Quick Hit Wednesday

M.A. Olawale took some hard hits as a Lion

-Count me among the many Columbia fans who are no doubt very encouraged that a key player like Marcorus Garrett made the supreme effort to win the “strongest Lion” title in spring weight training. As the athletic department release rightly noted, Garrett could have rested on his laurels this off season but he clearly did not. And we got all this news a few hours AFTER I had named Garrett as the most important returning Lion for 2013.

-The release also looked to soothe our concerns about underweight O-linemen. So perhaps the current average weight of 253 lbs. from our O-line will increase by the time the season starts. I wasn’t sure if that was the plan, and I still can’t be sure, but the process is not over.

-The accompanying video of the weight competition highlights was fun to watch and yet another example of a new window into the program opening up for fans. I remember being impressed a few years ago when Dartmouth released a weight lifting video to the public,  complete with loud rock music too!

-The first two days of spring practice have been positively summer-like, but without the humidity and extreme heat. Things will cool off tomorrow and we have rain coming too, but it’s been a great start for the guys weather-wise.

-One added note on my top returning player for Dartmouth, Dalyn Williams. As Big Green Alert blogger Bruce Wood reminds us today, Williams is slated to share the QB duties with Alex Park again this season. Williams just had to start a couple games at the end of 2012 because Park was injured.

Would I shuttle these two QB’s if it were my decision? It’s a tough question, because when Williams comes in to a game defenses automatically assume he may run, even though his arm is great and he throws plenty. Would he be even more effective if he played all the time? I think he will be, but there’s good reason I suppose to use Park while Williams is still growing into the job.  And using Williams less is one good way to cut down on the chances of injury, that are so much higher with running QB’s.

Columbia QB Millicent Olawale ‘10 was a lot like Dalyn Williams and one can only wonder how great Olawale could have been had he stayed injury free or if he had been allowed to truly shuttle with the pure passing Craig Hormann ’08 during the one season when they overlapped at Wien Stadium.

Buddy Teevens has some tough decisions to make and I think he will have Olawale’s career as one guide to help him consider all the options.