Day-to-Day work and updates on the Ivy football season will continue on this blog. But to make sure the emergency situation Columbia football and Columbia athletics are under remains on the forefront, the following extremely common sense demands will be posted on top of every new post on this blog until changes are made:
We must:
1) Replace Dianne Murphy as Athletic Director right away
2) Replace Pete Mangurian as Head Football Coach the moment the season ends
3) Bring in an outside consulting/expert group to make the replacement hires and evaluate the positions and effectiveness of everyone in the athletic department.
4) Do NOT allow anyone who has had a leadership position or position of influence in any past hiring process to participate or interfere in any way with the overhaul process.
Today the Daily News asked whether CU shouldn't just cancel the football program
Harvard 34 Columbia 0
Why Harvard Won
The Crimson team bus showed up to the Baker Athletics Complex. All joking aside, that's how much of a mismatch this was. Harvard Head Coach Tim Murphy was able to start resting key starters as early as the 1st quarter, and the Crimson offense moved at will and the Lions offense posed no challenge.
Why Columbia Lost
Columbia couldn't protect it QB's, complete passes, or consistently stop opposing offenses. Pretty much the same story as the previous seven games of the season.
Key Turning Points
-On the coin toss, the Lions chose to defer AND take the wind in their face, a stunningly inept move that occurred even before the team took the field.
-On Harvard's second possession of the game and the score still 0-0, RB Paul Stanton busted out a 54 yard run to the CU 1. The Crimson scored on the very next play and the game was essentially over.
Columbia Positives
-I like the way Cameron Molina is running the ball generally in the absence of Marcorus Garrett. Alan Watson shows flashes too. Naturally, they only ran the ball a combined 20 times. Their combined yards per rush outpaced the Lion QBs' yards per pass.
-Sophomore DE Toba Akinleye had a strong game. If he can continue to develop, he could be a real weapon in the next two seasons.
Columbia Negatives
-It's past week eight and there is still no decent pass protection. Harvard got five sacks Saturday, and it should have been more.
-It's past week eight and Columbia's offense has no semblance of ability to sustain a scoring drive in anything but garbage time.
Conclusions
There has never been a Columbia team in school history that's been less competitive than this one. The lone possible exception is the war-ravaged 1943 squad that lost almost all its games by shutout. But since that team was coached by the great Lou Little, they had a fighting chance in a couple of contests.
It's shocking that Coach Mangurian or anybody having anything to do with his hiring could keep their jobs after this season.
And yet, this column today by Flip Bondy of the Daily News says that both Mangurian and Athletic Director Dianne Murphy are safe in their jobs.
That's just not acceptable to anyone who cares about this program, the men who play for it, and the name of the University.
Phone calls to President Lee Bollinger's office need to be made immediately.
Please call 212-854-1754 as soon as possible and asked to be connected to his office. Please respectfully ask that Murphy and Mangurian be let go as soon as possible.
A Note on the "Offended" Critics
Picture this scenario: a football team loses all of its games by an average of 34 points.
Despite a year to improve and get bigger/better, the offensive line play gets worse and the players get smaller.
Several of the team's best players basically disappear from the field and the lineup.
A fan blogger and several other devoted alumni call for the coach and AD to be fired.
... and one or two people get insanely angry at... wait for it... the blogger!
Makes complete sense.
Except it doesn't.
Anyone seeing this team's performance on the field and feigns shock and anger at calls for a house cleaning is one or all of the following:
1) Insane
2) A sycophant employee of the coach or the athletic department.
3) The coach and/or A.D. him/herself.
One should note that those who attack me and now people like Rich Forzani here or on VOY never even come close to identifying themselves. That's because they have two choices: a. risk being caught in a lie or b. risk everyone finding out they are one or more of the three things I listed above.
My email is public to anyone who wants and always has been: roarlions2012@gmail.com
You'd think those angry people who desperately wanted me to stop calling for firings, etc. would email me something angry or threatening or both.
But no such email has ever come to me. Again, that's because sending such an email would risk exposing the sender and also risk proving that there are really only one or two people who disagree with the obvious course of action I and many others are calling for.
The truth is, the angry attacks on me and this blog only prove how strong a voice it has. I take the attacks as a tacit "thank you" to me for providing info about the team and a platform to debate.
Frankly, I'll know we're really in trouble the day we call for firings and big changes and nobody cares or notices.
34 comments:
Jake-
I'm afraid the administration is giving DM and PM a free pass due to the game one injuries. Mangurian knows it and that is why there is NO sense of urgency.
Sickens me....
Former All-Ivy, All-American
Then we have to call the administration and make sure the pass is rescinded.
Extremely disgusted to read Tellier's take in the News article that the team's issues are related to a lack of talented players. Shame on him. He should have no roll during a transition.
Then I will certainly call Bollinger's office to tell him that he should retain Mangurian and Murphy.
Ray is a good man but he's a Murphy Yes Man. If he wants to keep his job then he parrots Herr Murphy's line.
Jake and rich I don't disagree with you completely I disagree with how your handling it. Make the blog private so players, families, recruits and opposing coaches don't see.
Injuries are a part of the game! It was either game 1, or game 2 that Nottingham was going to get blindsided! That O -Line is horrible!
Tellier was part of securing the last thee coaches. He was a terrible coach, why not have him pick Shoop, Norries, and now this mess! KEEP ray far away from this process!!!
We all owe Jake a tremendous sense of gratitude for all that he has done for the program . Thanks Jake!
If we are to believe the Daily News article then we will be stuck with PM for another disaster season... I call on all CU Football alumni to boycott any and all future fund raising events. Especially the golf outing. If no one shows up I think the administration will have to notice. It's all about the money now. If all of you who are as disgusted as I am stop supporting this disaster I think we will be heard. NO GOLD DINNER. NO NO GOLF OUTING. F bollinger.
Agree with the above. Boycott the Golf Outing. Let Campbell and his henchman pay the course all by themselves. Maybe they'll get 18 in in less than 4 hours
Teller comments in the Daily News article are embarrassing. This clown was a crappy coach who should have been fired years before he was. He is a kiss ass who stay at CU to get three of his kids free CU tuition. That's why he's here no other reason. He is a moron
Keep avoiding what I say...Make the blog private.
That was a very good article in the Daily News. It does sound like Mangurian and Murphy aren't going anywhere. If, as Tellier says in the article, it all depends on getting talented players, the question is, how will Mangurian recruit after this disaster?? It would be remarkable if he can bring in a better class than last time.
Mangurian, pre columbia, showed no ability to recruit so it is only going to get harder now and what is the new pitch that all the kids at CU are losers and the new group will change that? It is a poor workman who blames his tools.
Will the real leaders of this University and Sports programs stand up and be accounted for....we could really use the help.
Des Werthman
Would Bill Campbell tolerate this level of stunning incompetence in his business career? Of course not. Unless Bollinger fires Murphy and Mangurian, the concept of accountability simply has no applicability at Columbia.
The News article states that PM has the administration's support and will survive this year but gives no authority for this statement. The reporter states that he spoke to PM, Murphy, Tellier and McDonagh. Did PM, Murphy and Tellier told him that Bollinger loves the job they're doing? I bet they did.
Uh, Jake, you really should have clarified that the Daily News "article" in question was in fact a column by Filip Bondy. Who quite likely was showing off. (As the News clearly always feels it has ti do in order to compete against the Post.) I honestly could find no hint in it that he's ever even attended a Columbia game.
Just one example of how off base Bondy is is that among his "cons" (the what?) is that the football team facilitates "the racial and geographic diversity" of the university. That he makes this statement shows how very little he clearly knows about Columbia's actual stunt body.
Similarly, he claims as "evidence" that Columbia should drop football that yesterday's game "only" drew approximately 4600 fans. This shows how little he knows about Ivy football in general that he's shocked (shocked, shocked!) by this figure. But, this year and Homecomings excepted, Fordham has had real trouble drawing that many and I'm sure that neither Marist or Wagner has in fact ever seen an audience at its games close to 4600.
So the next time you cite for jarring effect, Jake, you might wish to point out that the material was not from either a bona fide editorial or a news article, but, rather, from a columnist stuffed full of himself who really does;t know much about what he's trying to talk through his hat about.
I also looked and looked among those 4600, and I really don't recall seeing anyone wearing one of those magic buttons.
Buttons or not, this year is a disaster and that article seemed more pro coach than anything else.
The fact remains the coach is clueless and why he keeps referring to these things like if they let us change it and there are other things beyond football...etc., and dianne in her 9th year having never secured any success in footballl...all seem to point to the "I want to keep my job and will give every excuse except that I am to blame routine."
Come on, the talent is there, the facilities are there....what isn't there is talent at the coaching level or AD level. Driving a wedge through a team has no weight in creating a team dynamic. He is a disaster, always has been and as long as people like or AD keep hiring him always will be. I ilike Ray, but to say this guy knows his X's and O's is just pathetic and a copout.
how is choosing to take the wind a showing of inept coaching? the idea is that you get the wind in the 2 and more importantly 4th quarter. that should be obvious that you would want the wind in the more critical quarters of the game
Thanks for giving us the number where we can contact Columbia directly concerning Pete Mangurian and Dianne Murphy. BTW, you forgot to tell us who the player of the game is again for the 3rd straight week. I know the Lions lost, but c'mon, at least it lets us know who's really playing for this laughing stock of a team right now.
Most games are over by the end of the first quarter. Fourth quarter has always been beyond hope. Big change in distance of punts. Opposition always gets field position near mid-field in first quarter. It's like we spot them 7 points.
If true some on coaching staff reads this blog, please get some blind side protection for the QBs, before someone gets seriously hurt .
Again, most basic part of pass blocking not being implemented by staff. There must be a 240+ lb lineman on the bench that could be a blocking back on obvious passing downs and short yardage situations.
This is school yard strategy not "big time" football,
Putting all emotions aside, which is tough to do, I realize that, but statistically speaking, can we really afford to keep this coach? We are virtually LAST in every category that the NCAA football tracks. At what point do we say "enough is enough"? We went from being on the verge of bankruptcy to selling off all assets now. This guy has to go! Admit the GRAVE mistake and let's all move on PLEASE...
daily downers!!
Considering the current recruiting class, the Frosh WR's have great size, but they can't catch. They have dropped countless balls and other than the flea flicker, have not made a play. It is beyond comprehension why his recruits,these guys are able to make errors, when guys that have performed and earned time, are sitting on the bench. Can someone explain that to me like I'm a 5 year old?
Because the upperclassmen are losers and his recruits are winners, get it? Look at all the wins they are piling up this year!
Because the upperclassmen are losers and his recruits are winners, get it? Look at all the wins they are piling up this year!
It is easy to see the PM plan. He is going to play one class to have enough experience to get over .500 then get the heck out. Meanwhile the program is humiliated and the next coach will truly have no talent because he can't recruit to constant 34 point losses.
He is so bad they are calling to end football for all time at columbia! Even by our dismal standards these are historic proportions! We are making the news for all the wrong reasons.
Echo many commenters that this is the worst Lion team of all time. If they let this guy come back after what his team achieved this year, then yes freeze all contributions to the program until a change at the top is made. We as past players, alums, players and parents of players deserve better. Man up, admit you missed ( yet again) with this hire and go get someone who truly can build a credible program. Our facilities are still the worst in the league( and stop right now with the Campbell center comments- go take a look at Harvard, Princeton, Cornell etc) but with the hotbed of northern Nj and Pa in our backyard, we have the ability to bring in some horses on both lines and compete again! Restore the Roar as this Cat is very sick and needs medical attention ASAP.
I just called up the office of the president and got a representative and I told her about this website as well as this blog article and told them that if anyone there wants to read how Columbia fans feel about this football team to check out this website as well as of course asking for the Athletic Director and football coach to be fired as well. BTW, another way you can voice your opinions to the Columbia president is via this email address: officeofthepresident@columbia.edu.
Apparently, losing 72-12 is what it takes to get fired these days.
http://www.nwitimes.com/sports/football/college/dale-carlson-fired-as-valparaiso-football-coach/article_8008e605-18b6-53f7-b0af-d5404e1c8412.html
to the person who is blaming the receivers on the dropped pass in the flea flicker play:
A dropped pass is a pass that actually reaches the players hands then either slips through their hands or is dropped. His pass wasn't deep enough to catch, a couple more inches and we would have been golden.
The qb threw a bad pass, waited to long to throw and rushed the pass. This was a problem throughout the game... the line cant block forever, at some point the qb has to choose his target and throw the ball. That aspect of the game is totally on the qb, not the coaches. You cant teach intuition.
ugh…
above comment…are you serious? first READ the comment (all BUT the flea flicker). Then watch the play again…a flea flicker takes a little longer to execute than the usual play but in this case (maybe only case) the QB throws right away and it goes 55 yards in the air and the receiver makes a nice jumping catch.
This happens in college football ALL the time. it's NOT an exception. Our receiver wasn't open on a TRICK play… but you are so worried about the receivers getting called out for dropped balls? as they should for not giving CU a chance (ALL 3 QB's must be bad right,) if ALL 3 have 50% or below completion percentages and all came from 3 different backgrounds-highly regarded, D-1 backup, Multiple offer CA product and back up to last's years starter…but it's the QB's right?
For the nth time, the receivers can't get open this year and can't get separation to get open. Not the pattern called or the QB or the line…and when they do get the ball thrown to them they DROP it MANY more times than they don't. Inexperience speed or both? Mostly on 3rd and 10. They are the worst we've had in a long time.
think I'm wrong? Dropped Balls? go back and watch games 1, 4, and 6, 7. all 3 QB's played in one of those games and took turns getting sacked and balls dropped. Throwing a guy open is a neat turn of phrase, and applicable occasionally, but when all 3 QB's have to do it on every pass take some accountability "friend" of freshman receiver(s)… drop several passes a game from all 3 and never get called on it or taken out shows where this coach is headed…to replace the freshman with freshman next year…and repeat…if you are a Jr or Senior receiver sorry...
It's just a mess, no use trying to justify why at this point. To move the ball you need a really effective QB. CU has a history of having that but not this year. I am still asking what happened to Hank Trumbull. I know it's not Pete's game plan to have a dual threat QB but since I am deposing him as head coach starting this week, I will need a running QB. Hank, where are you?
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