It's only one performance. And granted it was a performance against a rebuilding Villanova squad.
But Temple quarterback Mike Gerardi had arguably the best performance by someone not named Bernard Pierce, the Owls' standout tailback.
Not bad, considering Gerardi wasn't informed until Tuesday that he would start.
The 6-foot-2, 206-pounder showed poise, leadership and made good decisions as Temple rolled to a 42-7 Mayor's Cup victory at Lincoln Financial Field.
Gerardi completed 14 of 20 passes for 235 yards and two touchdowns in three quarters of action.
"I think Mike did a great job," Temple coach Steve Addazio said of Gerardi, who beat out Chris Coyer for the starting spot. "He came out here. He managed the game. He was a real good leader in the huddle."
The junior's first touchdown pass was a 35-yarder to Deon Miller to make it a 7-0 cushion with 7 minutes, 23 seconds left in the first quarter. His second TD strike of 47 yards to Rod Streater gave the Owls a 28-0 cushion early in the third quarter.
Obviously getting the starting nod two days before the game didn't bother his performance.
"Whether you are playing or not, you still have to prepare that way," Gerardi said. "Whether you are one, two or three, you still want to do the same amount of work as the starter just in case if you get your chance, you are prepared when you go in there."
Addazio said that picking a starter was a tough decision.
Gerardi was the more experienced quarterback, having started last season's final five games. The mobile Coyer, however, kept impressing the coaching staff.
What the Owls wanted was someone who demonstrated leadership.
"And about a week ago, he picked that up," Addazio said of Gerardi.
"What you see in practice, you get in the game. And he really picked it up, had great tempo and confidence and threw the ball well in there. I was proud of him. He handled everything extremely well."
His leadership qualities were still on display after the game.
Gerardi could have boasted about his performance. The Kimball Union Academy (N.H.) product could have also said he always knew he was the best candidate.
Instead, Gerardi talked about his team's overall performance.
"The defense set us up for some easy scores," he said. "I think we executed really well with minimal mistakes. You really can't ask for more than that."