A year ago, he was the insurance policy, the junior college transfer who didn't know if he'd ever get on the field.

At the beginning of the 2000 season, the quarterback hierarchy was clear at Minnesota. Freshman Asad Abdul-Khaliq was the starter. Travis Cole was the backup. There were no questions.

By the end of the Gophers' 6-6 season, there wasn't a question either.

Cole was No. 1 Abdul-Khaliq was No. 2.

Cole, a transfer from Foothill (Calif.) Junior College, might have been the biggest surprise of the Gophers' season. When Abdul-Khaliq faltered, Cole took over the staring job during the fifth game and stayed there for the rest of the season.

The native of Lake Oswego, Ore., isn't the quickest signal caller, nor does he have the strongest arm or always look pretty. He gets the job done. With Cole starting, the Gophers won at Ohio State for the first time in 51 years and they averaged 31.6 points and 452.4 yards per game.

"Travis is so cool-headed that maybe he's even dumb at times," receiver Ron Johnson said. "He's so dumb that he doesn't let what's going on bother him."

For the season, Cole, who moonlighted as a relief pitcher for the Gophers baseball team, completed 147 of 252 passes for 1,982 yards and 11 touchdowns. He also ran for 188 yards and scored five touchdowns, averaging almost three yards a carry.

Entering his senior season, Cole has the inside track on the starting job, but coach Glen Mason hasn't guaranteed anything and said that Cole and Abdul-Khaliq will compete for the job.

"I like the competition," Mason said. "I think it brings out the best. We might play them both."

Cole, the guy who was supposed to be a backup, is fine with that.

"It's going to be a battle through daily doubles," Cole said. "The best quarterback is going to start. Coach Mason knows he has two quality quarterbacks going into August."

That's one more than he thought he had a year ago.

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