Bart Geiser was born a quarterback.
The day he came into this world, 23 years ago Monday, Geiser’s father named his son Bart Starr Geiser.
Dad wasn’t a Bears fan. Mom wasn’t into copying names of sports stars. She changed the birth certificate to Bart Joseph Geiser.
He was still born to quarterback, however. And after five frustrating years at Northern Illinois, he finally got to prove it on the collegiate level last weekend.
The fifth-year senior, who underwent reconstructive shoulder surgery last February and had been a student assistant coach since, earned his first start Saturday against Louisiana Tech. He completed 8 of 14 passes for 94 yards in the Huskies’ 17-16 loss in Ruston, La.
“He made a couple of mistakes,” said offensive coordinator Joe Dickinson, “but for a guy who never played in a game, I think he performed admirably. I admire him big-time for what he did. He looked like a quarterback. He got us in a position to win the game.”
If LeShon Johnson, the nation’s leading ground-gainer, had been able to pick up three measly yards on a two-point conversion, or if usually dependable placekicker Brian Steger hadn’t missed a chip-shot field goal, Northern would have won.
But just being back on the field was a gas for Geiser.
“I had a blast,” he said. “I realized again how awesome it is to play.”
He played the game better than most at Springfield Griffin High School, and his senior season in 1988 was one to remember.
He threw for 2,441 yards and 27 touchdowns and made virtually every first-team All-State team, including the Tribune’s, and was the Atlanta Touchdown Club’s Illinois Back of the Year.
But that was the end of the wonder years.
He picked Northern Illinois as his next stop, mainly for its business school, but also to continue playing football.
“I might have been misled a little bit,” he said. “I thought they were going to start passing more and I could come in and play right away.”
Chalk one up for bad timing. Stacey Robinson blossomed into an outstanding wishbone quarterback; Geiser got pushed farther down the depth chart.
When Charlie Sadler’s staff arrived in De Kalb for the 1991 season, it promised a more balanced attack, and Geiser’s hopes rose once more.
But when he overthrew in an effort to get in the quarterback picture, he tore his rotator cuff. He had arthroscopic shoulder surgery in March, 1992, and reconstructive surgery last February.
“I didn’t think I’d throw again,” Geiser said.
When starting quarterback Scott Crabtree suffered a separated shoulder Oct. 16 against Pacific, the idea of bringing back Geiser as a backup was hatched.
“Coach Dickinson asked me if I wanted to come back, and I said `That’s not even funny. Don’t be playing games with me,’ ” said Geiser.
Much to Geiser’s delight, it was no joke. Sadler and Dickinson really wanted him back. After all, he knew the offense better than anyone on the roster.
The following Saturday, he made his first appearance in a collegiate game, completing a pass on the final play of NIU’s 33-19 loss to Southwestern Louisiana.
“That was a little bit of a tease,” he said. “I fought pretty hard in practice the following week because I really wanted to start against Louisiana Tech.”
He did, and he’s likely to start again Saturday at Iowa.
