History in the Making
As of now, I don't know who will be the starting QB for the Lions this Saturday at home against Harvard. But frosh Sean Brackett has already carved himself a decent space in Columbia history.
Consider the following:
(all the "records" listed below do NOT include the post-World War II years when varsity players were allowed to play for four years, even as freshmen).
-Brackett became the first freshman to ever start a game at QB for Columbia. Freshman football was eliminated in the Ivies beginning with the 1993 season, so that's 166 games where there was an opportunity to do so but Brackett was the first to get the nod.
-The only two freshmen QB's before Brackett to even get significant playing time in a game for Columbia were 1) Craig Hormann '08, who made a nice debut sharing time with Jeff Otis '05 in the final home game of the 2004 season, and 2) M.A. Olawale '10, who came in during the second half for Hormann in a home contest against Dartmouth in 2006.
-Brackett had three TD passes in his debut start. I'm still going through all the records, but it looks like that's a record too. Think about that: Luckman, Witkowski, Domres, and Roberts... none of them put up numbers like Brackett.
Obviously, it's too early to declare that Brackett is the man who will lead Columbia football to some kind of glory days for the next 3+ years. But no one can deny he put in a heck of a performance against a tough defense on super short notice and with little prep time.
And remember how Brackett came to Columbia in the first place. It was all because of a good deed Coach Wilson did in a little church in Danielson, Connecticut. Perhaps a little divine intervention helped us out.
But let's not give this entire post to the youth movement. Please read Darlene Camacho's excellent piece about senior co-captain Taylor Joseph. Taylor has been a key cog for this team since his freshmen year and he's still going strong. I was more than pleased that he grabbed another TD pass last week on that super play. I thought it was fitting that Brackett's first ever TD throw for CU went to a seasoned veteran senior like Taylor.
posted by Jake @ 3:17:00 AM
11 comments
11 Comments:
Perhaps the most prominent freshman QB in Columbia history was Eugene Rossides, who started for Lou Little's teams from 1945 to 1948, a span that included the Lions' historic victory over Army in 1947, breaking the Cadets' 32-game unbeaten string. Columbia rallied from a 20-7 deficit to win on Bill Swiacki's dramatic catch of a Rossides pass, followed by Ventan Yablonski's PAT. Rossides was an All-East selection and went on to become Deputy Attorney General of the United States in the 1970s. Watching Brackett on Saturday was encouraging for this long-time fan. He was a bit erratic in the first half, but never lost his poise and really didn't make a mistake until the late fumble. And even that I thought was due to his fighting for an extra yard,
It is an honor to get a comment from Mr. DeMarrais above, the long-time sports information director at Columbia!
Of course, he is right as Rossides was one of those "war-exception" four-year varsity players who was just 17 when he started his first game for Columbia.
But Brackett has clearly achieved some firsts in the post-freshman football era.
Jake,
Do you know why Olawale did not start the Yale game? Is he injured or was he benched in favor of Brackett? Can't really tell from the GameNotes or any of Coach Wilson's press conferences.
Thanks and great job both on the blog and in the booth!
Yes, M.A. was nursing an injury, but I do not know the extent of that injury and whether he is healthy now.
Brackett was impressive against Yale last Saturday. The quarterback is the key player on every football team. I'm looking forward to his next 33 games as a Lion.
YES showed MA with some bandages, one on an arm. The announcer noted that he'd been banged up after being hit, tackled so often.
For a change the Lions' uniforms are a step up from Brackett's high school duds (jeez). Maybe with him along it will be "sky blue," or "Columbia blue," rather than the "baby blue" that our opponents like to say to denigrate us.
Jake and others,
I was out of the country and missed the Yale game. Am I correct that Brackett has leapfrogged Bell in hte rotation, and that Ivery has leapfrogged Kourouma? Also, is Frazer out for the year?
Kourouma was the starting tailback at the Yale game, but Ivery made the big 75 yard run from scrimmage which probably entitles him to the #1 spot this weekend. As I noted before the Yale game, Kourouma and Ivery are both threats to breakaway at any time. Having two runners like them is a huge positive for the Lions.
Surprisingly, Ivery has not leap-frogged Kourouma, who is listed as starter for Harvard. Maybe Kourouma will light it up...he's overdue.
If Frazer is able to return for the last two games, he will still be eligible to count this year as a medical redshirt and come back for a fifth year. Could that be the plan?
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