusive cell phone interview Friday evening. “You’ve got to think positive. That’s the only thing that keeps you going and keeps you driving for more, thinking positive. I’m not taking away anything from him because if I had been caught in that situation, I would have been confident with myself, too.”
Weatherford started 33 games during his first three seasons with the Seminoles and set the Atlantic Coast Conference freshman record for passing yards. This season, he has only completed one pass for 18 yards. Christian Ponder, who is a redshirt freshman like Richardson, is the starter this year.
“There are certain things that D’Vo can do that I can’t do when it comes to running (and) Christian can do some things I can’t do,” Weatherford said in the AP story. “But overall neither of them are a better quarterback than I am right now.”
Richardson, who completed a 39-yard touchdown pass to Preston Parker during the ’Noles’ 31-28 loss against Georgia Tech, has 214 rushing yards and three rushing touchdowns this season, including two for school records by a quarterback (52 yards against Western Carolina, 55 yards against Chattanooga). He also has 279 yards passing and three more scores.
“(Weatherford) tells us every day we’re good players, so I didn’t take it as him trying to put us down or anything,” Richardson said. “He’s just confident in himself.”
As the Seminoles prepare for today’s home game against Clemson, Richardson is not sure if he will see more playing time. He added all he can do is wait for his chance.
“I think I’m gonna play,” Richardson said. “I think I’m gonna get out there and run a couple of plays. All I want to do is compete. If something happens where I don’t get out there, as long as we win? That’s all I care about.”
Richardson said he liked, however, the play call by offensive coordinator Jimbo Fisher last week against Tech where he faked as if he was going to run the football but instead completed the touchdown pass to Parker.
“I have no idea what (Fisher) is going to do,” Richardson said. “Every time I go in, you don’t want the defense knowing I’m going to just run the ball. Maybe we can shock them here and there with some passes.”
Richardson said before the Colorado game earlier this season that if he was patient enough, more chances would come along to prove himself. As it turns out, he may be right.
“I’m feeling good,” Richardson said. “I’m just being patient. I’m going out there and continuing to go to work and work harder each and every day.”
