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.