Still In Season

The students may have left campus, (University-wide graduation is this coming Wednesday, with individual school ceremonies already underway), but there are lots of quick updates on football and Columbia sports in general to get to as we begin the week.

Baseball Still in Focus

The 3-time defending Ivy baseball champs still have a week to go before they learn their opponents in the NCAA regionals. But Head Coach Brett Boretti was interviewed on WFAN sports radio here in New York yesterday morning. It was a great interview that included the info that the Lions will try to play some games against Patriot League champ Lehigh soon in order to stay fresh before those regionals begin on May 28th.

For those of you wondering about the Major League prospects for some of the Lions who graduated this past week, the MLB 2015 Draft is June 8-10.

New Field, New Look

They're still in what looks like an early stage of replacing the field turf at Wien Stadium/Kraft Field. I'd bet the design will be different that the two-tone green/no midfield art look we've had since 2005. But don't bet on a Boise State-style unconventional color either.

Another big reveal coming this summer is the new uniform design some of the assistant coaches have already been Tweeting excitedly about lately. Based on what Head Coach Al Bagnoli said at his introductory news conference, we should expect to see a lot less light blue in these new duds. And based on the last time Columbia changed its uniforms, (back in 2013), I would expect to see the new unis revealed sometime in July.

As for the official announcement of the freshmen/newcomers for this fall, I wouldn't expect anything before June. But I could be wrong. And I also still don't care how long it takes this year to get this news out because it seems like the longer we wait, the more new names get added to what was a too-small list of about 21 or 22 players before the Bagnoli staff came in.

Coaches on the Road   

Speaking of recruiting, the football coaches are spread out across the country on recruiting trips right now and it's fun and informative to follow their travels on their Twitter accounts.

I have been told that the coaches are also willing to hear about any recruiting leads via email. Of course they cannot guarantee any offers, but I feel confident any names you send them will get a real look.

Spears Moves Up

Connor Spears, the tight end who left Columbia last year to walk on at USC, seems closer to actually getting the starting spot for the Trojans at that position.

That's because the top TE on the USC depth chart, Bryce Dixon, has left the school. And it appears some of the other tight ends currently on the Trojan roster are having other troubles. Meanwhile, Spears has done well in spring practice, etc.

It was one thing to see DE Seyi Adebayo spurn his final year of Ivy eligibility last season at Columbia and end up making an impact for Boston College. But if Spears makes strides for the huge program that USC truly is, it will be really tough for Lions fans to see. Hopefully, Columbia will get an impact tight end of our own this fall and everyone can be happy.

Brown's Standouts

Last week, I identified a handful of incoming Princeton freshmen who particularly caught my eye.

Today, I want to look at a few of the incoming players for Phil Estes at Brown who seem to be a cut above.

QB Nicholas Duncan, a St. Louis-area player who did a PG year at Lawrenceville, has everything but height. He's only listed at an even 6-feet, which means he may be closer to 5-10. But he put up big numbers at the John Burroughs School which has fed great players to the Ivies, especially Brown and Columbia, in the past. I don't necessarily expect Duncan to play as a freshmen or a sophomore, but Estes has a great track record of developing QB's just like him.

Another St. Louis find is 1st team all state WR Westerband Lindor. He may need some time to develop, but he could be the next in a long line of dangerous Brown receivers.

Speaking of 1st teamers, when you get a 1st team player from Ohio, I take notice. And DL Grant Varner from Grandview Heights, OH could be a force on the outside.

Hometown hero Thomas Chase is a 6-3 linebacker from Providence who cracked the all state team his senior year. This is a kid who should feel comfortable right away at Brown and certainly knows what he's getting into.

An even better LB might be Isiah Thompkins from Middleton, CT. He has great size also at 6-3 and 235 pounds.

I've always wondered why more of the nations top kickers don't end up in the Ivies, but Ryan Kopec, coming to Brown from Georgia, seems like as good as it gets coming in.