It says a lot about the 2014 Columbia Lions that we only had
three All Ivy honorees and still that was probably due to overwhelming
generosity and pity on behalf of the coaches voting.
The Lions had two 2nd Team members in DT Niko Padilla and RB Cameron Molina. Padilla
really deserved the honor, and Toba Akinleye stepped it up this year and deserved his honorable mention.
Molina was certainly the best overall Columbia offensive
player, but that’s all relative and I doubt he would garner much if any playing
time on any other Ivy team this past year.
Molina gained 335 yards rushing all season while taking more
than 60% of all the carries on the year. To put that in perspective, Columbia’s
opponents gained 420 yards just off of their interceptions of Lion passes last
season. So, opposing defensive backs gained 25% more yards running against
Columbia than Columbia’s best offensive player gained running FOR Columbia.
And this was Columbia’s best offensive player!
Pathetic.
We were told we were going to see much more improvement than
this. We were told the offensive line was going to be better. We were told the
wide receiver corps was the best unit on the team.
And yet not one OL or WR even came close to any All Ivy
recognition.
Pete Mangurian
cannot recruit adequate talent, cannot manage and improve talent, and
considering the growing revolt against him by the current players, he cannot
retain talent.
And yet, we’re presumably going to keep this guy on for
another year.
What purpose will that serve? I understand the logistical
problem of hiring a new coach without a new athletic director in place, but
that’s not a good enough reason to keep a cancer like this guy around for one
second longer.
Look at the NY Jets this season. It
came out today that Head Coach Rex Ryan has known all along that he was going to get fired at the end of
the year. The result has been a disastrous 2-9 season. It’s true that the Jets
were probably not going to set the world on fire this year anyway, but this
season has been a lot worse than anyone expected.
The situation screams out for an interim coach. Mangurian is
death and a guaranteed 0-10 for 2015. Keeping him here makes no sense.
Elitist know-it-alls like to dump on the fans here; accusing
us of harboring conspiracy theories about an administration that wants to kill
off football.
But what else should one think when this coach is being kept
on? It’s really obvious that the next season is already being sacrificed before
we even hold spring practice.
No one thinks Columbia will be a contender next year either way,
but why not make the season a stepping stone and a positive move forward?
8 comments:
Jake, I think that Molina actually did deserved the recognition. To accomplish what he did despite the complete lack of support was astonishing. He is an outstanding all around back who is both a fine runner and our best receiver. I don't think that the coaches give charity votes. PS, have any players quit since the season ended?
It's hard to knock Molina. Good athlete, bad team. Is it his fault the offense is dumbed down so much that he gets 60% of the snaps his way? Sounds like a good deal for an eager athlete.
That said there were a few guys ahead of him as far as stats (Kastin and the kid from Brown I think) who may have deserved a 2nd team honor more.
Just finished a nice Chinese meal. Fortune cookie read "Send help, being held captive in Chinese bakery". Signed Danny White.
Confirmed, Molina was 9th overall in rushing stats in the league
All Ivy recognition is not only based on stats. If it were it would be a simple arithmetic exercise and voting by the coaches would not be needed.
Can we get serious? The issue is not whether Molina deserves Ivy 2nd Team or the College Hall of Fame.
It's whether we go 0-10 for a third consecutive season, or
a glorious 1-9, or even get a bowel bid (cq) with a magnificent 2-8.
The issue is whether or not we stop being played for fools
by the stuffed shirts who don't have a shred of school spirit or pride, especially in regard to sports.
Maybe All Ivy recognition is measured by the size of a player's heart. GO CAMERON GO. Maybe the AD put together a slow motion NFL style short to display the young man's explosive talent and fearless determination to battle the odds. Cue baritone narration as Molina is tackled for a loss...
"..despite minimal blocking, number 31 proved time and time again the relentless courage of a true lion...."
cut to sideline shot of Coach Pete scratching himself while yelling into his headset.
Cut to the booth where offensive coordinator Elizondo blows his nose, "STOP YELLING AT ME. I HAVE FEELINGS YOU KNOW"
Cut to Molina being congratulated by his teammates as they leap into the air and bump chests.
Are you guys sure Pete didn't get Ivy Coach of the Year? I mean look at how many records he has. Seriously now...
How about the Youngest 19 Y/O left TACKLE... Did he get All-Ivy as a defensive end? I mean how many combo sacks was he responsible for? If he gets half credit then he'll lead the league.
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