The Toilet Bowl

Cornell Big Red vs. Columbia Lions

Empire State Bowl V/Senior Day

Location: Robert K. Kraft Field at Lawrence A. Wien Stadium/Baker Athletics Complex

Kickoff Time: 12:30 pm

Gametime Weather Forecast: 41 degrees, sunny, light wind.

The Spread: Cornell is favored by eight points

TV/RADIO

The game will be broadcast on Fox College Sports. Here's a channel finder based on your zip code and cable company. 

Make sure you get the audio and superior commentary from Jerry Recco and Sal Licata on the Ivy League Digital Network.

Lead Stories/Questions

1) Which One of these Winless Teams Wants it More?

I'm convinced Cornell is a much more fundamentally sound team, but if you're one of those folks who thinks there's not much difference between these 0-8 teams then it will come down to who wants to win more. 

2) What Will be the Response in the Stands?

If the game does not go well for the Lions, will the fans start to get angry and make their voices heard as the game goes on?

3) Who Will be the Hero?

We keep hearing about the handful of truly great players on both teams who don't get proper recognition because there isn't enough talent around them. At least one of those players should emerge Saturday as a real hero.

Streak Watch

Columbia has now lost 19 games in a row, continuing the longest losing streak since the record 44-game slide from 1983-88. Columbia has not won a game since 11/14/2012 or 731 days ago.

Columbia's wonderful new athletics website is still not working or formatting properly. It hasn't worked right in 14 days. 

Players to Watch

-Cornell RB Luke Hagy is a very talented runner and he could have a big day against a Lion defense that is giving up 300 yards on the ground almost every game. 

-Cornell sophomore LB Miles Norris is a developing force on defense. He can be a big disruptor.

-Columbia QB Trevor McDonagh is getting the start, but he or backup QB Anders Hill SHOULD be able to put up some decent numbers against a Big Red defense that's been just awful against the pass. 

-Columbia DE's Niko Padilla and Toba Akinleye or LB Alexander Holme should be able to get some sacks as Cornell is allowing more than three sacks per game coming into this contest.  

Columbia 3 Keys to the Game

1) Stop Dropping the Ball

The only way Cornell will be able to stop any opponent's passing attack is if the WR's drop passes. Columbia's WR's are very, very good at that. So if they want to win, they need to hang onto the ball.

2) Key on Hagy

Luke Hagy is the best weapon Cornell has, so the Lions can't let him beat them on his own. 

3) Don't Abandon the Run 

Columbia doesn't have much of a running attack, but against Cornell it might look a lot better. The Big Red have given up 15 rushing TD's this year so far. When the Lions used a two-back set against Yale, they had some success. They need to try that again and not suddenly stop trying it after halftime.