Former SDSU Quarterback May Get Plum of Job

Early last week, former San Diego State quarterback Jim Plum--working as an offensive coordinator for Mission Bay High--was helping the Bucs prepare for their game against Marian.

This week, Plum is one of three Seattle quarterbacks preparing for the Seahawks’ game against the Miami Dolphins. Coach Chuck Knox will not announce his starter until Friday.

This is the same Jim Plum who started only three games in four years at SDSU after a very successful high school career at Helix.

But, as has been the case with a lot of players, the National Football League players’ strike has suddenly changed Plum’s life.

Plum wasn’t drafted in last year’s NFL draft. He was invited to camp with the Dallas Cowboys, but believed he would have a better chance to play with the Montreal Alouettes of the Canadian Football League. However, after working out with them for 5 1/2 weeks, he was released before the season started . . . and, as it turned out, right before the Alouettes folded.

When the NFL players went on strike, Plum was suddenly in demand. Last Thursday, Plum crossed the picket line and joined the Seahawks in Seattle.

“I was hoping something like this might happen,” said Plum, who was contacted by the Seahawks and Chargers. “The Charger coaches never gave me a specific tryout time. The Seattle folks sounded positive. So far, so good.”

Bruce Mathison, a veteran backup quarterback who has played for the Chargers, is negotiating with the Seahawks, according to Steve Ortmayer, Charger director of football operations.

Already in the battle for the Seattle starting spot are Plum and rookie David Lindley, who led Linfield College in McMinnville, Ore., to Division II NAIA titles in 1984 and ’86. Lindley was working as a manager at a rubber plant in California when he joined the Seahawks. Another Seahawk quarterback is rookie Charles Glaze of South Carolina State. Glaze is a wishbone quarterback who also has been working out at cornerback.

“I’m getting fairly equal reps with the others,” Plum said. “I just want to play.”

If Plum starts, it will equal the number of starts he had as a senior last year. Filling in for an injured Todd Santos, Plum completed 19 of 31 passes for 195 yards in a 17-10 loss at Stanford. For the season, Plum completed 23 of 39 passes for 213 yards. During his career, Plum completed 131 of 258 passes for 1,544 yards and 7 touchdowns with 12 interceptions.

Plum’s career was not as successful as expected after he was named the first-team quarterback on Parade Magazine’s All-American team in 1981. At Helix, Plum passed for 6,913 yards and 70 touchdowns in three seasons.

“I gave it my best shot,” said Plum, who also played baseball at SDSU in 1985 and ’86. “I gave it everything I had. If I didn’t start at quarterback, I played receiver or special teams.”

After his tryout with Montreal, Plum took the job with Mission Bay High.

Mission Bay lost to El Cajon Valley, 5-0, and to Mar Vista, 27-15, with Plum as offensive coordinator. Without Plum, they defeated Marian, 35-3, last week.

This week, the Bucs face Christian High. But Plum is busy getting ready for the Dolphins.