Sunday, October 12, 2014

Uninspired


He needs to go now



Monmouth 61 Columbia 28


Why Monmouth Won

The Hawks played the first two-and-a-half quarters as if they were just drilling against nobody. The offense moved the ball at will, the defense was never really challenged. With the score 54-0 in the 3rd quarter, Monmouth pulled the starters.


Why Columbia Lost

It was as if the team bus didn't show up until halfway through the 3rd quarter. But that was also the point when the Hawks pulled their starters. The offense was sluggish as usual, but the defense really didn't look like it was even on the field for most of the game. This was as uninspired and unmotivated as I've ever seen the Lions play.


Key Turning Points

The way Columbia played this game was best encapsulated by Monmouth's first TD. An easy 73-yard scoring drive was capped off by a wildcat formation TD pass from RB Lavon Chaney to QB Brandon Hill. When Hill went out an lined up as a WR on the play, NO ONE on the Columbia defense adjusted an inch or even remotely attempted to cover him. Columbia's coaches did not seem to notice or care and did not call a timeout. It was more of the same the rest of the way.


Columbia Positives

None. Please don't be fooled or persuaded into thinking the 28 points racked up by the offense is a good thing when Monmouth's 1st and 2nd stringers were already resting.


Columbia Negatives

Offense, defense, special teams and coaching. Am I missing something?


Where We are Now

-First and foremost, it's obvious the players have no interest in trying for Head Coach Pete Mangurian and his staff. The truth is, despite a Herculean effort to mask it, this is how the players have felt about him all along. This is the essence of coaching and Mangurian has never inspired his players anywhere he's coached. That was never more evident than it was at Kessler Field Saturday.

-Columbia has now lost 15 straight games, all by at least two scores and by an average margin of more than 30 points. There is more than sufficient cause to fire Mangurian now and get someone else to coach the team on an interim basis. This is mostly for the team's protection. Uninspired play like this can lead to injuries and worse. Mangurian needed to go 11 months ago, but waiting another six weeks is literally a dangerous situation and a terrible incident waiting to happen.

-If Mangurian is not fired today or tomorrow, then the administration's complete lack of concern for their safety and well-being will be confirmed for even the biggest yes men and camp followers. This needs to stop now.





49 comments:

Columbia_Fan said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
oldlion said...

Is there any other school that would sit still for this?

Mr. Gelegenheit! said...

It amazes me when people write about the CU passing game in the second half or how there were no sacks etc. There must be some deep truth about human nature in this, or about human dumbness, or at the very least about football ignorance. Are these people CU graduates?
Mitch S. 68CC

Big Dawg said...

Actually, I appreciated the passing in the second half. But only selfishly; it was the most CU scoring I've seen in years.
Let's see, first 3 games = 20 total points. What were the scores of our last couple of games in 2013?

Seriously, can any of us imagine what the kids must be going thru emotionally with all this? It sucks for them 10X worse than for us. This is NOT how you build a loyal cadre of former athletes who will support CU.

#1 Lion said...

I don't want to speak for Jake, but I strongly believe that his only intent is to have the kid's, the program, and the University succeed. Conversely, you people (Mango deciples) only want to blame Jake for merely stating the obvious.

Think about it, Pete blamed his predecessors, the facilities, and now the kids. Who else is left? Hint, look in the mirror for goodness sakes!

Why must we wait until week 9, or week 10 to do the inevitable. Unfortunately, we have a lame duck AD, so I just hope that she is left out of the selection process, otherwise the new AD will say, he wasn't "my" hire... And the beat goes on...

Unknown said...

I really try to keep a level head and not get emotional observing week to week. Without getting drawn into the politics and at arms length I think it's easy to make a conclusion. No employer (in any non public service sector) in the entire world would allow someone to keep their job under these circumstances. The fact that columbia is allowing it for this long makes a mockery of the elite education that is offered there. It's nothing personal against PM, it's just business. Perhaps he will be successful somewhere else but this wasn't his time. When this happens they have to make changes. I cannot give another dollar to the university until they make changes. I know my money means nothing to them but I like to give back. Until they demonstrate to me they are serious about having a successful football program I'm done. Tommy Enright '03

Anonymous said...

I'm still not hearing from anywhere what a solution would be if Pete went right now, this instant. What difference is there to wait until the end of the season. That date was circled on the calendar since last season anyway.

Think about the logistics of a football team. Headless it gets worse. Ray walking in like organizing a gym class is not the right solution and maybe he's not up to it besides.

Let Pete find some dignity in defeat and leave. I can't imagine he won't resign if not fired.

Unknown said...

Most of you have no idea of anything team related besides the record and shoot your mouths off with blind ignorance. When PM took over the program there were hardly any players on the team of quality. Others refused to "buy in" because of loyalty to Coach N. There was no strength and conditioning program. Ask Jeff Adams because he will tell you like he told me. That's the reason he has barely hung on in the NFL. There was no team nutritionist or sleep coach. The program had nothing. PM took the job with Dianne's blessing to build a modern program and Pres B and the Board knows that it would take at least 5 years. So all your rhetoric week after week is comical as you believe after all these years of losing that you are gonna change things or get PM fired. Also I talked to parents at the Columbia tailgate at Monmouth yesterday and not one had anything negative to say. They love the team, coaches and school. The players were down after the loss but to a man said things were close to turning around. They believe and I respect that.

Anonymous said...

Firing Pete now sends this message: no more excuses.

While I agree that the transition would be extremely difficult, firing Pete lets the players know that they have not been abandoned.

Dignity in defeat for Pete is BS. The AD needs to do what is best for the athletes.

Insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different result.

Unknown said...

U got rid of norries....nuff said

Coach said...

When John Reaves became the Director of Athletics, it was announced that he would report directly to the President of the University, basically placing the responsibility of the football program directly on the President. It doesn't appear that this partnership has worked for the program.

#1 Lion said...

Dignity? Dignity you say? Pete did not earn that right; especially with his Machievellian style of rule. Pete should resign now! Look at what he is doing to these kids! Once again, if we all know the inevitable, why wait? Jake, and others on this Blog, had this argument last year! We could have a new coach in play now.

If we get a new (interim) coach in NOW, it tells the kids (parents and alums) that we acknowledge something is wrong and we are doing something about it. Anything less, tells them that we don't care. What say you, NHDC?!!!

WOF said...

Danny White = Kevin Bacon in Animal House: "All is well!, all is well!"

Danny, the biggest problem with your premise is that Pete's people skills are so bad I can only imagine what the state of this program will be if he is permitted to stay two more years. Alawicius might even give up on them by that time.

seriously, you would need a coach with charisma and personality to continue selling "5 years is needed" to pull that off and Pete alienated people within the first 12 months.

I have asked time and again and never gotten an answer from you. Why did Pete bunker and turn his back on the people who's support he needed most (former players, fans) if he was doing a 5 year rebuild?

Follow up question: has he been pitching a 5 year plan all along and we have all just not been listening?

Anonymous said...

That is funny the way Danny phrases it. It's the Columbia program's fault Jeff Adams has not hung around in the NFL. How about the guy has done pretty well to get noticed at all and his talent his judged by the people that make roster decisions.

#1 Lion said...

Danny- For all of your "insight" in to the program, you're an idiot as well. The Board most certainly did NOT agree to a five year turn-around plan that has shown no progress. And they did not agree to support a program that will trump his record-setting margin of losses from last year. Hard to believe, I know, but he's right on pace.

Going winless again this season (0-22 streak, which is where we are headed) only shows that he is a used car salesman to the Board and AD. There is no way that he gets retained, even if he fires/blames his OC and DC.

The "athletes" that Pete has recruited were not on most Ivy radars. It's embarrassing the way some of these kids try and tackle. We have midget DBs who get pushed all over the field, the O-Line only has one gear (reverse), and our D-Line is small and weak (sans Padillia). What happened to all of the great testing these kids did Danny? It has shown no measure on the field. He simply can't recruit talent.

If you think that the University will retain Pete under any circumstances, you're a bigger moron that I give you credit for.

Mr. Gelegenheit! said...

Danny White wrote:"There were hardly any players of quality. There was no nutrition program. There was no strength and conditioning program. There was no sleep coach."

Very well -- but there was a much more competitive team. Wilson must have been a helluva coach to be that competitive with terrible players. Because now we have PM's players and we get blown out every week like has never happened before in the whole dolorous history of CU football.

BTW, was it because of the sleep coach that the CU defense was asleep when Monmouth lined up the QB as a receiver? And who is the sleep coach anyway? He or she does not appear on the team webpage. Do other college teams have a sleep coach? Or is CU the only team in the world that has a sleep coach. It would not surprise me.
Mitch S. 68CC

Columbia_Fan said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Anonymous said...

Glad to hear that we have a "modern"program with a nutritionist and a sleep coach and that the players parents love them. We are the most modern losers in the league.

How long until the strength and conditioning program starts to work? Two more years? I am tired of watching our team get blown off the line of scrimmage every week. Getting stronger is not rocket science - it is mostly desire, effort, and commitment.

Unknown said...

Reeves reported to the Provost, not the President and the relationship was productive.

Unknown said...

Our qb had a horrible game early with 3 int's. Hard to understand considering he had very good pass pro and the Oline didn't give up a sack in over 50 pass attempts.
The linebacker corps with exception of Toba lacks speed and size which contributes to a lack of gap filling. Our WR's with exception of #11 don't put fear in DB's so they get pressed. Because of the lack of quickness of our WR's our qb has to hold the ball longer to allow for them to get into their route. Fortunately the Oline has been stout in pass pro and this has not been an issue in a bad way.

Columbia_Fan said...

Mitch,
Are you implying that CU grads know something about winning football games?
Checks the records again.

#1 Lion said...

I'm happy to hear that post your consultation with Jeff Adams that he realized you have to be strong to play in the NFL.

It looks like the nutritionist that we have is doing wonders for the team... we are weaker and smaller than every team we play -on both sides of the line.

On the lighter side of things, I would say that the sleep coach is in fact working. Our DBs look asleep when they try and cover WRs.

Hey, how is our heralded "Sports Psychologist" that we have on Staff woking out?

And the band plays on...

Unknown said...

PM needs to go. Danny you must be a coach. Any defense of PM and his staff is comical.

alawicius said...

Based on what Danny had to say, yesterday's mostly poor play notwithstanding, I predict a win over Penn on Saturday...let's resume the debate after that.

CULionPride said...

My son graduated last May and had both Wilson and Mangurian as coaches. He and his friends (former teammates) went to the opening game and will be there for homecoming. This is quite the loyalty to a school and program since none live in the NYC area. They are all extremely proud of Columbia, but are embarrassed by their record over 4 years, and the know the feelings the current players are going through. What they did learn is discipline from leaving campus at 4:15am to practice, and that things can only get better. They can't get worse!

Unknown said...

Jake, who's the Player of the Game this week?? Columbia scored more points than any other game this season.

Seeunt said...

Danny, seriously, we are back to the cupboard was barren routine. that wasnt true when the clown prince came in nor is it true now. to a man they are not saying that and i know several that are, shall we say, checked out, but that certainly will only bring more yelling and anger upon them by little lord fauntleroy.
this is indefensable and your little tid bits of infoormation are once again useless.
Apple polishers unite, the orchard has crown rot disease...no more apple polishing

WOF said...

Danny still waiting for the explanation as to why PM believed alienating his supporters is part of the recipe for success and also when he began selling a 5 year rebuild...

Coach said...

I stand corrected- perhaps just Murphy reported directly to the President.
I think that when Reaves was hired, he reported to Student Affairs? Wasn't an athletic's facility supposed to have been built on campus that was KO'd by Cole?

Coach said...

Perhaps it was only Murphy that reported directly to the President. I do recall that Reaves pushed for a new athletics' facility on the main campus, and the plan was rejected. This facility would certainly have helped the football program at the time.

Roar Lion said...

I see in Spec that Pete is quoted saying he pulled Nottingham because his preparation was poor. A month ago, Pete was praising the team for choosing Nottingham as a captain. The guy will say anything, blame anyone. I find it disgraceful.

Of all the inane comments from Danny, the stuff purportedly from Jeff Adams is the dumbest. If Pete had coached Jeff, he would've forced him to play at 280 and Jeff never would've been noticed by anyone. Pete is also the genius who benched Scott Ward!

oldlion said...

Cole was the worst thing to happen in the long history of CU athletics. How about CU Athletics Hall of Shame? It could be named for him.

Coach said...

Until Billy Campbell decides to finally "take over" the football program, Columbia Football will remain in a quagmire.

Seeunt said...

op-ed piece in the Spec calling for Pete to be fired.
I love how Pete drives the bus over any kid. All i hear is the thump thump as the tires roll over yet another player with the bus driver, in this case Pete, saying..have a nice day.

Seeunt said...

uhm the Hot Dog Committee is made up of Billy and kis cronies which is where the problem lies, regardless of how good their intentions are/were.

Unknown said...

Roar Lion is funny!! He made a Scott Ward reference which tells me he is so far removed from the program it's stupid. Scott was the first guy who thought because he was 2nd Team All-Ivy that he didn't have to show up to meetings and lift when he wanted to etc. please find another example to make your point!!

Chick said...

If Mangurian is fired, we lose the "Sleep Coach." It's him.
He's asleep, he puts the team and fans to sleep.

I apply for the sleep coach vacancy. I'm an expert. I recently slept through 44 consecutive nights without getting up once.

Jake said...

Nice how Danny bashes Ward. I think it was him or the other guy who trolls here that used to accuse me of attacking the players. Failure is truly an orphan. Own up to the fact that Mangurian is a total failure already!

Jake said...

Nice how Danny bashes Ward. I think it was him or the other guy who trolls here that used to accuse me of attacking the players. Failure is truly an orphan. Own up to the fact that Mangurian is a total failure already!

Seeunt said...

Danny, you poke fun at somebody yet have you read your own stuff? How did Wiley hang on in the NFL if CU lacked so much, just think of Witkowski on the Jack Lalane fat burning shake machine with the leather strap.
Clearly it has nothing to do with talent level or anything like that.

#1 Lion said...

Seenunt - It's the NATHAN'S Hot Dog Committee. Nathan’s paid for the right for CU sponsorship, so please use it correctly and respect the process.

Bill is actually not part of the Committee, nevertheless, his cronies are on the committee – and no "major" decisions are made without his approval (Grey Poupon notwithstanding). What they do is fundraise. Unfortunately, unlike the Football Committees from other Ivies (I know members from Harvard, Penn, Yale and Brown), our committee members do very little in the scheme of things. Do they raise a great deal of money? YES! Is that important to sustain/grow the program? ABSOLUTELY! Do they care deeply about CU Football and where it goes? WITHOUT QUESTION! The problem is that they have made the wrong decision when it comes to the football coaches ever since Garrett (McElreavy, Tellier, Shoop, Wilson, and now Pete). What is the common thread here? You don’t have to be Inspector Clouseau to figure it out… the committee. The problem is that we hear NOTHING from them.

Unknown said...

The fact that the "cupboard was bare when I got here" line has been thrown around is ludicrous. Guess what? Norries had better players...why u may ask? Because we evaluated better, turned over every rock, saw things that other staffs didn't see etc. Examples are andrew kennedy, Sean bracket, Austin knowlin, olawale. We fielded competitive teams, nobody took us lightly.

Coach said...

I seriously doubt that there will be coaching changes until a new AD is hired.

Coach said...

It amazes me that Columbia could have hired either Gerry Dinardo or Steve Addazio, and chose these losers that you mention. DiNardo turned around 2 programs that had 4 year losing records, Vandy and LSU, and Addazio was Urban Meyers's assistant for years and is now the Head Coach at Boston College, and was offered the Yale job!
If I hear again that they were not the "right fit", as if these other coaches were, I am going to be sick. Columbia could not even come up with the money to pay Priore!

Anonymous said...

Sorry, but Gerry DiNardo did not turn around Vandy or LSU. He was run out of town at LSU and Vandy he succeeded only marginally one season before tanking, though that is one of the hardest programs to do well at DI.

Then he led a mediocre team in XFL's Memphis franchise.

DiNardo is a good man though and may have one well at CU. He has the NY temperament and has always kept his accent through the years.

Anonymous said...

I know it is irrelevant but i wanted to confirm my own memory. DiNardo was widely hailed as a savior at Vandy after mustering a few 5 win seasons leading to his hiring at LSU. DiNardo did initially succeed with LSU but then plummeted. After LSU, DiNardo went to Indiana and washed out.

He would be an intriguing choice to coach CU. He's only 61 but I'm sure getting paid handsomely as an ESPN broadcaster.

Coach said...

Vandy won 2 games in 2 years before Dinardo arrived, and he won 18 games in 4 years. Got the LSU job from that record. LSU had 4 straight losing seasons before DiNardo, and he had a winning record at LSU.
He was the OC at Colorado when they won the national championship, and Columbia turned him down. My point is that Columbia has missed on some top coaches that wanted the Columbia job.

Coach said...

Alswingman: Dinardo would be a great choice- there were members of the committee that wanted to hire him, as there were votes for Addazio a few years later. Columbia has a habit of taking the football coaches with the best resumes and putting them at the bottom of the pile.

Anonymous said...

Oh, I thought you meant he interviewed to succeed Norries. Yea, i do agree DiNardo would have been a better choice after Colorado. At his age, I don't know if he would be up for all the recruiting it takes in the job but it would be interesting if he interviewed now. He's from Queens.