We sell New York. New York sells us
The Columbia football coaching staff is preparing to head
across the country next week to seek out new 2017 recruits and solidify
relationships with the many players we’ve already offered.
I’ve seen a number of totally questionable assessments of
our 2016 class ranking it very high compared to all other FCS schools. I say
questionable because it’s such a stretch to rank classes before any of the
players even hit the field.
What I like best about our staff is that they have really
chosen to be at Columbia and are true believers in the program and New York
City. I wrote about that last year and I think whatever successes we will see from the 2016 class are a result of
the staff’s unique experiences.
I think this year, the basic pitch has to be a little different.
I would emphasize that Columbia was probably one of the worst college football
teams of all time in 2013 and 2014 and it immediately became at least
competitive in almost every game last season. I think Head Coach Al Bagnoli and
the new staff have proven they can squeeze out a lot more from the existing
personnel, but they’re just now building the talent to become a winning
program.
Also, if I were on the staff I’d include a lot of positive personal
stories about what it’s been like for them living in New York City during this
first year on the job. This is a VERY important mutual experience they will
share with all the recruits who decide to commit to Columbia. New York City and
the area around Columbia overall has improved so massively since I was a
student from 1988-92, that it really has to be seen to be believed. It’s a
great place to be a young person right now. The question should be asked about
why Columbia’s Ivy rivals, especially the rivals in urban areas like Harvard,
Penn, and Yale, never seem to tout their home cities very much. It’s not that
those cities are bad, (although New Haven is one of my least favorite places),
it’s that those schools don’t look at their cities as essential educational
tools for their respective college experiences. “Columbia is where you’ll learn
to be a student, New York City is where you’ll learn to be a man.” Just try
inserting the words “Boston,” “Philadelphia,” or “New Haven” at the end of that
sentence and listen to how flat and out of place it sounds.
That said, there has to be a realization that for some
recruits and their families New York will be a negative factor and nothing will
change their minds about that. It’s important that our recruiters recognize
that quickly and move on.
I like our chances of grabbing some very good players in the
coming weeks and months. But there’s a lot of work ahead.
9 comments:
I wouldn't say this abut Penn and Philadelphia. (Maybe not even about Cornell and Ithaca.) But the host cities for the other Ivy schools seem a bit more "womb-like than NYC. Princeton, for example, always seems a nurturing sort of place. But in "Gotham" if you want nurturing, many will tell you to simply go back to your mommy.
I'd agree this is an exciting time to be in NY. but I also still think it takes a certain sort of person to succeed at Columbia. I really do remember several guys (and only guys during my single sex years) who I met during orientation week. They grew their beards and their hair Two even dropped off the freshman football squad rather precipitously) and I fundamentally rarely or even never saw them again for the next 4 years. Yet when I checked the graduation rolls, their names were there.
I can only wish Coach Bagnoli an his staff uck in their travels. Bring a few choice candidates back alive, Coach.
Agree with all of this. There will be a recruits who commit to the slightly more prestigious HPY and the few recruits who want to be out in the woods at Dartmouth or Cornell. Other than these outliers, I can't imagine any recruits passing up Columbia and NYC. We simply have too much to offer now with the new facilities and coaching staff.
I think the biggest impediment to our prestige is the existence of GS. While we have one of the most selective colleges in the country GS advertises for students, has very lax admissions standards, and -- apart from the vets -- sometimes attracts pretty offbeat students who detract for the Ivy atmosphere that I think is a major plus in selling the school.
A little yes, but an ENTIRELY group of brand new players? Very difficult.
I think, oldlion, that the baseball team in particular would disagree with you about GS. A few ithefr teaams, too, I believe, have GS students.
In any case, General Studies does not t all "pull down" Columbia's prestige. To maintain it does is silly and sounds elitist. Many if not most of our veterans studying at Columbia are in fact at GS, and it's one of the most welcome changes to the caampus atmosphere in many years. Eventually perhaps even a football player will arise from the GS ranks.
Agreed, Richard. Old Lion, time to stop being Old Snob.
Allie
I don't think that a number four national ranking and 6.2% acceptance rate that anyone can really argue that GS is turning anyone away from our school. Much more obvious factors like city vs rural
Astonishing comment from the usually perceptive Old Lion. "Offbeat students?" "Ivy atmosphere?"
Um, dude....
In John Jay hall there's a beautiful motto engraved in gold on a wall: "Hold fast to the spirit of youth, let years to come do what they may."
Is you is or is you ain't?
Mitch S.
68CC
GS is an asset, far from a liability...
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