FOXBOROUGH, Mass. -- Things couldn't have been much better with the Eastern Illinois football team when then-head coach Dino Babers saw the potential for something even better with his developing quarterback, Jimmy Garoppolo.
With a player who was so smart, in command and quick to correct mistakes, Babers decided to give him the reins to a revamped offense.
It was the 2013 season, and the personable coach really had no reason to make such a dramatic shift in his approach. Eastern Illinois was 2-0 after season-opening road wins against San Diego State and Southern Illinois, and in both games, the team had scored 40 points.