Clint Stoerner

Clinton Jacob Stoerner (born December 29, 1977) is a former American football quarterback, who played in the National Football League for the Dallas Cowboys and the Miami Dolphins. He also played in the Arena Football League and NFL Europe. He played college football for the University of Arkansas.

Early years

Stoerner attended Robert E. Lee High School in Baytown, Texas, where he was an excellent student and a letterman in football, basketball, and baseball. In football, as a junior, he started as a wide receiver and as a punter. As a wide receiver, he made 50 receptions for 670 yards (13.40 yards per reception avg.) and as a punter, he was named as an All-District selection. As a senior, Stoerner started as a quarterback and was an All-District selection and an All-State Honorable Mention selection. In baseball, he was an All-District selection. Stoerner graduated in 1996.

College career

After being recruited by a number of colleges and universities, Stoerner chose to play football for the University of Arkansas Razorbacks. It was there that he was mentored by Razorback and former National Football League player Joe Ferguson. Stoerner would set single game records for pass attempts (52 against Alabama in 1999), pass attempts in a season (357 in 1997), career pass attempts (1,023), career pass completions (528), passing yards in a game (387 against LSU in 1997), passing yards in a season (2,629 in 1998), touchdown passes in a season (26 in 1998), career touchdown passes (57) and consecutive passes without an interception (134). Most of Stoerner's passing records have since been eclipsed by former Razorback quarterbacks Ryan Mallett and Tyler Wilson.

Stoerner is widely known for fumbling the ball in a crucial SEC game at Tennessee. The undefeated #10 Ranked Arkansas Razorbacks were leading top-ranked Tennessee 24-22 with 1:43 to play, the Razorbacks needed only to make a first down so they could run out the clock. On a second down naked bootleg play, Stoerner stumbled on the rollout after his center stepped on his foot, and dropped the ball; Tennessee's Billy Ratliff recovered. Several plays later, Travis Henry scored Tennessee's winning touchdown with 28 seconds left and preserved their national championship season with a 28-24 victory.^[1]

Arkansas shared the 1998 SEC West Division title with Mississippi State, after falling to the Bulldogs in Starkville, Mississippi on a last second field goal, one week after losing to Tennessee. Arkansas finished the season with a record of 9-3, after losing to a Tom Brady-led Michigan team in the Citrus Bowl.^[2]

He is also widely known around the state of Arkansas for his passes to Anthony Lucas. "Stoerner to Lucas" to this day is a call that is widely known and loved around the state.

Stoerner did, however, gain a measure of redemption the following year in Fayetteville. Down 24-21 late in the 4th quarter, he completed a pass over the middle to wide receiver Anthony Lucas in the end zone, Arkansas' defense held, and the Stoerner-led Razorbacks upset over a third ranked Tennessee team 28-24, mimicking the score from the previous seasons game.^[3] Stoerner led Arkansas to a Cotton Bowl Classic victory over the Texas Longhorns on January 1, 2000, 27-6. It was Arkansas' first Cotton Bowl championship since the 1976 game.^[4] Arkansas finished the 1999 season with a record of 8-4.

Professional career

National Football League

Dallas Cowboys

After not being selected in the 2000 NFL draft, he received a tryout invitation for rookie-minicamp, where he performed well enough to be signed as an undrafted free agent. He was waived on August 27 and later signed to the practice squad on October 12.^[5][6] He was released from the team and promoted to the roster two additional times during the season.

In 2001, he was allocated to the Scottish Claymores of NFL Europe, where he was named the starting quarterback. In that season, the Cowboys would use a combination of Quincy Carter, Anthony Wright, Stoerner and Ryan Leaf, starting a franchise-high four quarterbacks in a season. Stoerner started two games, including week 7, when the Cowboys were leading the New York Giants 24–7 at halftime, but thanks in part to Stoerner's throwing 4 interceptions, the team lost in overtime. In an unusual move, Stoerner was benched in favor of Leaf late in the 4th quarter of a tie game. It was Leaf's debut with the team, but he couldn't pull out the victory.^[7] He was released on August 23, 2003, when he was passed on the depth chart by undrafted rookie Tony Romo.^[8]

Miami Dolphins

On September 1, 2003, he was signed by the Miami Dolphins to their practice squad.^[9] He was cut on September 17. He was re-signed to a futures contract on January 15, 2004, and was allocated to the Amsterdam Admirals of NFL Europe, where he was named the starting quarterback. He was released on September 5.

Arena Football League

After finding limited success in the NFL, Stoerner moved to the Arena Football League. He was signed by the Dallas Desperados for the 2005 season where he was their starting quarterback. He broke nearly every AFL rookie passing record and was named the league's rookie of the year. After being released by the Desperados, Stoerner signed with the Nashville Kats and split starting quarterback duties with Leon Murray. He returned to the Kats in 2007, but was released after two games. He was then signed by the Philadelphia Soul to back up Juston Wood after starting quarterback Tony Graziani was injured with a separated shoulder four games into the season. Stoerner started the final game of the 2010 season for the Alabama Vipers.^[10]

All American Football League

Stoerner was signed to Team Arkansas in the All American Football League. However, he was released from his contract (along with every other AAFL player) when the league postponed its debut season in 2008.^[11]

Personal life

Stoerner is active in charity work in Arkansas, Texas and Tennessee focusing primarily on charities providing help to children with Down Syndrome. He also devotes time every year helping children develop their football skills at several camps including the Clint Stoerner Football Camp held every summer in Fayetteville, Arkansas and Little Rock, Arkansas. He has one brother, Hank Stoerner. Son of Ernie, retiree of ExxonMobil Baytown.

He has most recently opened an Insurance agency in Central Arkansas called the Stoerner and Havas Insurance Agency. He is an independent insurance agent, focusing his efforts on property and casualty insurance. He is a member of the Professional Insurance Agents Association (PIA).

Stoerner is also on the radio morning show of Little Rock-based Sports 93.3 The Source FM as a sports analyst. Clint specializes in college and pro football analysis.

References