Sophomore quarterback Marko Glavic became a major fixture on the Lafayette football team in a matter of minutes. A look back at the Leopards' 2000 season showed little promise as the season opener saw the squad hang with preseason favorite Towson for three quarters only to fall in the end, 42-20. Many thought it was a sign of a rebuilding program that still had yet to find a way to win.

Fast forward to game two versus Princeton - a team Lafayette had beaten only once since World War I. Starting quarterback Chad Ritchie was out with an injury, and backup Harry Armstrong failed to spark any offensive rhythm. After Armstrong threw his second interception of the day, head coach Frank Tavani looked to Glavic to carry a team that needed to gain some offensive confidence.

The Biology major from Pickering, Ontario, knew he might see some minutes with Ritchie sidelined, and was prepared. "I told myself right before the game that I might get a shot if anything happened to Harry," said Glavic. "When I did, I told myself to do just what I did in high school, stay poised and don't make any dumb mistakes."

Within the next 20 minutes, Glavic proved what many insiders had seen all along - he was ready to lead the Leopards' offense. He connected on four-of-five passes for 27 yards and ran twice for 17 yards as he directed the team 52 yards in his first drive. Glavic went on to lead Lafayette to three second-half scoring drives and finished 18-of-30 for 243 yards and two TDs.

The real heroics came in the final minute after the Tigers scored to tie the game at 17. On his own 30-yard line at third-and-10, Glavic dropped back, scampered out of the way of a Princeton tackler, and threw a 55-yard bomb to an awaiting Phil Yarberough on the Tigers' 15.

A Bill Stocker rush got the Leopards within a yard of the winning touchdown when Tavani called his final timeout. Most expected Tavani to call for a Martin Brecht field-goal attempt, but the skipper wanted to prove that his team had the goods to play with anyone in the league and ordered the toss to Yarberough. Glavic connected for his second collegiate touchdown of the day to give Lafayette the win, 24-17.

Not since the days of quarterback Tom Kirchoff in 1992 did Leopard fans have reason to believe they had a steady leader behind the offensive line. The stands included 8,013 crazed fans who now believed that Lafayette football has a bright future.

"After the (Princeton) game, I wasn't sure what the plan would be for me, I was just glad I had gotten the chance to show what I could do," recalled Glavic. "After the season, people I didn't even know kept coming up to me telling me I'd done a great job and that they couldn't wait for the next season. It's a great feeling knowing that people have confidence in you to lead the team in the future."

Tavani is well aware of Glavic's talent and has made it clear that going into the 2001 season, the quarterback spot is taken. However, Tavani is blessed with a superior backup in senior Ritchie, who has returned to campus in top form. A problem any coach would dream about, Tavani recently set the record straight.

"It's Marko's job, but we have to find a way to utilize Chad," explained Tavani. "He ran a 4.4 (seconds in the 40-yard dash), so he can't be standing next to me holding a clipboard. We've never had the luxury since I've been here of having two quarterbacks. I won't blink to use Chad to offset the tempo of the game."

That said, one might think Glavic is beginning to feel pressure to perform well from all angles. However, the sophomore shows is already demonstrating signs of a veteran with his mature attitude.

"As far as the media says, it's something I can't really control so I just go along with it and do the best that I can," said Glavic. "I'm obviously putting pressure on myself to win more and I'm looking forward to this season as well as the following two seasons. There is a little bit of pressure from other people, but most of it comes from myself to try and do well and not make a lot of mistakes."

Stepping into the starting quarterback position might be pressure enough for any young player, but Glavic takes it all in stride. He has an attitude of quiet self-confidence that he is passing on to an offense that is gaining more rhythm each time it steps on the field. Not only does he feel self-assured in what he can do, the team has become confident in Glavic as well.

"I have a great bond with my teammates," said Glavic. "They're a great bunch of guys. We have confidence in each other, which makes for a great chemistry. We're all really looking forward to this season."

So far, Glavic's Lafayette career looks bright, but for the self-proclaimed 'kid from Canada', it didn't start out that way. The first day of preseason for any freshman is enough to make one physically nauseous. For Glavic, it wasn't just a new school, a new team and a new coach, but in some ways a new game.

Canadian football is played on a field 110 yards long and significantly wider than a typical American field. There are 12 players on the field as opposed to 11, and the rules allow running backs to be in forward motion prior to the snap.

All these factors combined could make for a difficult transition, but Glavic hasn't been one to make any excuses. He's the first to point out the mistakes he makes, and will take responsibility for a play gone badly. True to his mature attitude, he learns from his mistakes and refuses to get down on himself.

Working closely with Glavic has been assistant coach Mike Faragalli, Lafayette's offensive coordinator. Faragalli spent three years as the offensive coordinator in Edmonton in the CFL, and has helped make the transition easier for Glavic. Their coach-player relationship has been crucial in developing Glavic as a leader for the Leopards.

"He is ready to lead the offense this year," Faragalli said. "Having a year under your belt is crucial. He is stronger now that he was and his arm is stronger. Mentally, he is obviously light years ahead of last year, but he still has a long way to go. There's definitely a noticeable difference in him both mentally and physically from last year to this year."

If watching Glavic perform at last year's level where he completed 159-of-297 passes for 1,964 yards is just the beginning, Lafayette fans should brace themselves for the next three years.

"His leadership skills are definitely starting to show though," added Faragalli. "He is a really good student, both in the classroom and on the field. He is a great role model for young kids because he works hard and he knows what he wants, plus he is extremely motivated. We all need to remember that he is still a sophomore and that is his biggest weakness. The more he plays, the better he will get."