This is shattering news as "Solo" represented everything that meant strength and youth to me during my own college days at Columbia.
My God bring comfort to his entire family.
Johnson was the Ivy League Rookie of the Year for 1988. That was after he and his backfield partner Greg Abbruzzese '91 just about ended Columbia's historic 1980's losing streak all on their own with their complimentary running styles.
Johnson was the speed burner and lethal backfield receiver, while Abbruzzese was more the power runner.
Solo made a huge impact right away on the 1987 freshman team that went 6-0.
This 1987 article in the Columbia Spectator did a very good job of detailing just how explosive Johnson was for that team.
He rushed for more than 100 yards in his first five games of that freshman season and finished with 836 yards on the ground.
In his first year with the varsity, Solo and Abbruzzese came close to breaking through each of the first four weeks of the season until they finally both exceeded 100 yards in the historic win over Princeton on October 8, 1988. It was Johnson who score the winning TD with just over five minutes left in the 16-13 win.
Injuries slowed Johnson down during his final two seasons at CU, (he actually missed 1989 and took a 5th year in 1991), but he was still always a factor. Opposing defenses knew he could break one at any time. And by sticking around for that extra year, he really showed his commitment to the program.
Solo eventually followed his dreams and got into the music business. Playing and arranging music were always what he loved best. But once again, health problems cut his allotted time short.
Johnson was the Ivy League Rookie of the Year for 1988. That was after he and his backfield partner Greg Abbruzzese '91 just about ended Columbia's historic 1980's losing streak all on their own with their complimentary running styles.
Johnson was the speed burner and lethal backfield receiver, while Abbruzzese was more the power runner.
Solo made a huge impact right away on the 1987 freshman team that went 6-0.
This 1987 article in the Columbia Spectator did a very good job of detailing just how explosive Johnson was for that team.
He rushed for more than 100 yards in his first five games of that freshman season and finished with 836 yards on the ground.
In his first year with the varsity, Solo and Abbruzzese came close to breaking through each of the first four weeks of the season until they finally both exceeded 100 yards in the historic win over Princeton on October 8, 1988. It was Johnson who score the winning TD with just over five minutes left in the 16-13 win.
Injuries slowed Johnson down during his final two seasons at CU, (he actually missed 1989 and took a 5th year in 1991), but he was still always a factor. Opposing defenses knew he could break one at any time. And by sticking around for that extra year, he really showed his commitment to the program.
Solo eventually followed his dreams and got into the music business. Playing and arranging music were always what he loved best. But once again, health problems cut his allotted time short.
8 comments:
Very sad news. Product of Montclair Kimberly as I recall. I will always remember one play his sophomore year when we played Harvard (I think it was the first Ivy game of the season). He broke one to the outside, outran the entire Harvard team, and scored.
Very, very sad to hear about Solo. I was fortunate enough to play with him in '91 and he was a quiet but effective leader. Far too early to be called home. Godspeed Solomon.
Any game clips of Johnson and/or Abrusseze?
Solo scoring against Princeton...
http://www.thestreakstartsnow.com/
There is a video made by the AD in 1988 called Breaking the Streak, as I recall. It has fantastic clips of both of our backs in the Princeton game. GA's cutback runs were a thing of beauty. The mike picked up the sounds, including the frustration of the Princeton defense in not being able to stop the cutbacks.
Shattering news indeed. Yesterday, we lost one of our own. Solo was part of our undefeated Freshman team and joined Varsity as part of Coach Macs "Super Sophomores" helping to end "the" streak. I will forever remember him, his speed, his quiet grace as will anyone who played with him or coached him.
On behalf of all your managers RIP Solo . . .
Jen Strage, BC'89
Solo was a great football player and a very dear friend...He and I hailed from New Jersey and were proud to be members of Columbia's only undefeated freshmen team. "Emmitt" as some of us affectionately called him was truly the nucleus of the cell of our team...I miss you and love you brother
God Speed Solo. It was a pleasure knowing you and blocking for you. My thoughts and prayers are with your family.
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