The news conference introducing Al Bagnoli as the incoming Columbia Football Head Coach will be at 4pm today and will be broadcast live on the Ivy League Digital Network.
I sure hope no one asks him the annoying “how
many games will you win this season?” question today.
It’s annoying because it’s kind of a trap question. Someone
asked Pete Mangurian that question
right off the bat at his introductory news conference in 2011 and it resulted
in the first instance at Columbia of Pete showing his public anger.
So, please folks… ask him something else.
In fact, here are the top 5 questions someone should ask
Bagnoli today:
1)
Did you get any specific assurances, (that you
can tell us about), from the administration about further changes/improvements
to the football program?
2)
We understand your phone has been ringing off
the hook with calls from potential assistants. Without necessarily divulging
any names, has the field of assistants looking to join you here exceeded your
expectations?
3)
Looking across the field at Columbia for all
these years, and recruiting against us as well, what’s the one thing that stood
out to you the most that you think was the key reason for our lack of success?
4)
Does your arrival re-open the recruiting process
to any extent? Do you hope to bring in a few more players who might choose
Columbia now that you’re here?
5)
WE’RE BEHIND YOU! WHERE DO WE SEND THE CHECKS?
23 comments:
It would be absolutely fantastic if Bags is introduced at halftime of the Harvard game. The place will go wild.
I really like that idea and I bought 8 tickets last night in the hopes that would happen!
Jake,
A question about his game plan last year against us, could verify some of the weaknesses that we all touched upon so many times in the blog. It would also give us some idea of his plans to improve our pathetic performances.
Again no one is expecting miracles, but it would help us to feel that he is starting off on the right track.
I like Jake's suggested questions. I'm happy a proven winner, and with extensive Ivy experience to boot,is coming here. He';s sure as heck got my support. But I would also appreciate some digging, or even rumor reportage, about who approached who in this instance, backstage negotiations, etc.
Guessing it would have had to have been Taylor or someone with Bollinger's direct approval who approached Bagnoli. Based on my additional guess that Bollinger closed ranks, excluded Dianne Murphy and Campbell+cronies, all the while interviewing AD candidates.
Give Bollinger credit for living up to his calling. He managed to turn a desperate and failing situation of complete football alumni revolt into a fundraising win. If Jake's reaction is an indication, people can't open their wallets fast enough now.
Is the PC already over? I just checked into my hotel room and can get nothing
Can somebody report on the press conference?
Wouldn't it be great if a high percentage of participants on this "radical, negative, devisive" blog would make a compelling donation to the Program? As a sign of encouragement for what seems to be a fundamentally deeper commitment to Football.
CAEC will be meeting with AD Pilling, per his commitment to same, in the near future.
We intend to provide a contribution to the Department at that time.
I suggest that anyone here reference Jake's Blog as a contributory influence on their personal donation.
If you go to the ivy website you can play the press conference. He was quite impressive. No copmarison to PMs introductory presser..
Loving it. Looking forward to the new era!
Coach B aced his first test. Came across as very humble for a guy who's had as many winning seasons as he's had,. Got the feeling that leaving Penn after a down year was not the way he wanted to go out. He's a real competitor who hates to lose. Acknowledged that he starts with a great disadvantage because of the timing of his hiring but that he would look at every aspect of the program in order to improve it incrementally. Gentlemen , it appears we have hit paydirt !
Saw the video of the press conference in its entirety. Al came across as a real salt of the earth guy who realized that he stepped away from coaching much too soon. I think he regards this as a real challenge, that he knows it will not be easy, but that the pieces are finally in place for success. I loved the way he said to the players that he wants to make football fun again. I hope he gets the waiver he wants to make visits after the cutoff date to fill his remaining slots. It is in the interest of the league to give it to us.
My god you guys are so desperate for anything. Dont think Bags will stay more than three yrs. The losing will wear him down. Penn was behind him 1000% and his last three yrs were not impressive. He cant win without a couple of bigtime transfers which he got at Penn. Reality will sink in when we are 0-5, MIGHT win 1 game...against Penn! Should of hired a YOUNG energetic coach with something to prove, not a Ivy lifer or retread. You guys got what you wanted, now suffer the consequences
I didn't realize that PM still posted on this board...
Bob,
Let us know how you like your crow served.
Should ne delivered around mid Oct.
It goes well with sour grapes, which you already have plenty of.
You can't really believe that the team is not better off now.
Part of the reality of what we are facing now is an unknown time for rebuilding (or "healing" as we say in California). So, it could be another winless upcoming season but the program gets "healthier" in the coming years. Hurry up and wait.
A winless season would be a total disaster. Try recruiting with a 3 year winless streak. Al knows this, and he will make the Marist or Wagner game the most important of the year. Al knows he has to get off that winless streak this year-
Bagnoli inherited a 2-8 Penn team (9-21 over prior 3 seasons) when he got there and in his first year they went 7-3 and then undefeated in year 2.
Admittedly, our situation is worse than porbably any other program but he has been through this before.
The hardest part is probably the recruiting class this year. I am sure they are great kids but how well can you recruit without a coach and an AD? I would not be shocked if they convinced a couple of kids to switch their commitments but unless that happens the incoming class is going to hurt us.
Remember that Penn had a great record when Jerry Bernt was there- had won Ivy championships at Penn- Gary Steele took over, financi aid wasn't competitive and the program suffered for 3 years- in no way was the situation at Penn as bad as it is now at Columbia- Al will be in that boxing ring with the administration every day battling.
First question: if a player is qualified in the lower bands, will admissions automatically accept them or give Al a hard time? This similar situation has been a disaster for Cornell.
Coach:
That's the point. Columbia has never had the guts before to hire s coach who has the gravitas to dictate to the administration in these matters. All the other officials at the school know what went into this hire and no one's going to have the guts to get in the way. Every other coach was someone the usual suspects knew they could push around or at least deceive.
Jake: could not agree with you more-
It was so significant that this hire came from Bollinger.
Bear Bryant used to say that he never took a job unless he reported directly to the president of the university.
Can someone confirm this:
Is it true that Brown, Dartmouth, Cornell, and Penn actually get more picks in the lower bands than Columbia.
Only HYP gets fewer picks in these bands- the reason being that Columbia's general admission ranking is fourth in the league behind HYP but higher than the remainder of the league. Picks are based on general admissions ratings.
Post a Comment