Local QB leads URI football into 2012

KINGSTON, R.I. (WPRI) - When the University of Rhode Island opens their football season Saturday on the road at Monmouth, they will be led by a Rhode Islander.

Warwick's Bob Bentsen will be under center for the Rams after winning the job last year and finishing the season with 1,137 passing yards and nine touchdowns.

"He came in here a couple of years ago very accomplished, and we thought he could be a good player down the road," head coach Joe Trainer said of his quarterback. "But now I think he has the potential to be not just a good player but a great player."

"He's football junkie. He's a sponge. He truely lives the game, and when you get that from your quarterback, it infects the entire team," Trainer said.

Bentsen's abilities were first showcased at Warwick Veterans High School where he threw for over 6,600 yards in three seasons. Now, he's the first Rhode Islander to quarterback the Rams in over 20 years.

"It means a lot," Bentsen told Eyewitness Sports. "Growing up, you want to represent your state. People are excited to come down, and it's great to go home and see people excited about the program."

URI has their first Colonial Athletic Association conference game on Sept. 15.  This was to be the last year of URI's membership in the CAA for football, but the school recently elected to stay with the conference.

URI doesn't host a football game until September 22 when James Madison comes to Kingston.