On some teams, two quarterbacks at the helm of an offense would incite rumors of controversy and indecisiveness.
On the DePauw football team, however, two are making an offense surge.
Freshman Justin Murray and sophomore Drew Seaman have been splitting time as quarterback since Oct. 20 when the team played Kenyon College. Murray started the game, leading two offensive series, and then Seaman commanded the next two.
It's a system that produced a school-record 45 completions against Kenyon at Blackstock Stadium, but overall a system that has seen mixed results.
The Kenyon game resulted in a loss, 21-19, and featured more special teams mistakes than quarterback mistakes. The quarterbacks combined for 366 yards led by Seaman's 322, but the longest pass for the DePauw offense was just 33 yards.
Regardless of the outcomes, Murray is using this year to get better acquainted with collegiate football.
"The biggest adjustment has been to make decisions quicker," Murray said. "Knowing when to run was the biggest thing to help me."
For Seaman, his second year at DePauw is one that has again been derailed by a concussion. Though he also said that he has improved greatly from the two starts his freshman year.
"Last year, I was just trying to grasp the offense," Seaman said. "In the offseason, I put a lot of work into film study and meeting with coaches when I got back on campus. That's made the biggest difference in my game: just knowing what the defense is going to do, the certain tendencies instead of going out there and freestyling it."
He appeared in six games last season and threw for 280 yards and five touchdowns. Seaman began his freshman year as the team's third-string quarterback and impressed coaches with his presence and confidence in the pocket and accurate arm. He was derailed by a concussion in the later part of the season.
Seaman was knocked out of the game this year in week three against Carnegie Mellon University and suffered a concussion that forced him to miss three weeks.
But back in the lineup now, Murray said the offense is more dangerous with Seaman.
"We have different talents and strengths," Murray said. "We feed off of each other, and he would come to the sideline and let me know where the defense is moving, and I'd tell him from the sidelines what is open. It's worked out so far."
This season, Murray has racked up more than 1100 yards passing while Seaman has compiled more than 900. Seaman said Murray gives him a more positive outlook on the game.
"He taught me how to have a little bit more fun out there on the field," Seaman said. "At times we'll be pushing really hard and he'll say something and crack a smile and loosen up a little bit. He's a very talented young quarterback."
The two-quarterback system has only produced one win in three games, a 27-16 decision against College of Wooster. In that game, the duo combined for 175 yards, but was aided by a strong running attack.
For the Monon Bell Classic, Murray and Seaman will have to utilize the running game in order to avoid Little Giants' defensive back, senior Austin Hodges, who has six interceptions this season.
"We'll have to have a balanced attack," Seaman said. "If you have one aspect, they'll be able to shut that down."
- Ryan Foutty contributed to this article.