College football is synonymous with intense competition among rival teams. That competition breeds creativity, both on the field and off it, as one program looks to unsettle the other. The Columbia Lions made one such creative play on Friday, inspired by NBA legend Dwyane Wade‘s statue.
Towards the end of the second quarter, the Columbia Lions trailed after the Yale Bulldogs scored a touchdown. To stem the deficit from increasing on the ensuing extra-point kick, the Lions went with an unusual attempt to distract the opposing placekicker.
As their scoreboard was behind the goalposts, they brought up a picture of Dwyane Wade’s statue. They zoomed in on the face, which made it seem as if they wanted to scare the opposing kicker so that he misses the field goal.
Columbia put up a picture of Dwyane Wade’s statue in an attempt to distract the opposing kicker 😅
pic.twitter.com/DZhaiBsCJ7— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) November 2, 2024
The attempt did not work as Yale Bulldogs scored the extra point and held the lead. But in the fourth quarter, the Columbia Lions came to life and scored a touchdown, extra point, and a field goal to win the game. Had they not won the game, social media would have feasted at their ill-hearted attempt. But as they won, the moment turned out to be hilarious.
Dwyane Wade’s statue has created a lot of controversy ever since it was unveiled. Most notable were the memes flooding social media. Fans took their time to come out with their choicest creative endeavors. But this attempt by the Columbia Lions could be one of the best attempts at showing what fans truly feel about the statue.
Not many times has a 5’ 9” running back stormed the college football scene to the extent that he becomes a front-runner for the coveted Heisman Trophy. Ashton Jeanty’s phenomenal season is on course to help him etch his name in the history books.
In their last game against the San Diego State Aztecs, the Boise State Broncos ran riot on their home field. Prime among the stars to make a difference was Jeanty and his 149 yards and two touchdowns.
Ashton Jeanty goes OFF for 31 CAR, 149 YDS, 2 TDS 😤🔥
Jeanty now has 20 total TDS in EIGHT games 😳 pic.twitter.com/sDGz4ceTyC
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) November 2, 2024
His efforts on the ground have found no answer among opponents so far. Against San Diego State the running back uses jukes, stiff arms, and patience to rack up those numbers. Even on plays where it was evident they were handing it to him, the defense could not stop him.
If this level of play continues, he could end up being the first running back since superstar Derrick Henry to win the Trophy. With already more than 1500 yards under his belt and 20 touchdowns, his performances have made him a prime candidate.
