Ladies & Gentleman … Milli and the Lions. I hate deadlines. As a columnist and a college student, you might think that this is potentially problematic. It's not that I am unable to complete things in a timely manner—it's just that more often than not, I find deadlines stifling and constricting. The Spectator sports columnists have a set writing rotation, so roughly every fortnight you can expect to have your work published. Whether your column deadline falls during a time when you're swamped with schoolwork or other obligations is a crapshoot. When I initially saw that I had the Monday column for this week, I was disappointed due to a fast-approaching essay deadline. Now, after a weekend in which both the Cincinnati Bengals and the Columbia Lions football teams were victorious, I feel energized. Prior to Saturday's season opener against Fordham, the main topic piquing my interest heading into this season was the journey and progression of Columbia quarterback Millicent Olawale. While Saturday's game wasn't the anointing of a Heisman candidate, it was definitely a defining moment for Olawale and his Lion brethren. Although he hasn't necessarily been much maligned, the senior quarterback has certainly been a topic of debate during his time in Manhattan. He played sparingly during the Craig Hormann era, but when he did see the field his physical prowess was evident. As a freshman he was bigger than some senior linebackers. Coming into 2008, I expected him to be the unquestioned leader of the offense, but he ended up splitting time with Shane Kelly. This season, head coach Norries Wilson has said that Millicent is undoubtedly his man. That is what made the win at Fordham so important. In his first game as "the man," he played like "the man." In the last paragraph I mentioned Olawale's physical prowess and athleticism. Who wouldn't want to be acknowledged as strong and athletic? I can't think of many people who wouldn't want that distinction, but for Olawale I think it's been a curse at times. He is definitely the most mobile quarterback I've seen in my four years watching Ivy League football, and I think that on a certain level he goes against the existing norms of how a quarterback should play. Since when was it bad to be strong and fast? I often do shows for WKCR, and I remember an instance when a fellow sports panelist suggested that Olawale might be best suited to play wide receiver. His logic was that Olawale's physical tools would best be utilized running routes and catching balls in the open field. I was incensed by that suggestion. You wouldn't ask a concert-level collegiate violinist to switch to the cello halfway through school just because he had strong forearms that could easily hold a bigger bow. If Olawale had been playing badly, I would have understood the debate on his potential as a quarterback, but he never showed anything that suggested he couldn't be a successful Ivy League starter. Though he may run the ball more than he passes, I've noticed that Olawale is still an effective game manager. Against Fordham he passed for two touchdowns and rushed for two more. That is Tebow-esque. I was also impressed that he threw no interceptions. Hopefully Saturday's game was the benchmark of what we can expect this season from Columbia football. In the 2009 Spectator football preview, senior staff writer Holly MacDonald pointed out that the football players in the class of 2010 came in calling themselves a "dynasty." Indeed, I remember hearing them say things of that sort in the halls of Carman Hall during the fall of 2006. Unfortunately, these guys have not resembled a dynasty in the least. But if Olawale can lead them to more weekends like the one that just passed, then the class of 2010 can leave at least a partial legacy of success. Their deadline is approaching, but I think that this football team is up to the task. Jelani Johnson is a Columbia College senior majoring in history.