Quarterback Quietly Leads Team to Win

Collier Winters doesn’t like to talk about himself. But last Friday against Brown, there was no need. His performance spoke for itself.

The junior quarterback completed 18 of 27 passes for 223 yards and rushed for 66, throwing two touchdowns and running in a third.

He was recently named Ivy League Offensive Player of the Week for his efforts in Harvard’s 24-21 thrilling win against Brown on Friday.

It’s the kind of performance for which he’s been preparing since his namesake season, when snow covered the stadium bleachers and Crimson fans cried over Chris Pizzotti ’08-’09’s graduation.

“Press and media get caught up in the idea of us losing Chris Pizzotti,” captain Carl Ehrlich said. “Meanwhile, Collier’s been working out the whole time, and we’ve always had confidence in him.”

That work includes extra film review sessions and meetings with coaches, an everyday task for Winters.

“I don’t think I know anyone who works harder in terms of playbook and film preparation,” junior receiver Marco Iannuzzi said. “He definitely watches his DVDs a ton.”

As of last Friday, his work is no longer unnoticed.

Winters’ work on the field was characteristic of his personality—effective and efficient. He moved the chains, rather than gambling on big plays. He amassed his yardage numbers through short, smart passes, with a long of only 38. And he was successful at running the football.

“Not only he manage he can manage a game, and not only can he throw the ball, but he’s a legitimate threat to run,” Ehrlich said. “He’s a very athletic kid, [which] makes it doubly hard for defenses.”

And while the Ivy League is still learning about Winters’ abilities as a football player, there have never been any doubts in the Harvard locker room about his qualities as a teammate.

“A real humble kid,” Ehrlich said of Winters. “[He’s] quiet by nature, but he’s done a good job coming out of his shell and taking a leadership role.”

Now at the helm of the Crimson offense, Winters is developing his own leadership style.

“He’s a very unique leader,” Iannuzzi said. “Not only does he lead by example, but he does become vocal. He’s a good mixture of the silent leader doing what he’s supposed to be doing and a vocal one.”

“He knows when to be vocal, he just chooses his times very wisely,” he added.

While his teammates are quick to praise him, Winters diverts questions about his own performance, preferring to talk about his teammates.

When asked about his play, he quickly credited his receivers and offensive line.

“My receivers did a really great job getting open and making plays,” he said. “[My] offensive line had by far the best game they’ve had. They did a great job of giving me time to throw and giving me lanes to throw to.”

But it was clear that Winters was excited about the win.

“We just wanted to come in and do whatever it took to get a win,” he said. “It’s a pretty big rivalry for us...It relieves a lot of pressure to get the first win, especially against a good team like Brown.”

Despite his quiet disposition, he clearly enjoyed the pressure of the Friday night lights.

“Big atmosphere,” he said, “the biggest game I’ve played in my career. The fans did a great job making a lot of noise and excitement. We’re looking forward to continuing this streak and having a big stage for the Yale game.”

Certainly, not all games have the same atmosphere of the night game and Harvard-Yale. The remaining home games against Lafayette, Princeton, Dartmouth, and Penn will likely not draw the same crowds as Winters saw against Brown.

But Winters should be just as motivated for games without the same fanfare.

As much as the junior liked the spotlight on Friday, it’s what he’s done when he’s not the center of attention that have made him the player he is today.

It’s those countless film sessions and coaches’ meetings. It’s the way he began preparing for this fall long before the offense was his.

That’s why Iannuzzi was surprised to hear Collier Winters being called “the new quarterback.” Because he’s been there all along.