The Road to Toal

Greg Toal

In a move that is still shaking New Jersey high school football to its core, Don Bosco Head Coach Greg Toal has been ousted. 

While the official story is that Toal retired, no one is buying that. And some of his former players, including former Columbia Lion football player Nick Mistretta '12 are trying to get some justice for Toal.

As someone who at least wanted Toal to get more of a chance for the Columbia head coaching job back in 2012, I'd like to see Head Coach Al Bagnoli find a spot for him on the staff now. Toal's connections to top local talent would be a plus for at least a few more years down the road. I've noticed that we don't currently have any Bosco players on the Lion roster, (hint, hint).

Taking the Ball

Tanner Thomas


After considering staying on for a 5th year, I can now report that RB Alan Watson is not going to come back for the 2017 season. That means his role as the lead ball carrier will need to be filled.

Before I list all the possible contenders, it's important to note that the two seasons Columbia has played so far under Head Coach Al Bagnoli have seen the same scenario unfold when it comes to the starting running back. Both Cameron Molina in 2015 and Watson in 2016 really hit their strides at the end of those seasons. The trick in 2017 is finding a way to get a RB who can hit that peak level of performance either on day one or at least before mid season.

The top returning RB's are sophomores Tanner Thomas, Lynnard Rose, and senior Chris Schroer. Joining them in the mix are what I consider to be the top two incoming freshmen running backs in Broderick Taylor and Marquavious Moore. But don't forget local product Anthony Filacouris from Long Island and Jalen Allen from Michigan.

(DISCLAIMER: This assessment of the incoming frosh is just my opinion).

Thomas, Taylor, and Moore look like contenders to be lead backs, while Rose's talents seem to lean more to a guy who gets about 5 carries a game and 3-4 passes from out of the backfield. And Schroer, now going into his senior year, could end up being a surprise winner in this race for #1. He would at least continue the trend of seniors getting the job under the Bagnoli coaching regime.

But based on how Bagnoli did things for most of his tenure at Penn, I believe he wants to have a running attack more by committee. The problem is so far at Columbia, only Molina and Watson really stepped up. He may have enough horses to run a two-back attack this fall.

While the continued development of senior QB Anders Hill remains the top priority, that job will become a lot easier if the Lions show a potent running attack on day one. A big reason why Hill played so well in the final two games of the 2016 season was because Watson played so well too. It's really as simple as that.

Bubbling Up

One of the great personal joys I've experienced ever since President Lee Bollinger made the great move of bringing in Athletic Director Peter Pilling is the fact that the news and information coming out of Columbia Athletics has been so much better and more frequent that my long-held desire to back off needing to update the fans daily has been realized.

The best example has been the repeated reporting and video updates on the historic building of the Columbia practice bubble at the Baker Athletic Complex.

This short interview with Head Coach Al Bagnoli really captures the immense important of the project.

But it's really hard to put into words what a strong physical piece of evidence the new bubble is that the administration is really serious about boosting the football program and athletics at Columbia in general.

The recruiting disadvantage Columbia has faced for years because of the 15-minute bus ride from campus to Baker was always thought of as something that could only be solved by making the trip easier or building a practice facility on campus for football.

We had it wrong.

It turns out the best way to beat that disadvantage was to make Baker more of a place to want to get to no matter what. The bubble makes Baker a hip and cool destination; not a faraway place to practice in drudgery.

In the coming weeks and months, we'll go back to analyzing the Lions position by position, shoring up the final list for incoming recruits, and looking back at what we learned from the 2016 season.

And we all know the push to improve athletics will never be complete until we see championships in football and basketball.

BUT, we have to look around us right now and see the very real, (and expensive... please don't forget to donate more!), improvements.

Another Coastal Commit

Casey Mariucci


6-4 215 pound TE/DE Casey Mariucci from La Jolla Country Day School has committed to Columbia. He becomes the third Coastal League player to join the incoming freshmen class along with his La Jolla classmate P Drew Schmid and Justin Woodley from Bishop's School.

Mariucci bounced back from an injury-marred junior season to put up monster numbers on offense and defense in 2016.

Here's an interview he did late last season with additional highlights.

Mariucci and Schmid will be the first La Jolla Country Day School grads to come to Columbia football.

So our updated list of unconfirmed, but public commitments is at 30:

1) Darion Acohido WR/RB/DB 5-9 178 lbs. Liberty HS Henderson, NV

2) Luke Adams RB/LB 6-2 210 lbs. Notre Dame Prep Pontiac, MI

3) Jalen Allen RB 5-11 185 lbs. Cranbrook-Kingswood HS Bloomfield Hills, MI

4) Will Allen III DB 5-9 164 lbs. American Heritage HS, Plantation, FL

5) Josh Bean QB 6-2 200 lbs. Hinsdale HS Hinsdale, IL

6) Cameren Carter LB 6-1 198 lbs. Duluth HS Duluth, GA

7) Dillon Davis QB 6-1 206 lbs. Aledo HS Aledo, TX

8) Myles Davis WR 5-10 175 lbs. Walter Payton HS Chicago, IL

9) Seth DeVary OL 6-4 275 lbs. Larue County HS Hodgenville, KY

10) Alexander Filacouris RB 6-1 200 lbs. Half Hollow Hills West HS Dix Hills, NY 

11) Graham Flinn DB/WR 6-1 180 lbs. Benedictine College Prep HS Richmond, VA

12) Tyson Hugee DB 6-0 170 lbs. Springside Chestnut Hill Academy Philadelphia, PA

13) Emerson Kabus WR 5-10 170 lbs. St. Augustine HS St. Augustine, FL

14) Josh Kaminsky DL 6-4 280 lbs. Seton Hall Prep West Orange, NJ

15) Casey Mariucci TE/DE 6-4 215 lbs. La Jolla Country Day La Jolla, CA

16) Cameron Lipton-Martinez TE/DE 6-5 225 lbs. Montclair HS Montclair, NJ

17) Ben Mathiasmeier DB 5-10 190 lbs. Cinco Ranch HS Katy, Texas

18) Marquavious Moore RB 5-11 202 lbs. Harding Academy Memphis, TN

19) Andrew Nichols DE/TE 6-3 235 lbs. Centennial HS Peoria, AZ

20) Carson Powell DB 6-0 190 lbs. Cardinal Newman HS Palm Beach, FL

21) Bailey Rotsky DB/WR Mayfield Heights HS Mayfield Heights, OH

22) Jonathan Rowe OL 6-3 283 lbs. Audrey Kell HS Charlotte, NC

23) Drew Schmid P 6-0 205 lbs. La Jolla Country Day La Jolla, CA

24) Broderick Taylor RB 6-0 200 lbs. Holly Springs HS Holly Springs, NC  

25) Dwayne Warren WR 6-3 198 lbs. Seton Hall Prep West Orange, NJ

26) Hank White OL 6-6 250 lbs. Buford HS Buford, GA

27) Ashton Cooper Wilson DE/LB 6-3 230 lbs. Merritt Island HS Merritt Island, FL

28) Peter Wise OL 6-5 290 lbs. Brunswick School Greenwich, CT 

29) Blake Wooden DB 6-1 180 lbs. American Heritage HS Plantation, FL

30) Justin Woodley LB 6-2 210 lbs. Bishop's School La Jolla, CA

A Lion Legacy

Cameren Carter                                                                                                                     

6-1 198 pound LB Cameren Carter has committed to the Lions. (Yes the spelling on his first name is correct). He hails from Duluth HS in Duluth, Georgia.

Carter was profiled as one of the "Best of the Best" in Georgia high school football at the end of last season. He was also considered one of the most underrated prospects in his county and described by local HS experts as a "perfect fit" for a 3-4 defense. 

Carter will be the second documented Duluth HS grad to come to Columbia football, following the excellent TE Hamilton Garner '14 who was an All Ivy player for the Lions.

But Carter's tightest connection to Columbia is through his dad, Hector Carter '91, who was a starting wide receiver for the Lions. Hector currently works as a police detective in New Jersey.

And yes, the fact that Hector graduated just a year before I did and now has a son old enough to play for the Lions is making me feel old!

So our updated list of unconfirmed, but public commitments is at 29:

1) Darion Acohido WR/RB/DB 5-9 178 lbs. Liberty HS Henderson, NV

2) Luke Adams RB/LB 6-2 210 lbs. Notre Dame Prep Pontiac, MI

3) Jalen Allen RB 5-11 185 lbs. Cranbrook-Kingswood HS Bloomfield Hills, MI

4) Will Allen III DB 5-9 164 lbs. American Heritage HS, Plantation, FL

5) Josh Bean QB 6-2 200 lbs. Hinsdale HS Hinsdale, IL

6) Cameren Carter LB 6-1 198 lbs. Duluth HS Duluth, GA

7) Dillon Davis QB 6-1 206 lbs. Aledo HS Aledo, TX

8) Myles Davis WR 5-10 175 lbs. Walter Payton HS Chicago, IL

9) Seth DeVary OL 6-4 275 lbs. Larue County HS Hodgenville, KY

10) Alexander Filacouris RB 6-1 200 lbs. Half Hollow Hills West HS Dix Hills, NY 

11) Graham Flinn DB/WR 6-1 180 lbs. Benedictine College Prep HS Richmond, VA

12) Tyson Hugee DB 6-0 170 lbs. Springside Chestnut Hill Academy Philadelphia, PA

13) Emerson Kabus WR 5-10 170 lbs. St. Augustine HS St. Augustine, FL

14) Josh Kaminsky DL 6-4 280 lbs. Seton Hall Prep West Orange, NJ

15) Cameron Lipton-Martinez TE/DE 6-5 225 lbs. Montclair HS Montclair, NJ

16) Ben Mathiasmeier DB 5-10 190 lbs. Cinco Ranch HS Katy, Texas

17) Marquavious Moore RB 5-11 202 lbs. Harding Academy Memphis, TN

18) Andrew Nichols DE/TE 6-3 235 lbs. Centennial HS Peoria, AZ

19) Carson Powell DB 6-0 190 lbs. Cardinal Newman HS Palm Beach, FL

20) Bailey Rotsky DB/WR Mayfield Heights HS Mayfield Heights, OH

21) Jonathan Rowe OL 6-3 283 lbs. Audrey Kell HS Charlotte, NC

22) Drew Schmid P 6-0 205 lbs. La Jolla Country Day La Jolla, CA

23) Broderick Taylor RB 6-0 200 lbs. Holly Springs HS Holly Springs, NC  

24) Dwayne Warren WR 6-3 198 lbs. Seton Hall Prep West Orange, NJ

25) Hank White OL 6-6 250 lbs. Buford HS Buford, GA

26) Ashton Cooper Wilson DE/LB 6-3 230 lbs. Merritt Island HS Merritt Island, FL

27) Peter Wise OL 6-5 290 lbs. Brunswick School Greenwich, CT 

28) Blake Wooden DB 6-1 180 lbs. American Heritage HS Plantation, FL

29) Justin Woodley LB 6-2 210 lbs. Bishop's School La Jolla, CA


SPRING PRACTICE/GAME SCHEDULE ANNOUNCED

Head Coach Al Bagnoli has announced the spring practice schedule. The spring game will be on Saturday April 15th at noon.

Big One!

Andrew Nichols

One of the most prized potential recruits for the incoming Lion freshman class has committed today to Columbia.

6-1 235 pound DE/TE Andrew Nichols, who was the Arizona Defensive Player of the Year, is another potential major gem for the program. He turned down offers from Harvard and Northwestern and Princeon among many others to come to Columbia.

Nichols will be the first confirmed Centennial grad to come to the Lion football program.

So our updated list of unconfirmed, but public commitments is back up to 28:

1) Darion Acohido WR/RB/DB 5-9 178 lbs. Liberty HS Henderson, NV

2) Luke Adams RB/LB 6-2 210 lbs. Notre Dame Prep Pontiac, MI

3) Jalen Allen RB 5-11 185 lbs. Cranbrook-Kingswood HS Bloomfield Hills, MI

4) Will Allen III DB 5-9 164 lbs. American Heritage HS, Plantation, FL

5) Josh Bean QB 6-2 200 lbs. Hinsdale HS Hinsdale, IL

6) Dillon Davis QB 6-1 206 lbs. Aledo HS Aledo, TX

7) Myles Davis WR 5-10 175 lbs. Walter Payton HS Chicago, IL

8) Seth DeVary OL 6-4 275 lbs. Larue County HS Hodgenville, KY

9) Alexander Filacouris RB 6-1 200 lbs. Half Hollow Hills West HS Dix Hills, NY 

10) Graham Flinn DB/WR 6-1 180 lbs. Benedictine College Prep HS Richmond, VA

11) Tyson Hugee DB 6-0 170 lbs. Springside Chestnut Hill Academy Philadelphia, PA

12) Emerson Kabus WR 5-10 170 lbs. St. Augustine HS St. Augustine, FL

13) Josh Kaminsky DL 6-4 280 lbs. Seton Hall Prep West Orange, NJ

14) Cameron Lipton-Martinez TE/DE 6-5 225 lbs. Montclair HS Montclair, NJ

15) Ben Mathiasmeier DB 5-10 190 lbs. Cinco Ranch HS Katy, Texas

16) Marquavious Moore RB 5-11 202 lbs. Harding Academy Memphis, TN

17) Andrew Nichols DE/TE 6-3 235 lbs. Centennial HS Peoria, AZ

18) Carson Powell DB 6-0 190 lbs. Cardinal Newman HS Palm Beach, FL

19) Bailey Rotsky DB/WR Mayfield Heights HS Mayfield Heights, OH

20) Jonathan Rowe OL 6-3 283 lbs. Audrey Kell HS Charlotte, NC

21) Drew Schmid P 6-0 205 lbs. La Jolla Country Day La Jolla, CA

22) Broderick Taylor RB 6-0 200 lbs. Holly Springs HS Holly Springs, NC  

23) Dwayne Warren WR 6-3 198 lbs. Seton Hall Prep West Orange, NJ

24) Hank White OL 6-6 250 lbs. Buford HS Buford, GA

25) Ashton Cooper Wilson DE/LB 6-3 230 lbs. Merritt Island HS Merritt Island, FL

26) Peter Wise OL 6-5 290 lbs. Brunswick School Greenwich, CT 

27) Blake Wooden DB 6-1 180 lbs. American Heritage HS Plantation, FL

28) Justin Woodley LB 6-2 210 lbs. Bishop's School La Jolla, CA