MarQueis Gray sat quietly behind a microphone on a postgame riser. He stared blankly and his body language suggested he was an unhappy camper.
Gray had just lost to rival Wisconsin for a fourth consecutive season while playing wide receiver on an injured ankle. No, this is not what the senior quarterback envisioned for his final season.
But then he spoke and his character poured out. He promised to help the true freshman quarterback who took his spot. He vowed to make the most of his new position and the final stretch of his college career. He was disappointed but not disruptive. Nor did he sound jealous or bitter during a series of subsequent interviews that focused primarily on the bright future of his successor, Philip Nelson.
That says a lot about Gray as a person.
"I know what's expected of me," he said. "I'm held in high regard on this team. I want to make sure the guys see me as a leader and not a selfish guy, so it wasn't hard at all for me to switch from quarterback to receiver."
Gray's career has reached its twilight with three games remaining, including a bowl game. The promise that accompanied his heralded arrival in Dinkytown is a distant memory. As is often the case in athletics, Gray's career arc followed a different path than what once seemed predestined.
He had some nice moments and games at quarterback but never developed consistency as a passer. He alternated between quarterback and receiver over the years and was productive at both. But the true measure of his impact on the Gophers program can be found in the way coaches, players and support staff look up to him and admire him. And also in how he's handled disappointment and setbacks.
Gray never became that elite quarterback, but he is a beloved teammate. He's endured his share of tough moments and pointed criticism, but he's always conducted himself with dignity and class. Those things should not go overlooked.