The Penn coaching staff has one of its toughest decisions of the year: start junior Robert Irvin or senior Bryan Walker at quarterback?
But health, not coach Al Bagnoli, might have to make that decision for them.
Irvin aggravated his throwing shoulder during the Villanova game on Sept. 22., and had to sit out last weekend's loss. Neither quarterback has done enough to secure the starting job, according to Bagnoli, but if Irvin is still hurt Walker will start under center against Georgetown.
"[Irvin's] shoulder is still bothering him a little bit, so I don't know what his status is going to be," Bagnoli said. "Priority number one is to get him healthy, and if we get him healthy then we have to figure out the rotation."
The junior, who started every game last year, had shoulder surgery in the offseason. Beginning the year as the starter never seemed to be an issue, and Irvin started the first two games. Still, he was not necessarily healed.
"It wasn't fully rehabbed [when the season began]," Irvin said. "I was on a scheduled regiment of 100, 120 throws a day, so it was definitely getting up [to almost-perfect health], but [now] I'm kind of set back."
That setback came during the 34-14 loss to Villanova, during which Irvin threw five of the team's seven interceptions.
"I got hit from behind as my arm was going forward," Irvin said. "It's not 100 percent yet, it's a little fragile. It's been sore for the last week and I've just been gradually doing 20 throws and 30 throws and 40 throws to get back to being able to throw hard."
Irvin was honorable mention All-Ivy last season, but the first two weeks this season have been a different story. He has gone 28 for 54 for 254 yards with seven interceptions and only one touchdown.
Black and blue. Penn is discovering quality is sometimes more significant than quantity. While there aren't too many injured players, the quarterback and running back are among them - in this case first-team All-Ivy back Joe Sandberg.
Just when the senior returned last weekend from a hamstring injury, he was once again forced to the bench.
While downfield going out for a pass, a defender hit him hard with his helmet in the back below the kidney area as he was falling down.
Sandberg is more hurt than injured, though.
"It's a deep bruise," Bagnoli said. "There's no muscle there, there's no tear, he just got smacked and it's black and blue and it's swollen."
Sandberg has been spending time in the whirlpool trying to drain blood out of his bruise.
Final spike in the coffin. With 52 seconds left at the Dartmouth 12, Bagnoli elected to spike the ball to save time. As a result Penn lost a down, one it would need later - it turned the ball over on downs with 22 seconds to go.
"There's two schools of thought," Bagnoli said. "Because the clock had stopped after a first down, you can try to run a play off and burn off seven eight, 10 seconds, or you get right up to the ball, spike it, lose one or two seconds and then still have three downs. We've done both. . You'd like to have four downs instead of three, but if you can't stop the clock you may never get to the fourth down."
The Daily Pennsylvanian is an independent, student-run newspaper. Please consider making a donation to support the coverage that shapes the University. Your generosity ensures a future of strong journalism at Penn.
DonatePlease note All comments are eligible for publication in The Daily Pennsylvanian.
