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.