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TAMPA — Phillip Ely's injured back has kept him from taking snaps this week at practice, but that's about it.
Plant's starting quarterback is right there on the line of scrimmage, calling plays and directing his linemen.
"He came in and prepared like he does every week, and on the field he's not taking the snap but he's doing everything else," Plant coach Robert Weiner said Tuesday.
Taking those snaps has been backup James Few, the surprise starter in last week's kickoff classic against Manatee.
Ely is right by his side.
"It keeps me in check that I'm not the starter, that I'm filling in for Phil," Few said. "He's our leader. He's still calling the shots even if he's not on the field. Whenever he gets back, he gets back."
Ely is expected to learn the severity of his back injury this afternoon. He will find out if he will have to miss Friday's highly anticipated regular-season opener against upstart Tampa Bay Tech and if he will be out an extended amount of time.
"We have to be (okay)," Weiner said. "We don't have any choice. Injuries don't wait for us."
Plant has been in this situation before. When All-American Aaron Murray went down with an injury last year, Ely — then a sophomore — led the Panthers to seven straight wins, including a victory over Armwood in the region final. He threw for 1,767 yards and 19 touchdowns.
Once again, the Panthers offense could be in the hands of an untested sophomore.
"When you're a backup at any position, you need to be ready to step in," Few said. "Especially with that example last year, that was reassurance that anytime you have to be ready for anything. You're the next guy on the field."
Few said he found out he was starting last week's game 10 minutes before game time. He threw for 188 yards, ran for a touchdown and threw for another, but the Panthers were held scoreless in the fourth quarter in a 49-33 home loss to Manatee.
Few saw a lot of action over the summer in local 7-on-7 leagues, but otherwise hasn't worked much with the first-team offense.
"We always give our first-team guys a lot of reps, so he's got a long way to go in terms of experience and things like that," Weiner said. "We'll be in good shape. I like where he is right now, but it's a work in progress."
Today, the Plant football team might find out its fate.
"I'll be running the plays today," Few said Tuesday. "Tomorrow it might be different.
"Personally, though, I have to be prepared to play the whole season. Expect the worst and then if he comes back he comes back and he takes back his spot."
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