I don't think so. Kempt was the obvious choice, then he got hurt. Noland had starting experience and had played well in relief. Alternatives were two true freshmen. Both had good credentials and both were highly mobile, unlike Kept and Noland, but both were true freshmen.I was at a place with 36 TV's and I don't think I saw one with the ISU game on. Iowa had 4 TV's and about 20 people, the rest were SEC, FSU and a couple o$u. Good win by the Cyclones, did Campbell get the QB decision wrong again this year?
Two factors, in addition to another month in the system, argued for Purdy to play more against OSU. First, Montgomery was in street clothes. Second, Okie State's defense led the nation, by a large margin, in sacks. ISU needed a QB who was a running threat and who could evade the rush.
I doubt if anybody, including Campbell, expected him to play as well as he did. It will be interesting to see what he can do next week against a significantly better team.