Capital Quest

The new Bob Ford field is a nice venue


Columbia Lions vs. Albany Great Danes

Location: Bob Ford Field

Kickoff Time: 6pm

Gametime Weather Forecast:  77 degrees, clear, 53% humidity

The Spread: Albany is favored by 26 points. 

Columbia Game Notes 

Albany Game Notes

TV/RADIO

You can get the usual audio stream with Jerry Recco and Sal Licata on the Ivy League Digital Network, and watch on Time by signing up for a one-day pass here.


Streak Watch (New Feature!)

Columbia has now lost 12 straight games and hasn't won a game since Nov. 10, 2012 against Cornell. That was 655 days ago. A loss against Albany would make this a tie for the longest CU losing streak since the infamous 44-game drought from 1983-88.

Columbia has now lost 17 straight games on the road. The last away win was over Cornell at Schoelkopf Field on Nov. 14, 2009. That was  1,778 days ago. This is already Columbia's second-longest road losing streak ever. Columbia's longest road losing streak was was 28 games, from 1983-89.

Lead Stories/Questions

-After a 1-11 season for Albany and an 0-10 season for Columbia in 2013, The 3-0 Great Danes seem to have completely turned it around while the 0-1 Lions are spinning their wheels. Are these two teams textbook cases for what to do and not do after a disaster season?

-Will Columbia prove the old adage that teams improve the most from week one to week two? 

-This seems like it could be a classic "trap game" for Albany, with the Great Danes facing a crucial test at home next week against James Madison.

Players to Watch

ALBANY: The number one impact player for both teams should be Albany RB Omar Osbourne. He's a workhorse who makes the offense go and gives the defense plenty of rest with his grind-it-out style. Also watch for TE Brian Parker, who does major blocking for Osbourne and is a dangerous receiver. 

COLUMBIA: Freshman WR Marcus Briscoe is getting a start as we still wait on senior Connor Nelligan to get completely healthy. Columbia desperately needs a receiver who won't drop the ball, and if Briscoe is the guy then so be it. Freshman RB Chris Schroer could get more touches after a nice debut last week. On defense, this will be another big game for DT Niko Padilla and the entire D-line as they strive to neutralize Osbourne in some way. Albany is likely to try to test CB's Malcom Thaxton and Trevor Bell. 

Columbia 3 Keys to the Game

1) Score Some Points in the 1st Half

Even if Columbia is able to contain Osbourne, it won't matter if the Lion offense is as punchless as it was last week. Albany's pass defense hasn't been the greatest, so there's an opportunity here if QB Brett Nottingham can beat the Great Dane blitzes. A few successful screens to Schroer could help.


2) Keep Osbourne under 150 Yards Rushing

Osbourne is going to get good yards, but if he falls below the 150 mark there's a chance the Great Dane offense won't hit 20 points for the game.


3) Make an Early Statement

You can just see Columbia's enthusiasm melt away as the minutes tick by and the Lions never get a lead of any kind. An early score in this game is essential to give the team the needed belief that it has a chance. 

The Series (*New Feature!)

This year I will have an added feature nodding to the history of Columbia football by talking about three key games in the series against every team.

There's only been one Columbia-Albany game all-time, so this is going to be a short discussion. 

But the 2011 game had some very memorable moments, including a wild Columbia TD just before the half. The Lions scored on a Hail Mary, but not the way you might think. For once, we saw the opponent make a monumentally boneheaded play to give Columbia a TD. But Albany still won easily, 44-21.