THE SIDELINES : Palumbis to Start for Stanford

Jason Palumbis, who was Stanford’s starting quarterback when the 1988 season ended but did not throw a pass last year, has regained the starting job.

On Wednesday, the coaching staff named Palumbis, a junior, the winner of a spring practice, three-way competition. The other quarterback candidates were Steve Smith, who started several games last year, and freshman John Lynch.

Palumbis underwent surgery in December to correct a shoulder problem which had affected his throwing.

“It’s like night and day,” Coach Denny Green says of the improvement in Palumbis’ arm strength.

“I just regret not having the surgery done earlier,” the quarterback said.