Tiger Test

Columbia Lions (2-0) at Princeton Tigers (2-0)

September 30, 2017

Kickoff Time: 12:30pm

Princeton Stadium

Game Time Weather Forecast: 64 degrees and cloudy

The Line: Princeton is favored by 15 points

TV/Radio: The game will be televised on the Eleven Sports Network USA available on many cable systems. Their broadcast will be simulcast on the Ivy League Digital Network. Bill Spaulding has the play-by-play and former Yale great Jack Ford the color commentary. The game is also available on audio only on the Columbia Athletics feed with Jay Alter on the call. WKCR will also broadcast the game, but it may only be available on the WKCR internet feed.

Leading Storylines

1) Neither team has really played a very good team, or at least a team that had a competitive offense and defense. While Columbia has faced two decent defenses, Princeton has yet to be tested by a defense while playing without their best all-around player, QB/RB/WR John Lovett. Lovett will be out again for this game.

2) The Lions strength is in their talented receiving corps and a big Tiger question mark is their secondary.

3) Princeton's best strength is its offensive line; it's the best in the Ivies. The Columbia defense will have to find a way to overcome that.

4) This game has all the makings of a statement game for the Lions, who would like to prove they belong in any discussion of the Ivy's top teams. The Tigers want to prove they haven't missed much of a beat without Lovett and all the graduations on defense. They're also trying to prove they can be a #1 team two years in a row, something they haven't quite pulled off in the Bob Surace era.

The Original "Slash"

I've written a lot of articles about the very storied and dramatic history between Princeton and Columbia over the years. Over the 30 or so years I've been following the Lions and the Ivies, these two teams have played some incredibly dramatic games including many with shocking outcomes.

There was the 1988 game Columbia won 16-13 to end their then-record 44 game losing streak. It was my freshman year at CU. Not only was it surprising to see the Lions win, but to get that first win in five years over the team the experts predicted would win the Ivy title that year was really something.

There was the Princeton win in 2000 in OT after the Tigers came back from two scores down with less than two minutes to go. A last-second Hail Mary win for Columbia in 2003, and another OT comeback win for Princeton a year later.

But as far as their importance to overall Ivy standings, the three games the Lions and Tigers played from 1994-96 captured the most drama. And one player who played a key role in two of those three games, with his absence looming largely over the third, was Columbia QB Mike Cavanaugh '96. 

Cavanaugh was John Lovett more than 20 years before John Lovett. He mostly played QB for the Lions, but often lined up as a RB or WR given the situation. He was also the lead punt returner.

Cavanaugh had his breakout season in 1994 when the Lions were on their way to their first winning season since 1971. Coming into the Homecoming game against Princeton that year, Columbia was 3-2-1, (they used to have ties in college football), and were facing a 5-1 Tiger squad that was 2-1 in Ivy play. A record crowd packed Wien Stadium to see if these new look Lions were for real.

Cavanaugh split time as QB with senior Jamie Schwalbe. He ran the ball 17 times for 82 yards, caught two passes for 33 more, and made key 1st down after 1st down with his option keepers and bootlegs. He was Mr. Everything for Columbia in an emotional 17-10 win.

A year later, Columbia came into Palmer Stadium with an identical 3-2-1 record, but a 3-0 mark in the Ivy League. Princeton was also 3-0 in the league and the week seven game was hyped across the league as the de facto Ivy championship game.

At that point, Schwalbe had graduated and Cavanaugh was carrying the QB duties on his own. He was still running quite a bit and also improving as a passer. Head Coach Ray Tellier and company decided to try to trick the Tigers and their improving defense by unleashing Cavanaugh as an aggressive passer early in the game.

The plan backfired in spectacular fashion. Cavanaugh was picked off five times in the 1st half alone, and eventually had his leg broken after a Princeton sack. His career was over just like that, and the Tigers routed Columbia 44-14. The Lions didn't win another game that season. It was one of the most devastating losses in modern CU history. Princeton went on to win an un-shared Ivy title for 1995.

The following year, Columbia struggled offensively without Cavanaugh but jumped out of the gate at 6-0 thanks to the return of Marcellus Wiley on defense after he took 1995 off. The Tigers were struggling much of that year, and the week 7 match up back at Wien Stadium looked like an easy win for Columbia.

But Cavanaugh's absence loomed large as the CU offense was stymied and the Princeton offense got just enough to eke out a 14-11 win. A deflated Columbia went on to get blasted the following week in another de facto championship game at Dartmouth, 40-0. They finished the season 8-2.

There was some measure of revenge the next year when Columbia shut Princeton out 17-0 in 1997, and the Lions best days against the Tigers came in 2009-10 when CU beat Princeton in back-to-back beat downs by a combined score of 80-14.

But none of those games were as crucial to either team as that stretch from 1994 to 1996. And with the schedule keeping the Columbia-Princeton tilt in week 3 for the time being, this rivalry will probably not reach that level of drama again.

Week 3 Picks

I went 5-1 straight up last week and 5-1 against the spread. For the season, I'm now 11-3 straight up and 11-3 ATS (.785 winning percentage)


Dartmouth +7 at Penn

I think Penn will eke this one out, but this seems like another game that will be decided by less than a TD. So expect the Big Green to cover.

Fordham +6 1/2 vs. Yale

The Rams will start to turn their season around with an upset win.

Cornell +10 1/2 vs. Colgate

Colgate will badly want revenge after a shocking loss to the Big Red last year. But I think Cornell will keep this one close before falling late.

Harvard -14 1/2 at Georgetown (Game at RFK stadium)

This game could get ugly.

Rhode Island -10 at Brown

URI is just a very good team right now.

Davidson +9 vs. Marist

Davidson may be the worst FCS football team in America right now. But I have to think they can cover a nine point spread at home against the Red Foxes. Marist will win, but not by two scores.

Lehigh -7 1/2 at Wagner

Wagner's season is falling apart due to injury.

Forget the Stats...

With both Columbia and Princeton not really playing the best competition up to now this year, focusing too much on the teams' identical 2-0 records is not completely helpful. 

Instead of breaking the Tigers down position-by-position, I think these are the three things that are the center of the CU coaches' thought processes as they game plan for Princeton:

1) Senior LT Mitchell Sweigart is an incredible weapon

I've been watching Ivy football for about 30 years. I have never seen an offensive lineman dominate a game as much as Sweigart did for Princeton against Columbia last year. I'd say he's a bulldozer, but bulldozers aren't as fast and as strong as Sweigart. I don't know how he can be neutralized at all. But to be fair, the entire Tiger O-line is the best the Lions will see all year. It seems like every starter is an All Ivy player.

2) The Lions have to test the Princeton pass defense all day

Columbia needs to go to its strength and make the Tigers prove they can defend both Josh Wainwright and Ronald Smith down the field as much as possible. One part of this team that has not proven itself yet is the secondary.

3) Can Columbia get pressure on QB Kanoff?

This is a subset of item #1, since Sweigart and the rest of the O-line will presumably take care of a lot of this. But creative blitzing can change the game and we haven't seen really any of Columbia's blitz package so far, (and I think that's intentional). Guys like DB Landon Baty are quick and elusive enough to beat some of these big linemen and we know we packs a lot of punch for a player of any size. I think LB Michael Murphy may also be asked to use his speed to blitz Kanoff. At the very least, this might tire out Princeton's front five and the RB's by the 4th quarter as they are tasked with picking up blitzers. 

Whatever the tools used, the Lions need to get to Kanoff somehow.  

Ivy Power Rankings Week 2

1) Princeton

What other team, even Harvard and Penn, could lose a player like John Lovett and still have an offense running on all cylinders? The Tigers got top RB Charlie Volcker back against Lafayette and he looked good too.

2) Harvard

The Crimson got a fire lit under them after the loss to URI and they responded by deciding the game against Brown in a hurry.

3) Yale

The Elis offense is humming along.

4) Penn

The Quakers now have a superstar running threat in Karekin Brooks to go along with top WR Justin Watson.

5) Dartmouth

The Big Green stunned Holy Cross, but a tough defense and solid running game will produce lots of victories no matter what.

6) Columbia

The Lions have held serve with two wins against weaker opponents.

7) Cornell

Still no defense for the Big Red, but they can throw the ball really well.

8) Brown

The Bears were exposed at Harvard Stadium,

Quick Warning on Marist tickets

I just bought my tickets for the week 4 game at Marist and noticed that there are just about 480 reserved tickets still available. You can get general admission and sit on the lawn behind the Columbia bench, but I suspect that's not a very comfortable option.

I'm not a ticket salesman, and I'm not getting any commissions. But I think any Columbia fans who would like to help jam 5,000 Tenney Stadium on October 7th better not wait to buy tickets on game day.

Final Thoughts on the Georgetown win

The Players

-Remember last year at this time when WR Josh Wainwright was exciting, but also dropping passes and fumbling at key moments? Well, now he's a sophomore and the difference that year of experience makes is big. 

-Remember last year at this time when WR Ronald Smith was... actually Smith wasn't playing yet at this time last year and made his debut in week 5 at Penn. 

-So in the course of just seven games, the Lions have gone from having no real dangerous receiving threats to having two. That's a big jump in a very short amount of time.

-QB Anders Hill is now 5-5 as Columbia's starting signal caller. He stands a chance now of becoming the first Lion QB in modern history to have more than 10 starts and graduate with a winning record. Sean Brackett cannot say that. John Witkowski can't say that. Archie Roberts can't say that. Marty Domres can't say that. Even Sid Luckman can't say that. Stay tuned. 

-No one is even testing CB Cameron Roane anymore by even throwing the ball his way more than once per game or so. We'll see if this keeps up in Ivy play, but that is the essence of what they mean in football when they say "shutdown corner." 

-K Oren Milstein was a perfect 5-5 on PATs, despite having one of his kicks slightly tipped. 

The Coach

-Head Coach Al Bagnoli is now 7-15 at Columbia. His predecessor only had three wins in 30 tries, and Norries Wilson needed 26 games to reach the seven win mark. Ray Tellier didn't log his seventh win at CU until he had coached 42 games.

-For the second straight game, every point scored by Columbia was scored by a Bagnoli recruit.

-What Columbia is doing now is winning the games it SHOULD win. The Lions were simply better going into games this year against an injury-scarred Wagner offense and a generally inferior Georgetown team. Last year, if Columbia had simply won the games they played against weaker opponents alone, the Lions would have gone 6-4, (they blew games they should have won over St. Francis, Georgetown, and Cornell). And in 2015, Columbia should have gone 4-6 instead of 2-8 after dropping games they should have won over Georgetown and Cornell). Getting teams to simply beat weaker opponents is actually a tough job that has to come first for any coach. Bagnoli seems to have arrived at this accomplishment now. 

The Fan Experience

-Count me among the fans who was at first amused, and then annoyed by the P.A. announcer's performance at the game. I mean not personal offense, and I doubt many people could do better off the cuff, (was he hired off the cuff?), but come on. We can't have that guy doing the same routine at Homecoming.

-WKCR hasn't stopped broadcasting games, they're just only available on the stations internet feed and not over the regular air. I don't like that development either, but it's a big difference from abandoning sports altogether.

Hints for the Future?

-Almost every Ivy team, including the half of the league that doesn't start its Ivy part of the schedule until week three, (Columbia, Dartmouth, Penn, and Princeton), waits until that Ivy schedule kicks in to show off some new weapons. But my guess is we saw glimpses of some new strategies Saturday. 

They include:

1) We hadn't see much in the way of blitzing at all until LB Cal Falkenhayn burst through the middle of the line in the 2nd half for a big sack. 

2) Hill executed the spring option, pitching the ball laterally to his right to RB Chris Schroer for a nice gain later in the game. 

3) The Lions finally took some of the running game off-tackle and generally got good results. 

Just to Compare...

-Columbia started 2005 and 2006 with 2-0 records, but the 2005 team was generally terrible and the 2006 team was an inspiring group. The 2005 team took that 2-0 record into Princeton and was thoroughly mauled by an up-and-coming Tiger team that was still not playing its best football. The 2006 team was 2-0 and played Princeton at Homecoming the following week and lost a close contest against the eventual Ivy champs. So, will this game be like the 2005 debacle that exposed a Columbia team that did not win again that season, or will it be more like the 2006 game that proved that team's grit? Or will it produce an entirely different result and lesson?

Hot in the City

Columbia 35 Georgetown 14

Why Columbia Won

The Lion defense and special teams held the Hoyas off until the Columbia offense got moving in the second quarter. The D held Georgetown to just 15 rushing yards and 12 first downs. Meanwhile CU QB Anders Hill threw four TD passes, two each to superstar sophomore wide receivers Ronald Smith and Wainwright. The Lion offensive line allowed no sacks and Columbia committed no turnovers.

Why Georgetown Lost

The Hoyas couldn't get much offense going until the game was long over, and special teams failures and mistakes put them too far behind. The GU running game was non-existent throughout.

Key Turning Points

-On the first play of the 2nd quarter, Georgetown decided to try a fake punt on 4th and six from their 44. Freshman Carson Powell made a great tackle to stop the play cold at the 46.  The Lions then went on an eight-play drive that ended with an 18 yard TD pass from Hill to Smith and a 7-0 lead.

-With just over six minutes left in the half, the Hoyas tasted disaster on yet another punt when the snap hit the up man and the fumble was eventually recovered by Lord Hyeamang at the GU 25.  Five plays later, Hill found Wainwright in the end zone with an 11 yard TD pass and a 14-0 lead.

Columbia Positives

-Hill and the Lions were stellar in the red zone, converting their first five visits inside the 20 into TD's, and doing the classy thing on their sixth visit with time running out and taking a knee.

-A week after giving up five sacks and getting none of their own, Columbia gave up no sacks and netted two.

-After getting burned on some long running plays against Wagner, the Lions allowed just 15 net rushing yards and 0.7 yards per carry.

-The Lions committed no turnovers.

Columbia Negatives

-The Lions waited until they were up 28-0 to give up home run balls, but two long pass plays did result in the two GU TD's.

-There's still a need to put more pressure on opposing QB's.

Columbia MVP

-QB Anders Hill didn't put up huge yards, but he was excellent in the red zone and any day when you get four TD passes and no INT's is a potential MVP day for a QB. Hill is clearly up for getting the most out of Columbia's super sophomore receivers and more importantly, looks more and more like this team's leader every week.

Second Test

Georgetown Hoyas (1-1) vs. Columbia Lions (1-0)

September 23, 2017

Kickoff Time: 1:00pm

Robert K. Kraft Filed at Lawrence A. Wien Stadium, Baker Athletics Complex

Gametime Weather Forecast: 81 degrees and sunny

The Line: Columbia is favored by 7 1/2 points

TV/Radio: The game will broadcast live on SNY with Eamon McAnaney and Sal Licata getting the call. If you don't have SNY, you can follow the game for free on Columbia's audio feed with Jay Alter and Ted Gregory calling the game.

Leading Storylines

1) Georgetown has won this matchup two years in a row, after two games filled with maddening Lion miscues. Columbia is under some pressure to clean up its act this time and get the win. The Hoyas are the second straight Columbia opponent to feature a pretty good defense but not much of an offense. Georgetown has been averaging just 11 offensive points per game against two weaker opponents. Their loss at home last week to Marist was a bit of a surprise.

2) Columbia is looking to go 2-0 for the first time in 11 years. 

3) The Lion offense seems like it has a potent passing game, but someone other than QB Anders Hill must prove he can run the ball effectively. 

Week 2 Picks

Last week I went 6-2 straight up and 6-2 against the spread as well.

Harvard -9 over Brown

I'm not very impressed yet by either team, but a closer look at the stats in the Brown win over Bryant last week has me more skeptical about the Bears than the Crimson.

Penn -2 at Lehigh

The Quakers were just shaking off rust last week and will look sharp vs. the Mountain Hawks.

Cornell +14 1/2 at Yale

The Elis will win, but the Big Red will make it a game.

Dartmouth +6 vs. Holy Cross

The Big Green usually get up for this game, but the Crusaders will eke out a win by 3 or 4 points.

Lafayette +24 vs. Princeton

The Tigers will win by maybe 20 or 21.

Jacksonville +3 1/2 at Marist

I think Marist loses this game.

Ivy Power Rankings

We had some surprises in the eight games that made up the slate of games with Ivy combatants in week one. We also had teaser-type games that started out interesting, and ended as expected.


1) Yale

The Elis have opened seasons looking like world beaters before during the Tony Reno era. But their 56-28 thrashing of Lehigh on the Mountainhawks home field was really something.

2) Princeton

The Tigers were somewhat shaky at times in their 27-17 win over San Diego. But QB Chad Kanoff had a stellar game and Princeton was playing without John Lovett and Charlie Volker.

3) Penn

The Quakers looked bad in the 1st half, but I wouldn't draw too many conclusions from this game.

4) Harvard

Losing to URI is no shame this year. But more troubling is the Crimson looked like the same team that could not rack up essential points that they were last season.

5) Brown

The Bears offense looked resurgent against Bryant. But Bryant is just not that good.

6) Columbia

The Lions won, and they were the better team. But they need to play more consistently.

7) Dartmouth

There's really nothing to learn from the Big Green's game at Stetson.

8) Cornell

The Big Red lost big and the Delaware probably took it easy on them.

Takeaways from Wagner

Starting at the Top: The Bagnoli File

-In just 21 games, Head Coach Al Bagnoli has now doubled the total wins his predecessor at Columbia netted in 30 games.

-In half of Bagnoli's wins at CU, his recruits have scored every single point for Columbia.

-Bagnoli becomes the first Lion head coach to get two consecutive wins since Norries Wilson did it in 2010.

-The last time Columbia has defeated the same team three years in a row was 2008-10 against Cornell.

Climbing the Hill

-QB Anders Hill's record as a starter at Columbia is now 4-5.

-The last time a Lion QB started a game-winning drive with under two minutes left in a game, (not OT), was against Harvard in 2003 when Jeff Otis '05 did it in a 16-13 win. 

Wide Receiver Wonders

-It may seem hard to believe, but Josh Wainwright and Ronald Smith have only played in five common games for Columbia. In those games, they have combined for 46 receptions for 770 yards and nine TD's.  (Smith: 24 catches for 408 yards and 4 TD's, Wainwright: 22 catches for 362 yards and five TD's). Columbia's W-L record in those games is 2-3.

-Did any of the WR's drop catchable passes Saturday? I didn't see any drops.

New Linebackers Do Fine

-New starting LB's Jalen Williams, Sean White, and Michael Murphy looked far from weak in their debut. White had two tackles for a loss and Williams and Murphy also logged TFL's.

Kicking Club

-New starting punter Parker Thome looked very good, averaging 40 yards a punt and getting off some real boomers. He did have one off the side of his foot, but it did not come back to bite the Lions.

-Kicking off from the 35 all day, Chris Alleyne had touchbacks all afternoon. Remember that in Ivy games he will kick from the 40.

Wounded

-Players that began the game already injured and on the sideline included RB Lynnard Rose, DL Ian Tyler, and RB Broderick Taylor. Taylor looks like he's out for the season.

Second Chance U.

Columbia 17 Wagner 14

Why Columbia Won

The Lions flashed just enough offense, defense, and special teams at the most opportune moments to eke out the win. The Lions highly regarded receiving corps came through spectacularly to make the biggest difference in the game.

Why Wagner Lost

The Seahawks were brutally inconsistent. And when they were playing stronger, they could not close the deal because of consistently poor on special teams.

Key Turning Points

-With 2:42 left in the game and the score tied at 14, Wagner got a big break when Columbia DB Landon Baty, (who had an otherwise stellar day), unnecessarily bumped Wagner WR Willie Dale. The play was called for pass interference and wiped out a 3rd and 25 situation for the Seahawks. Now set up with a 1st and 10 at the CU 29, the Lion defense came up big with three stops on Wagner RB Ryan Fulse for a grand total of five yards. That forced Wagner to go for a 42-yard FG that senior DL Connor Heeb blocked for Columbia's second FG block of the day. That set up the Lions on their own 36 with about 1:30 to go and a timeout.

-Three plays later with the Lions facing a 3rd and 11 at the Seahawk 49, QB Anders Hill ran 20 yards for a clutch gain. Two plays later, Wagner was called for interference in the end zone on a pass intended for WR Ronald Smith, who was consistently open all day.

-Two plays later, PK Oren Milstein hit the game winning FG from 29 yards out, redeeming himself after a miss from the same spot a few minutes earlier.

Columbia Positives

-Smith and fellow starting WR Josh Wainwright were the only consistent stars of the game, getting regularly open and making some circus catches.

-QB Hill bounced back from a lackluster 3rd quarter and led the Lions on that high-pressure winning drive. Despite getting sacked five times, Hill finished with 89 net rushing yards.

-The Columbia defense started out the game in dominant mode, and stayed tough enough down the stretch to force Wagner's ill-fated FG tries.

Columbia Negatives

-The Lions almost completely collapsed in the 2nd half, allowing another home run ball kind of play on an 83-yard TD run, and committing numerous costly personal foul penalties.

-The Lions defense did not get consistent pressure on Seahawk QB Luke Massei while they allowed those five sacks.

-Hill was forced to run the ball too much and will not likely avoid injury this year if that continues.

Columbia MVP

-Ronald Smith got open all game and made some great catches to stand out. His one catch in traffic on the final drive and his forcing of a crucial pass interference call a few plays later helped the Lions win the game.

Conclusions

They call schools filled with transfers like Wagner "Second Chance U.'s," but it was Columbia that got a second chance to win this one when it looked like the Lions had let the game slip away. Columbia will have to find a way to play more consistently if this program wants to make the improvements its hoping for in 2017.

Interborough Battle

Wagner Seahawks (1-1) vs. Columbia Lions (0-0)

September 16, 2017

Robert K. Kraft Filed at Lawrence A. Wien Stadium, Baker Athletics Complex

Kickoff Time: 1:00PM

Gametime Weather Forecast: 78 degrees/partly cloudy. 15% chance of rain

The Spread: Columbia is favored by 4.5 points

TV/Radio: The game will broadcast live on SNY with Eamon McAnaney and Jeff Adams '12 getting the call. If you don't have SNY, you can follow the game for free on Columbia's audio feed with Jay Alter and Ted Gregory calling the game.

Leading Storylines

1) Who will really be at QB for Wagner? QB Alex Thomson is listed as the starter, but he was banged up and knocked out of last week's game at St. Francis. Are we supposed to believe that after not coming back to that crucial game for the Seahawks, he'll be starting in a non-conference game? 

2) Columbia opens the season with established strengths, but also big questions especially at the linebacker and running back positions.

3) Columbia has defeated Wagner two years in a row. Are the Seahawks going to be more motivated to get revenge? 

Week 1 Picks

Last year, I went 28-13 (.682) in straight up game predictions and 25-16 (.609) against the spread

San Diego +12 1/2 at Princeton

I like the Tigers to win this game, but they may have some trouble without John Lovett.


Yale +13 at Lehigh

The Mountain Hawks will win it, but probably not by two scores.


Brown -7 over Bryant

Bryant just doesn't look good.


Marist +10 1/2 at Georgetown

The Red Foxes will make it a game against Georgetown's quiet offense. But Hoyas will win it.


Penn -14 1/2 over Ohio Dominican

This is basically the Quakers going up against a total cupcake. It could get ugly.


Rhode Island +6 over Harvard

URI is much improved and should cover and win. Harvard's tradition of trying to schedule out of conference softies has finally turned, albeit by accident.

Cornell +17 1/2 at Delaware

The Blue Hens will win, but the Big Red seems to always come out of the gate strong. They should have a decent showing.

Dartmouth -26 at Stetson

Stetson is possibly weaker than Ohio Dominican.

Starting Lineups Released

Tanner Thomas

**Disclaimer: As I learned well during my years calling the Columbia games online and on radio, the two-deeps released by all the teams are not always 100% reliable. In fact, they're usually just about 75% reliable. Some of this is just the result of the lineups being true at mid-week and then things changing in the interim. Some of it is gamesmanship or mind games. None of it is worth getting angry about.


We now have the announced starting lineup and backups for the opening game against Wagner.

Here are the main takeaways:

-Sophomore Tanner Thomas gets the start at RB, one of the key questions we had coming into the season.

-QB-turned-WR Kyle Castner gets the start at one of the WR positions. Reports of his natural comfort and ability at his new position seem to be accurate.

-Ryan Suitt gets the backup QB slot.

-The crucial linebacker holes to fill go to starters Michael Murphy, Jalen Williams, and Sean White. Jacob Young is probably the biggest surprise backup LB on the list.

-One of the starting safety slots goes to junior Ryan Gilbert. 

-No freshman cracked the starting lineup and the lone freshman backup is WR Emerson Kabus. It's been a very long time since Columbia had that much veteran leadership.

-The graduated and now playing for Kentucky Matthew Panton is listed as the starting holder. That's obviously a mistake.

Broadcast News

It is still true that Jay Alter and Ted Gregory will be calling the Columbia games for the audio feed. But Eamon McAnaney and Jeff Adams '12 will be the broadcast team for the SNY-covered games. I'm looking forward to hearing how Adams, after his years in the NFL, will do coming back to his old stomping grounds.

Ivy Replacements

If you haven't seen the latest ESPN 30 for 30 documentary, "The Year of the Scab," I suggest you check it out. It was simply excellent.

The film mostly focused on the eventual 1987 Super Bowl champion Washington Redskins and how the replacement players who came to Washington during the brief players strike crossed picket lines to get that one chance at glory.

It got me wondering how many former Ivy football players were among all the league's replacements who played for three games before the strike ended with the union giving in.

I always knew Columbia RB John Chirico '87 had been a replacement player and even scored a TD for his hometown N.Y. Jets, but I was not so sure about anyone else.

Thanks to some easy research on the Pro Football Reference website, I got my answer.

A total of five Ivy players graced replacement rosters in 1987:

WR Keiron Bigby-Brown Redskins

RB John Chirico-Columbia Jets

QB Jim Crocicchia-Penn Giants

DB Chip Nuzzo-Princeton Bills

RB John Tagliaferri-Cornell Dolphins

Here's an article about how Crocicchia got a big start for the Giants .

And Brown and Yale fans should remember Bigby who, playing as a DB, returned two Yale passes for TD's in a 1984 Bruin win. 

More Opponent info

Will Fischer-Colbrie

Still no game notes of two-deeps out from Columbia, but Wagner's notes are out and so are some more of Columbia's eventual opponents.

 Here's what we know today:

-Despite being pulled from the crucial St. Francis game at the end of the 1st half with an obvious shoulder injury, the Wagner game notes still list Alex Thompson as the starting QB for the Seahawks. Game notes are not always very accurate and this could very well be an example of that.

-Columbia Football's announcing team will consist of play-by-play man Jay Alter  and all-time great Lion DB Ted Gregory will handle the color commentary. (Yes, I have been critical of Gregory in the past in his capacity as part of head coaching search committees at Columbia. But he was an incredible player, knows football extremely well, and is a warm and kind person).

-Will Fischer-Colbrie will get the start for Penn Saturday over Georgia transfer Nick Robinson. But remember, this game is against Ohio Dominican, we just joined NCAA D-II. This is basically an exhibition game for the Quakers and they seem to be rightfully treating it like a practice game.

Some Info on the Others

As we wait on Columbia's game notes and two-deep release for the season opener against Wagner, we are learning a bit about some of the other Ivy teams who have made their depth chart announcements.

Here are the highlights so far:

-The best all-around player in the Ivies last year, Princeton's QB/WR/RB John Lovett, is not listed at all in the Tiger two-deep for Princeton's opener against San Diego. We still don't know how long he'll be out, but he seems definitely completely out for the opener.

-With Alan Lamar out for the season, Yale is starting Deshawn Salter at RB. But the Elis are listing three RB's in the two-deep, (three-deep?), with Zane Dudek and Andrew Grinde also there.

-On defense, Yale's 2015 star DL Copache Tyler, who missed the 2016 season, is listed as the backup and not the starter behind John Herubin. Last year's All Ivy Honorable Mention Center Karl Marbeck is not the starting LT, and Jeho Chang is now listed as a backup at LG.

-Harvard's Charlie Booker is getting the start at RB, and last year's primary RB Semar Smith is not even listed in the two-deep.

-Getting back to Princeton, three sophomores are getting the start on the graduation-gutted defense. That includes sophomore Will Johnson, a 5-9 CB who was a WR last season.

Fan's Guide to Going to a Columbia Football Game 2017 (WITH SPECIAL EATING OPTIONS UPDATE)

The Athletics Department has already done a nice job of letting all the fans know about what to expect once they GET to Wien Stadium at the Baker Athletics Complex this season. You can read all about that here.

But this is my annual look at HOW TO GET to Columbia games, park, etc. in the first place:







Remember this Sign...



... and remember this train!

The football home opener is THIS WEEKEND!

Time to start planning NOW!

I am here to help.

Every year, I publish my guide to getting to the Columbia home games at Kraft Field at Wien Stadium at the Baker Athletic Complex.

Every year, the top tip is the same: if you are coming to the game from Manhattan, TAKE THE SUBWAY!

The #1 train and the A train are both great choices to get to the stadium. I have more details on that a little later.

Your next best best is to take the free shuttle that will leave from the corner of East 86th Street and 3rd Avenue at 11:30am on home game days.


If you are driving: DON'T PANIC

Getting around New York City, and Manhattan in particular, is all about your state of mind. If you're an overly aggressive or too passive driver, you will either drop dead of a tension-induced stroke or become the victim of a panic attack, respectively. The city is fraught with double-parkers, Kamikaze cabs with no regard for life and limb, and people who routinely make right turns from the left lane.

But fear not! The road to the Baker Athletics Complex is filled with special advantages and other options that can make the whole experience livable, decent, and even fun.

The key to avoiding disappointment, dyspepsia, and dismemberment is to LEAVE YOURSELF A LOT OF TIME.

Other than the Homecoming game which starts at 1:30 this year, the Columbia home games will begin at 1pm this season. With another season's worth of great pre-game activities in the works, (like free beverages, even some beers for those of you over 21), the best thing that could happen is that you show up an hour or so before the game and enjoy a good time in the picnic area. Is that so bad? And if you just make it in time for the game, well then you made it. Either way, going early is the way to go.

Inwood or Morningside:  Make Your Choice Now

Before we talk about getting to the actual game by car, ask yourself where you'd really like to keep your gas-guzzling SUV for the day. Do you want to park it up at the very tip of Manhattan, or do you want to keep it near the Columbia campus where you can spend a very pleasant morning and late afternoon/evening before and after the game? This is not exactly a rhetorical question, as there ARE things to do and see not far from Wien Stadium... but it's not exactly a culinary hotbed, in fact it's quite residential, (in the Baker Field neighborhood of Inwood there are actually a few houses... detached houses in Manhattan!). There are new choices lately. Just over the Broadway Bridge north of the stadium there's a strip mall with an Applebee's and a Starbucks!

Parking

You can park very close to the stadium at many of the parking garages within 1-6 blocks of Baker. Most of them are on 10th Avenue between 205th and 215th Streets. I usually use the garage right at the corner of 10th Ave. and 215th.

You can also park the car near the Columbia campus, which is only 100 blocks or so from Baker Field, There is still more to do, see, and definitely eat around there.





A path in Inwood Hill Park... yes, this IS Manhattan!

BUT definitely choose one game, and check out Inwood and its environs during the season. Parts of Inwood Hill Park are the only pieces of Manhattan that still look as they did in 1524 when the Dutch explorers arrived.

A few blocks South of Inwood is Washington Heights a very resurgent neighborhood with lots of interesting Latin restaurants and shops.

The Cloisters... an excellent "Marital Bargaining Unit" if I say so myself

One Washington Heights highlight about 30 blocks South from the Baker Field is the lovely Cloisters. Most Columbia students get sick of the Cloisters after a few years, (some classes make you go there too many times), but it's a great place for the uninitiated. It's also not a bad date spot. So, if you have a wife or girlfriend who's none too pleased about being dragged to a football game, the Cloisters can be your olive branch. No need to thank me if your lady ends up thinking you're a romantic genius; like Billy Flynn, "All I Care about is Love."


But How Do We Get to Neverland?

The directions provided by the athletic department are very good. You can use them with confidence... but don't ignore the key section of those directions for people coming from Queens, Long Island, Eastern Brooklyn via the Belt Parkway, and that includes JFK Airport and La Guardia. If you are one of those people, I'm about to save you anywhere from 45 minutes to 7 hours by urging you to never, never, even if you're a Penn fan, NEVER take the Cross Bronx Expressway!


The Cross Bronx Expressway... dear Lord, why us?

The Cross Bronx Expressway was designed by Robert Moses a brilliant but evil man whose disdain for ordinary people was well documented by Robert Caro in The Power Broker. If you live in New York, drive in New York, or are thinking about driving in New York, you owe it to yourself to read this book. One great section details how the Cross Bronx Expressway was poorly designed from the outset, destroyed good middle class neighborhoods like East Tremont, and virtually guarantees traffic jams at the drop of a hat. And the kicker is, a lot of other urban planners in the 40's, 50's and 60's emulated this man and his designs. Robert Moses is a big reason why driving in America sucks.

So avoid the Cross Bronx, take the Grand Central Parkway to the Triboro Bridge, (now named the "RFK Bridge," presumably to honor the old home of the Redskins ;) ), follow the signs to MANHATTAN, (DON'T MAKE The Bonfire of the Vanities mistake), and THEN take the Harlem River Drive North. Take the HRD to the 10th Avenue/Dyckman Street exit. Do NOT take the ramp going up to the George Washington Bridge, stay in the far right lane. Take the HRD to the end and  make the first right at the first light that will take you onto 10th Avenue. If you stay straight, (you'll be driving under an elevated subway track). 10th Avenue runs parallel to Broadway and will take you straight up to 215th Street, 218th Street, or wherever you want to go in the Baker Complex vicinity.

IMPORTANT NOTE: The Harlem River Drive is officially a parkway, so if you're driving a U-Haul or a big bus of people, you can't take it. Otherwise, you and your sedan, SUV, pickup truck, etc. can enjoy it. IF YOU'RE TAKING A CAB FROM THE QUEENS AIRPORTS... MAKE SURE YOU TELL THE CABBIE TO TAKE THE TRIBORO/RFK BRIDGE TO THE HARLEM RIVER DRIVE. DON'T LET THE DRIVER TAKE YOU INTO MIDTOWN MANHATTAN!!!

Parking: The Odyssey

Option 1: Donate to CU!

Now if you're going to park near Baker Field, your options are limited, but there ARE options. Your first option is to send a fat check to the athletic dept. and grab one of the sweet spots in the Baker Field complex itself reserved for generous donors. Seriously, I can think or worse ways to spend your money, and having a spot at Baker Field is like being a shareholder in Berkshire Hathaway during "Buffettstock, you get to enjoy your investment in a party atmosphere!

Option 2: Parking Garages Ahoy! 

They are all around the stadium now, especially on 10th Avenue. FYI: in the past, parking has cost fans about $15 for the whole game.

Option 3: Street Parking, or "The Hunt"

Of course, you can try being really sneaky and try to park for free on the residential streets around the area. This is really something for early-birds, as the spots fill up fast. In fact, there aren't a lot of spots to begin with because Inwood is really residential and the local folks like to keep their spots for the weekend. BUT, the eagle-eyed among you may be able to find a nice spot and enjoy knowing that you're a winner even before kickoff by saving a few bucks with a free spot. There are a couple of important pitfalls to avoid:

a) If you aren't really good at parallel parking, don't even think about parking on the streets of Inwood. The hilly terrain makes even seasoned parkers a little nervous, and all those scratched bumpers and fenders on the parked cars are proof of the "goofs" people make from time to time.

b) Inwood is not really a high-crime area, especially during the day, but you should never tempt fate. Lock your cars. DO NOT keep any packages or valuables in plain sight in your car, and you probably should leave them out of the trunk too if you can. This is especially true if you are driving a car with out-of-state plates.

c) Make sure to check the street signs to see if you're parking in a legal spot. Saturdays are usually immune from alternate side of the street parking rules, but not always. You cannot park within six feet, either way, of a fire hydrant, and you also need to give a lot space for bus stops. You cannot block any driveways. And if there's a yellow stripe painted on the curb, you can't park there either. A good M.O. is to eye every open spot with EXTREME SUSPICION, the chances are more than likely that the spot is there because it's not a legal spot.

d) You may be hampered even further in your quest for free parking if the NYPD blocks 218th Street at Broadway which they often do on game days. To be safe, just find your way to Seaman Avenue, which runs parallel to Broadway on the WEST and start looking for spots there. You might consider printing out a Google Map of Inwood, NY to learn to navigate the local streets better. Remember to look out for one-way streets and the occasional street fair which often pops up and further kills parking opportunities on the weekends.

TIME OUT! WHY IS THIS SO HARD?

Manhattan is a great and unique place. One of the things that makes it so unique is that every inch of land is super-valuable and the chances of any institution setting aside lots of space for occasional parking is not likely or even sane. Most sensible people living in all parts of Manhattan do so without a car, regardless of their economic stature. A day or two driving around here will tell you why.

That's why we have the best, (but still too expensive), public transportation system in the world. And luckily, there are a number of more relaxing and reliable ways to get to Baker Field.

Public Transportation Option 1: From Columbia Campus

You can ditch your car at one of the many parking garages near the Columbia campus, or try to find free street parking, (it's not much easier than Inwood, but doable), and then take the free shuttle bus or public transportation.

To get the subway somewhat direct to the stadium you can 1) catch the uptown #1 train at 116th Street all the way to 215th Street. Easy.

You CAN 2) walk down the hill at West 110th Street, get on the uptown C train and switch at 168th Street for the A from there. That transfer does not involve the creepy elevator and is much better, but still not ideal.

I love taking the A train from start to finish.

Getting the A directly is a lot easier from Midtown Manhattan, where most hotels are located anyway. From the Columbia campus, you can also take the #1 DOWNTOWN to 59th and then get on the A train UPTOWN from there. It's not too terrible to do that actually.

If you're in Midtown Manhattan, I recommend taking the A at the 59th Street and Broadway station. It is a VERY short ride, (less than 20-25 minutes), from there. The A train runs on the far West side of Manhattan, through Brooklyn, past JFK airport, and all the way to a neighborhood where I did a lot of my growing up called Far Rockaway. The uptown or Manhattan bound A takes you the 207th Street stop, which is the last stop. Exit at the 211th Street exit and then you can either walk the seven blocks along Broadway, (about 35% of a mile), to Baker Field or better yet, enter Isham Park on your left and enjoy a nicer trip that will take you to Seaman Avenue along the left side of the park and you will see Wien Stadium right in front of you at the end of the avenue. This is a more scenic walk and will give you a better idea of what Inwood is like.

To ride the NYC subway you will need a Metrocard. Go to the ticket booth at the station or the automated Metrocard machines and buy a two-trip card. The machines take cash, credit and debit cards.

When you get to the platform, again make sure that you are on the UPTOWN side awaiting the UPTOWN train.

FREE BUSES!

If the subway isn't for you, for the last several years Columbia has been running free shuttle buses to and from Baker Field on game days. They usually run from the 116th Street and Broadway entrance, but ask the security guards at the gate to be sure. I'm not sure how long it takes for these buses to reach the stadium, but they will always be slower than the subway. (There is no faster way to get around Manhattan than the subway... none).

And  there is now a bus running from the Upper East Side! It leaves from 3rd Avenue and East 86th Street 90 minutes prior to kickoff. 

A number of NYC buses, (not free, you need a Metrocard), run to the Baker Field area, but I really don't recommend using them. They are extremely slow, (what do you call it when you have sex on a NYC bus? "Joining the 3-mile-an-hour club"), and erratic on the weekends. BUT if there ever is a fire on the subway or something, it's good to know they're there.

The Marble Hill Station on Metro North

One of the most beautiful ways to get to a Columbia game is on the Metro North commuter railroad. Take the HUDSON RIVER LINE to the Marble Hill stop and simply walk over the footbridge to Baker Field. The views of the Hudson that you will get if you're coming from the North, (if you're looking to go this way from Grand Central Terminal, it's not a terrible idea, but much more expensive than just taking the subway from another station on the West Side), are just great. MTA.info is the website to find the schedules for Saturdays from Grand Central to Marble Hill. Note the reliable 19-20 minute travel time and the many, many options you have for trains all the way through game time. If you are staying on the East Side of Manhattan, this is a GREAT option.

Cab Anyone?

You can always try to hail a yellow cab and tell the driver to take you to WEST 218th and Broadway, (don't say "Baker Field," there's a very good chance he won't know what you're talking about), and go that way. I expect the trip will cost about $15-$18 in cab fare not including tip... but it varies.

In NYC there are also non-yellow so-called "gypsy" cabs that may honk their horns at you and offer you a ride. The official rules in the city say that you can't take a ride with them without arranging it in advance, but I have found they are usually reliable. The price should be about the same as Yellow cab, but they don't use a meter... so make sure you agree on the fare before you get in.

What if I'm coming from New Jersey, and I want to take Public Transportation?

New Jersey Transit trains take you to Penn Station where you can get the A train, or a cab. I'm not sure about the reliability of NJT trains or buses on weekends, but perhaps some of my readers would like to chime in about that in the comments section.

Isn't the Subway Dangerous?

Not really. It's dirtier than it should be, but in general it's fine. Basically, keep your wallets and valuables secure, try to ride with or near larger groups of people, and try not to telegraph the fact you're a tourist by pulling out a map every two seconds. It's okay to ask fellow riders directions; most New Yorkers like proving they know the City.

I'm Coming from JFK, LaGuardia, or Newark Airport. What should I do?

A cab from Newark directly to Baker Field is actually not that terribly expensive. But from the other major airports, I suggest you get into Manhattan via a cab and then take the subway, unless you have lots of bags which will make the whole day a pain. In that case, try to get to your hotel first, dump the bags and then follow the directions above.

What if I get Lost?

Go into almost any store you see and ask for help. Store owners can sometimes seem surly, but they'll probably help you. Cops on the street will be good too.

Can't I Just Come with You?

I'd love the company, but I don't think that will work. I am with you in spirit, I promise.

NOW LET'S EAT!

I now turn the podium over to Inwood resident "Inwood Tiger", who knows the neighborhood really well and is a big Ivy football fan:  

2017 marks the 94th year of Columbia football in Inwood.  Decent dining options for gameday are of far more recent vintage.  But there are quite a few good spots now, in fact so many that this year I'm only listing places I would recommend.  Note that these are listed in order of distance from the stadium.  

1. INDIAN ROAD CAFE - Beloved coffee shop / restaurant / bar at 218th St and Indian Road.    Excellent coffee, brunch and drinks, but people really go for the atmosphere.  Terrific live music and other programming.

2. PARK TERRACE DELI - The quintessential New York deli experience, on 218th St near Broadway.  They have everything you need and a great sandwich bar.

3. TWIN DONUT - Why go to Dunkin when you can go to a local imitation?  (In fact this one actually played a Dunkin for this SNL commercial - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FSvNhxKJJyU)  Not very good donuts, but the location on 218th an Broadway can't be beat.  

4. LA ESSENCIA - Broadway just south of 218th St.  This small spot is a favorite among locals for their prices and Dominican fare.

5. FOOD UNIVERSE - Handy supermarket located at Broadway north of 215th St in case you need snacks, drinks or prepared foods.

6. GUACAMOLE - Fabulous taco cafe, on Broadway at 214th St.  Inexpensive and super tasty.  Stop reading this and go, it's great.

9. CARROT TOP - Also on Broadway at 214th, this is an Inwood tradition.  Good spot for sandwiches, great bakery for treats.

10. LIFFY II - At Broadway and 213th, the sole survivor of Inwood's once-numerous Irish bars.  Take the kids and show them what old guys drinking in a dark New York bar used to look like.

11. CHOC NYC - Much-heralded bakery/chocolate shop with tons of gourmet treats made on premises. Located on Broadway just south of 212th St.

12. GRANDPA'S BRICK OVEN / PIZZA HAVEN - Dueling pizza places on either side of Broadway near Isham Street.  Both are super for a NY slice and highly recommended.

13. V.S. BERRY - The biggest and best of Inwood's fro-yo spots, with all of the trimmings.  Located at Isham and Broadway.

14. INWOOD FARMER'S MARKET - One of the best greenmarkets in Manhattan, this runs every Saturday on Isham Street west of Broadway and is a scene.  Stop by before the game for pastries, cookies, real apple cider and other direct-from-the-farm goodies.

15. GARDEN CAFE - An Inwood standard for a lovely weekend meal, especially on their back patio. Recently renovated.  On Broadway south of Isham St.

16. DARLING COFFEE - Inwood's best hipster coffee bar.  Fantastic, will make you think you got off the A train in Brooklyn.  On Broadway between Isham and 207th.

17. YUMMY THAI - I can faithfully report that Inwood's only Thai outpost is in fact yummy, and an attractive place to sit.  On Broadway south of Isham St.

18. INWOOD LOCAL - One of the best craft beer bars in the area, with terrific bar food as well and a very big screen in the back for those weekend games. On Broadway north of 207th St.

19. DICHTER'S - The epicenter of all Inwood life, Manny runs a traditional pharmacy/general store complete with ice cream counter, bagels and sandwiches.  Terrific prices and friendly atmosphere.  Stop in and say hello.

20. TUBBY HOOK - Replaced the old Piper's Kilt and quickly became just as popular.  Excellent food and atmosphere.  Perfect for pre- or post-game while checking out the scores.

21. G's / CAPITOL - Looking for a diner or lunch counter that feels like it did when Lou Little was coaching the Lions?  Try the ancient Capitol diner on Broadway just south of 207th, or the delicous G's luncheonette on 207th west of Broadway.  While you're at it, you can get your hair cut the proper way at Ray's Barbershop, next to G's and now in its third generation.  They don't make places like these anymore.

22. AMY'S - Good chinese food, also many vegetarian options.  On 207th near Vermilyea.

23.  ANCHOR HEIGHTS - The best new restaurant on this list.  Absolutely wonderful cozy Italian restaurant hidden in plain sight.  You will be thrilled by the service and the food, best place for a nice meal in Inwood.  On 207th at Vermilyea.

24. BEANS AND VINES - On Broadway near Academy, but soon moving to a much larger space across the street. Really nice wine and coffee bar and small-plates menu

25. BOCADITO'S - Bistro on Broadway near Academy that has a very popular brunch.  Check out all the photos of the food that people post on Yelp.

26. DYCKMAN STREET - I hesitate to recommend anything on Alcohol Alley, as this huge concentration of bars and restaurants around Dyckman and Broadway is known.  But apparently the brand new SEAWALK at Payson and Dyckman is worth a look for brunch or dinner.

27. TRYON PUBLIC HOUSE on the east side of Broadway is only a couple years old but is the go-to neighborhood pub for southern Inwood.  Very popular and fun spot.

28. CANAVE - New cocina and bar opening soon at Broadway and Arden.  Owners run a great bistro in Riverdale, so this could be a winner.

29. LA MARINA - On the one hand, the setting by the Hudson River is nothing short of spectacular and will make you feel like you are dining upstate.  But the prices are insane and the reviews of the food and service are extremely mixed.  Still, it may be worth a visit just for those views.  Go before they close for the season in October.  At the western end of Dyckman St by the river.

30. NEW LEAF - This one is more of a hike, being located in Fort Tryon Park  in an old park building that was restored by Bette Midler's nonprofit group in the 90s.  Best accessed from the 190th St "A" subway station, or by hiking up the steep trails from Dyckman Street, or driving to their small parking lot.  It's one of the most beautiful spots in upper Manhattan to eat, especially when the fall colors are out.