Backup QB Walks Into Starting Role
By Lucas Shaw
PUBLISHED OCTOBER 12, 2007
http://www.columbiaspectator.com
Whether he’s dissecting defenses or studying investment banking, Penn senior quarterback Bryan Walker is all business.
“He’s solid,” head coach Al Bagnoli said. “He’s not too boisterous, but a good leader. He takes control and leads by example. He has an excellent presence and is someone people respect because of the work he’s put in.”
Walker, who led his high school team to the California state semifinals as a senior, played occasionally in his first three years at Penn, but never started. He was often brought in given his ability to run as well as pass—he ran for 68 yards in his two starts. He started this year behind junior Robert Irvin on the depth chart, but in the second game, a 34-14 loss to Villanova, Irvin was injured and Walker stepped in.
In his two starts since, Walker has completed 44 of 84 passes for 446 yards and thrown three touchdowns and zero interceptions. The Quakers are 1-1 since Walker became the starter, but in neither game did the offense look as poor as it did in its 8-7 loss to Lafayette or its loss to Villanova, in which Irvin and Walker combined for seven interceptions.
“It speaks volumes about him that he could step in,” Bagnoli said. “He’s the consummate team guy.”
Bagnoli said one reason for Walker’s success is his work habit. Before every game Walker goes out early onto the field to throw the ball around and get a sense of the stadium. Part of his warm-up includes throwing the ball with senior wide receiver Braden Lepisto. Lepisto, the team’s leading receiver, went to Agoura High School with Walker and the duo decided to come to Penn together after going on the same visit.
“Coming with someone is the only experience I know,” Walker said. “We have a good understanding of each other out on the field. It gives me an added edge. I always have someone I can go to.”
Though Lepisto and Walker may know each other best, Walker stresses his close relationships with several teammates as crucial to his success.
“I spend my entire life with these guys,” Walker said. “I am with them on the practice field, in meetings, at games, and in class with them every day. It’s impossible to not have strong bonds with them.”
Walker spends even more time with teammates in their weekly stock market meeting. Every week, Walker, who is enrolled at the Wharton School, meets with other teammates with an interest in business and finance to discuss the stock market.
While Walker’s future may be in the financial sector, his past and present are sports. Walker began playing football in second grade and was a quarterback from the start.
“At that age it doesn’t matter who can throw,” Walker said. “I was the quarterback because th coaches could trust me to remember the plays.”
All that time behind center has given Walker what he believes to be the most important quality a quarterback can have—a short term memory.
Walker pointed to this past week’s Monday Night Football game between the Dallas Cowboys and Buffalo Bills in which Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo threw five interceptions, but led his team on a game winning drive as the perfect example.
“Early on I saw how it’s a position that gets looked up to,” Walker added. “The rest of the team relies on you. I feel like I thrive on that pressure. You need to keep a level head and I am never getting too excited or down.”
PUBLISHED OCTOBER 12, 2007
http://www.columbiaspectator.com
Whether he’s dissecting defenses or studying investment banking, Penn senior quarterback Bryan Walker is all business.
“He’s solid,” head coach Al Bagnoli said. “He’s not too boisterous, but a good leader. He takes control and leads by example. He has an excellent presence and is someone people respect because of the work he’s put in.”
Walker, who led his high school team to the California state semifinals as a senior, played occasionally in his first three years at Penn, but never started. He was often brought in given his ability to run as well as pass—he ran for 68 yards in his two starts. He started this year behind junior Robert Irvin on the depth chart, but in the second game, a 34-14 loss to Villanova, Irvin was injured and Walker stepped in.
In his two starts since, Walker has completed 44 of 84 passes for 446 yards and thrown three touchdowns and zero interceptions. The Quakers are 1-1 since Walker became the starter, but in neither game did the offense look as poor as it did in its 8-7 loss to Lafayette or its loss to Villanova, in which Irvin and Walker combined for seven interceptions.
“It speaks volumes about him that he could step in,” Bagnoli said. “He’s the consummate team guy.”
Bagnoli said one reason for Walker’s success is his work habit. Before every game Walker goes out early onto the field to throw the ball around and get a sense of the stadium. Part of his warm-up includes throwing the ball with senior wide receiver Braden Lepisto. Lepisto, the team’s leading receiver, went to Agoura High School with Walker and the duo decided to come to Penn together after going on the same visit.
“Coming with someone is the only experience I know,” Walker said. “We have a good understanding of each other out on the field. It gives me an added edge. I always have someone I can go to.”
Though Lepisto and Walker may know each other best, Walker stresses his close relationships with several teammates as crucial to his success.
“I spend my entire life with these guys,” Walker said. “I am with them on the practice field, in meetings, at games, and in class with them every day. It’s impossible to not have strong bonds with them.”
Walker spends even more time with teammates in their weekly stock market meeting. Every week, Walker, who is enrolled at the Wharton School, meets with other teammates with an interest in business and finance to discuss the stock market.
While Walker’s future may be in the financial sector, his past and present are sports. Walker began playing football in second grade and was a quarterback from the start.
“At that age it doesn’t matter who can throw,” Walker said. “I was the quarterback because th coaches could trust me to remember the plays.”
All that time behind center has given Walker what he believes to be the most important quality a quarterback can have—a short term memory.
Walker pointed to this past week’s Monday Night Football game between the Dallas Cowboys and Buffalo Bills in which Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo threw five interceptions, but led his team on a game winning drive as the perfect example.
“Early on I saw how it’s a position that gets looked up to,” Walker added. “The rest of the team relies on you. I feel like I thrive on that pressure. You need to keep a level head and I am never getting too excited or down.”
posted by The Gryphon at 7:51 AM
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