(Week one opponent, St. Francis preview here)
In many ways, the week 2 loss last year to Georgetown was a low point of the 2015 season for Columbia. The Hoyas had seemed liked a beatable team and the stage seemed to be set for a Lion win in the home opener after a good showing by Columbia against the heavily-favored Fordham Rams the week before.
The biggest reason for that loss was a series of Lion mistakes on special teams. But Georgetown QB Kyle Nolan, who had shown flashes of brilliance in prior seasons, played the best game to that point of his career. And as the season went on, he got better and better.
So here's the good news: when Columbia takes on the Hoyas in week two in Washington, D.C., Kyle Nolan won't be there. He graduated and is currently trying to get on an NFL roster. I wouldn't be shocked if he makes it one day.
Also gone is last year's top rusher Jo'el Kimpela, but considering the fact that Georgetown didn't run the ball very well last year this can't be considered a huge loss.
But WR Justin Hill, who burned the Lions for 118 receiving yards and two TD's is back and so is almost all of the GU offensive line that held Columbia's vaunted 2015 D-line to no sacks in the game last year.
Georgetown's defense also loses it's top player from 2015 in LB Matt Satchell. But impressive DE Phil Novacki is back as is DB Jelani Williamson. Williamson had three pass breakups against Columbia last year alone.
Overall, it's hard to believe the Hoyas will be as good as they were last year. Nolan's emergence made the season exciting and had Georgetown at an impressive 4-4 record before dropping the last three games of the season. But not wanting to make the same mistake twice, I'd caution against even penciling in the GU game as a win before we get a better idea of how they play in their two games before Columbia against Davidson and Marist.
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