When he takes the field in New Haven on Saturday afternoon, senior quarterback Brad Wilford will put the finishing touches on a strikingly unconventional career with the Harvard Crimson.

Wilford spent his first three seasons riding the pine while classmate Rich Linden filled the starter's role. But when Linden struggled in the 1998 campaign and in this past off-season, Wilford stepped up to challenge Linden's grip on the job--and won.

The Crimson caught up with Brad Wilford on the eve of last weekend's loss to Penn, and talked with him about this season's disappointments, his relationship with Rich Linden, and the memories of his strange career.

The Harvard Crimson: What will you remember the most about your football career at Harvard?

Brad Wilford: My friends that I've made, especially all the seniors that I've been with for four years now. They were more than just teammates. We spent so much time together. Waking up at 4:30 in the morning for spring football, lifting with them and all the practices. You get really close to guys when you spend that much time with them, naturally.

THC: What one play in particular stands out in your memory as your best?

BW: It was in the Princeton game. I didn't have a particularly good day throwing the ball. The score was 6-6, and it was 3rd -and-11 or something. And I scrambled and broke a few tackles to pick up the first down and keep the drive going. I think that was pretty big. We had two receivers to the left, one to the right. I was looking to throw a 12-yard out route to T.P. [senior receiver Terence Patterson]. [Princeton] dropped the linebacker underneath him, and I just started rolling his way, hoping he'd find a way to get open. He couldn't, so I just took off running.

THC: What one game in particular stands out in your mind as your best?

BW: Dartmouth was definitely the best. That day I was throwing the ball well. I threw some bad passes, but I threw a lot more good passes. That was definitely my best performance. [In that game, Wilford set the all-time Harvard record for passing yards by a quarterback, with 398.]

THC: If you could do anything differently, what would it be?

BW: Coming in as a freshman, I wish I had been more confident. I came in and was not really sure if I was good enough to be here. Being so far away from home, it just took me a lot longer than I feel it should have to get acclimated to football and being out here. I think [Rich and I] were both pretty much equal when we came in. I was ahead of him on the depth chart when we got here. I was bigger and had a stronger arm. He was so confident and believed in himself so much that he played so much better than me. I respect that he played that way and had that much belief in himself--I kind of wish I had been more like that.

THC: What's your relationship with Rich Linden like?

BW: Me and Rich have kind of a weird relationship. We've spent so much time together that we're so open with everything, but at the same time we're competitive. It's like friendly competition, I guess. Everything's out in the open. It's all open--he makes fun of himself that he doesn't start anymore. There's no tension.

THC: How has your experience as a starter this year changed your memories of your career?

BW: Without a doubt it's made me feel a big sense of accomplishment to be able to go from a career backup to go [to being the starter]. As an individual you always want to play. For me to be able to beat out a three-year starter who is almost the all-time career passing leader--someone as good and accomplished as Rich is--for me to be able to beat him out means a lot to me that I stuck it out and finally accomplished what it was I was trying to do for four years.