I'm not sure exactly what Brian Walker was thinking as he walked off the field on Saturday, or when he got up the next morning. But if I were in his place, I know what I would be thinking about.
Me.
Or, more specifically, why me?
Why me - on the bench and not on the field - and why me - rotated out time and time again to invest more PT in a younger and stronger version of myself?
It's times like those that make you question all the two-a-days and push-ups. Not that playing time is what it's all about, but in a way, that is what it's all about.
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He's completed a marginally higher number of his passes that Irvin. He is Penn's second-leading rusher, both in total production and in yards per carry. His competition behind center is in the red on that count.
That's not to say that Penn can rely on designed runs from the QB to move the chains, nor should it.
And I won't pretend to know which quarterback would be better for Penn this year. I don't even think Bryan Walker does. That's why the coaches get paid to make those type of decisions.
But Walker surely must see his companion's struggles more clearly than almost anyone else.
Irvin, for all his physical talents, needs to develop his eyes. Eyes for second and third options at wide receiver, and eyes to see his two pass-catching tight ends early enough to throw it to them.
His eyes have opened up just enough to make some solid plays this year, like in most of the first half at Villanova. And it's that hope - that he can do it on a consistent basis, someday - that's keeping him on the field.
That's a mighty tough rationale to justify keeping a guy like Walker - who's waited his turn and done most of the right things on the field - waiting in line while the clock ticks down on his senior year.
I spoke with Walker before the season opener against Lafayette this year, and he gave the typical run-around - yes, he and Irvin are all about friendly competition. And I don't doubt him.
In fact, after seeing this episode play out, the only one I'm doubting is myself. If Irvin doesn't eventually take the step up that he needed to take this year, I doubt that I could remain in Walker's position and keep my sanity.
I used to think that it was just a lack of talent that stopped me from becoming an athlete. It sure didn't help.
But intractable problems like this - that's why Walker has what it takes to put on the uniform day in and day out, and someone like me just does not.
Andrew Scurria is a junior Political Science major from Wilmington, Del. and is Senior Sports Editor of The Daily Pennsylvanian. His e-mail address is scurria@sas.upenn.edu.
