Random Question UPDATED

I'm dying to know: Who is responsible for both Princeton and Stetson wearing white jerseys in their game last weekend? I assume it's Princeton's fault. I know the hoops teams alternate colors and whites on Ivy home weekends very often, but when was the last time an Ivy team wore white at home in football? 

Was this the Ivy League's version of this infamous incident in Minnesota in 1964?

UPDATE: Dartmouth fan "Go Green" had an answer for me as he dug up this story about the Dartmouth-Penn game at Memorial Field in 1994. Due to a fire at Franklin Field, Penn's white jerseys were damaged and the Green wore their white jerseys at home to accommodate the Quakers. Of course, Penn didn't confuse the issue and wore then home blues. 

Week Three Picks

I had a pretty good week last week, going 6-1 straight up and 5-2 against the spread. That brings my totals so far to 13-4 SU and 10-7 AGS. 

Dartmouth -7 at Penn (FRIDAY NIGHT GAME)

The longest road trip in the Ivies usually produces good contests. I think this will be a low-scoring affair, with the Big Green winning by something like a 20-10 score. 

Yale -22 at Lehigh

The Bulldogs will take out some frustrations on the hapless Mountain Hawks. 

Harvard -3 1/2 at Holy Cross

Great test for the Crimson on the road. I think they will pass that test. 

Cornell -14 1/2 at Bucknell

It's now or never for the Big Red

Brown -1 1/2 at Bryant 

Ditto for the Bears

Georgetown Pick 'em vs. Colgate

The Hoyas should win at home. 

Valparaiso -7 vs. Marist

Valpo keeps getting better. Marist is treading water. 

Two New Lions

 

Matt Gallehdari

6-3 215 pound LB Matt Gallehdari has committed to the Lions. 

Gallehdari graduated from the Hun School in Princeton in June, but is now taking a PG year at the Kent School in Connecticut. His older brother Jacob plays football for Johns Hopkins. 

Also joining the pride from New Jersey is 6-5 260-pound OL Patrick Gilchrist from Randolph HS. Gilchrist will join current Lion freshman Justin Townsend as the only two Randolph HS grads to come to Columbia Football. 

So our 2022 incoming freshman list has grown to 12:

1. Ewan Clarke OT/DT 6"6 280 lbs. St. Stephen's/St. Agnes School Alexandria, VA

2. Matt Gallehdari LB 6"3 215 lbs. The Hun School/The Kent School (PG year) Princeton, NJ

3. Patrick Gilchrist OL 6"5 260 lbs. Randolph HS, Randolph, NJ

4. Ethan Hebb DB 6"2 190 lbs. Cardinal Gibbons/Williston Northampton School Raleigh, NC

5. Noah Jordan OL 6"5 307 lbs. St. Mary's Ryken HS Leonardtown, MD

6. James Lill OL/DL 6"5 287 lbs. Schroeder Webster HS/Avon Old Farms Webster, NY

7. Shawn Lin DL 6"4 250 lbs. Loyola HS Los Angeles, CA

8. Jayden Marshall DB 6"0 190 lbs. Lee County HS/WIlliston-Northampton School Sanford, NC

9. Kameryn Metcalf DB 5"10 180 lbs. D.R. Phillips HS Orlando, FL 

10. Jack Smiechowski LB 6"1 195 lbs. St. Joseph HS Montvale, NJ

11. Patrick Sodl LB 5"11 210 lbs. Loyola HS Los Angeles, CA

12. Edan Stagg WR 6"1 175 lbs. University Lab School Baton Rouge, LA  

Comments are Back!

 The Blogger website, for some reason, stopped alerting me to comments being posted here. I am now fixing that by checking more often and making sure your comments are indeed available for all to see. My apologies...

Profiles and Power Rankings

Some great info can be found in today's profile of Columbia QB "Clean Joe" Green in the Columbia Spectator. The revelation that he worked out with several NFL players last year in Seattle is a highlight of the piece. 

The opening line for the Columbia-Princeton showdown this Saturday has the Tigers as a whopping 19 1/2 point favorite. 

1. Princeton

A lot of the Ivy teams have played weak competition so far, but Princeton has played the easiest schedule by far. Still, outscoring your opponents by 95-0 over two games is hard to ignore.

2. Harvard 

The Crimson slammed Brown, but we'll learn much more about Harvard at Holy Cross on Saturday. 

3. Yale 

The Eli offense looks a little out of sync, but they should thrash Lehigh this weekend. 

4. Dartmouth

The Green bounced back nicely in week two after a sloppy opening week win. 

5. Columbia

The Lion pass defense puts a damper on a 2-0 start.

6. Cornell

The Big Red have been a scrappy team, even at 0-2. But at some point, Cornell needs to win. They should easily against Bucknell this week. 

7. Penn

The Quakers fell apart at key moments at Lafayette. They don't seem poised to beat Dartmouth at home Friday night.

8. Brown

The Bear defense seems just as non-existent as last year. 

An Honest Assessment?

Mathiasmeier Named Player of the Week

Following on my lead after I named him the MVP of the game, (ha ha), the Ivy League has named senior S Ben Mathiasmeier the Defensive Player of the Week. This is well-deserved for him personally, even though the defense overall is probably not very proud of its overall performance in the win.

2-0... for real?

In my 35 years of following Columbia Football, the team has been 2-0 a grand total of five times (1996, 2005, 2006, 2018, and 2021). Only the 2005 team turned out to be weak, while the rest finished at .500 or better.

I certainly don't think this team is as bad as the 2005 squad. But these wins did come against relatively weak opponents, (though let's see about Georgetown at the end of the year). On the other hand, this is a CU team that's winning without its best offensive skill player who should be back for the rest of the schedule. 

Nevertheless, these Lions have me thinking about an Al Bagnoli team of the past. 

Of all of Bagnoli's amazing achievements as Penn's head coach for 23 years, the job he did with the 2012 Quakers was probably the best. 

Somehow, some way, that team won the Ivy title despite going 6-4 and looking a lot less than impressive in several games. 

Even a weak Columbia team came into Franklin Field that year and really should have won. As I documented the game at the time, only a ridiculous pass interference penalty and a dropped gimmee interception lost that game for the Lions. 

That Penn team started the season 0-2, and then 1-3 before winning 5 of their last six in one close game after another. 

Why am I mentioning this now?

Because that's the kind of team Columbia will probably need to be to contend for a title this season. Unlike the Quakers in 2012, the Lions are now 2-0. But they'd probably be 0-2 if they played the kind of competition Penn faced in the first two weeks of 2012. There are some pretty good things about this Columbia team, and its best offensive skill player still hasn't played a down. But the Lions are probably not going to dominate any Ivy opponents this year, especially Princeton in New Jersey. 

Like they did in 2017, and like the Quakers did in 2012, each Ivy game is probably going to be close... if they win. Don't discount the chances of Columbia losing big on the road to some of the stronger teams in the league, which is a possibility unless we see some improvement in the pass rush. 

On the other hand, this Lion team may simply be playing up or down to the competition. My sense is that if CU makes it a game of any kind at Princeton Saturday, the biggest reason why will be because Columbia is letting the opposing teams set the pace. That's not always a bad thing, but it does tend to make games against poor opponents closer than they should be. 

Princeton has played two very bad teams that are even worse than Marist and Georgetown. But the Tigers have annihilated both of them and that means something... maybe not a lot, but something. 

Depending on whom you ask, the Lions will lose by anywhere from 14 to 35 points this weekend. 

I guess that's bulletin board material for the Columbia players, but it should also serve as motivation to Bagnoli and some of the guys who were with him at Penn nine years ago who remember that you only need to win by one. 

Split Decision

Ryan Young clutches the Lou Little Trophy

 Columbia 35 Georgetown 24

Why Columbia Won

The Lion offensive attack was potent throughout most of the game, especially in the clutch. That, and stellar special teams play, provided enough spark to overcome Columbia's woes in pass coverage.

Why Georgetown Lost

The Hoyas either turned the ball over, committed untimely penalties, or allowed big special teams plays every time they seemed poised to take control of the game. The Georgetown defense also couldn't stop the Lion running attack when it really mattered. 

Key Turning Points

-With 8:50 left in the 1st quarter and both teams doing little on offense, the Lions took over on their own 36 and QB Joe Green promptly threw a deep ball to WR Wills Meyer for a 46 yard play on 1st down. Three running plays later Columbia had the first TD of the game and early control of the contest. 

-Still up 7-0, the Lions next possession started at their own 15 with 4:41 left in the first frame. This time Columbia ran on the first play, and RB Dante Miller took it down the East sideline for 63 yards. The Lions mixed the run and the pass to gain the final 22 yards and took a 14-0 lead in what seemed like it was going to be a rout. 

-After Georgetown got back into the game with a long TD drive to make it 14-7, KR Will Allen returned the ensuing kickoff 97 yards for a TD in what seemed like another knockout blow for the Hoyas.

-With 10:00 left in the 3rd quarter and Columbia's lead trimmed to 21-17, P Drew Schmid nailed the Hoyas at their own 2 yard line with a well-placed 48 yard boot. But Georgetown still mixed the run and the pass brilliantly and got all the way to the CU 30. But on a 1st down rollout play from there, Hoya QB Pierce Holley made his only big mistake of the game and threw a pass picked off by Lion S Ben Mathiasmeier who ran the ball all the way back to the GU 8. 55 seconds later it was 28-17 Lions.

-But the Hoyas still did not back down. Now down by just 28-24, Holley marched Georgetown back into Columbia territory with about 9 minutes to play. But on 2nd and 7 from the CU 44, Hoya WR Naleem Kearney was flagged for a crucial offensive pass interference penalty on a play where GU also had an illegal man downfield. The flag stifled the Hoya drive and they were forced to punt. But on the ensuing CU possession, Georgetown committed a crucial defensive holding penalty on a 3rd down and 14 for the Lions at their own 28. Columbia never looked back and used mostly running plays to cover the remaining 62 yards for a TD drive that finally sealed the game.

Columbia Positives

-Columbia got clutch running again, racking up 227 net yards on the ground and 5.5 yards per carry. RB Ryan Young had several clutch runs to go along with Miller's spectacular 63-yard dash. Newcomer Ty'son Edwards showed impressive bursts of speed, and got his first TD of his collegiate career as well.

-"Clean Joe" Green had another clean game at QB with no picks and no real mistakes. His long ball to Meyer was a thing of beauty even if he never tried that particular weapon again in the game.

-After coming so close so many times in his career, but never returning a kickoff all the way, Will Allen finally got one for a score. He's as dangerous as starting KO returner Mike Roussos, period. 

Columbia Negatives

-Columbia's pass defense was weak, especially on key 3rd down situations. With starting GU QB and team leader Joseph Brunell out, backup Pierce Holley did throw a number of very accurate balls, but sometimes the Lion D made it too easy for him.

-In addition to the missing Roussos, QB Gabriel Hollingsworth was nowhere to be seen on the field or on the sideline.

Columbia MVP

-There were a lot of candidates for the honor this week. But the play that really seemed to save the game was the big interception and return by Ben Mathiasmeier. He picked off another pass later in the game as well. 

Facing the Georgetown Jinx

 Game 2 for starting QB "Clean Joe" Green

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

September 25, 2021 

Kickoff Time: 1:05pm

Robert K. Kraft Field at Wien Stadium 

*NOTE all fans 12 and older must show proof of COVID-19 vaccination and wear a mask at all times

Game Time Weather Forecast: 73 degrees, partly cloudy

The Line: Columbia is favored by 14 1/2 points

TV/Radio: The game will be broadcast on ESPN+

Columbia Game Notes 

Georgetown Game Notes

Leading Storylines

1) With just one game as an exception, Columbia has clearly underperformed in every contest vs. Georgetown during the Bagnoli era. This includes home and away games since 2015, with the 2017 CU rout over the Hoyas being the outlier. Sure, Columbia has left games that should have been wins on the table in the Bagnoli era (by my count, the total number is 12... you can ask me later which games exactly), but Georgetown is the only team with three wins over the Lions under Bagnoli that should have been Columbia wins. I don't know what kind of special sauce Georgetown Head Coach Rob Sgarlota has over CU, but it's time to bust the recipe. This is a game where the Lions have a chance to prove they have overcome some kind mental block against this team. 

2) Columbia did some things very well against a very weak Marist team last week, while Georgetown had a terrible day against a much stronger Harvard team. So which of these two polar performances are the true indicator of who these teams really are? One item in focus should be the Hoya rush defense, which failed miserably against the Crimson and looked vulnerable a week earlier against Delaware State. If the Lions can put together even 60% of the running attack they had against Marist, they should win this game on that stat alone. 

3) Georgetown QB Joseph Brunell, (son of the NFL great Mark Brunell), is the Hoyas' best weapon. He may be injured, but the GU two-deep has him listed as the starter. He has a good arm and runs very well. Columbia is probably happy its very deep set of LB's and safeties will be tasked with stopping his running threat, but the corners will have to be prepared for Brunell to test them. They can get help from the safeties, like they did last week after Marist successfully went deep... but then that could open the running lanes for Brunell. So we're back to the LB's, especially guys like Justin Woodely and Cam Dillon, who will have to step up. 

5 CU Players to Watch

1) Joe Green, Sophomore QB -- Can "Clean Joe" (I AM CLAIMING THAT NICKNAME!!!!) stay clean after a strong debut in the starting job? I call him "Clean Joe" because he throws a clean ball and avoids messy mistakes. 

2) Ryan Young, Senior RB -- Will Young roll over the Hoyas run defense?

3) Dante Miller, Senior RB --- Will Dante turn the GU run defense into an inferno of failure? 

4) Justin Woodley, Senior LB -- Will Woodley lay the wood on Hoya QB Joseph Brunell?

5) Gabriel Hollingsworth, Sophomore QB -- What new gadget plays will he pull on game day?

 

HONORABLE MENTIONS:  Fr. OL John "The Mammoth" Martin (will he get more action and repave Kraft Field with the bodies of Georgetown defenders he flattens with his 385-pound frame?) and Jr. PK Alex Felkins (will he continue his successful FG streak currently at 4?)  

*Sr. WR/KR Mike Roussos will not play in this game, likely being held out so he's 100% for the Princeton contest in week 3

Bill Steinman Passes

I was sorry to learn earlier today that former Columbia Sports Information Director Bill Steinman died on Tuesday. He was always very kind to me.

I know his nickname was "Stats," and it was deserved because he kept and remembered data.

But the thing about Bill is that he best loved getting to know Columbia's student-athletes as people and not just numbers. He loved talking to them about their hometowns especially.

Like so many others who have become Columbia sports icons over the years, I just wish he had lived to see another Lion team win an Ivy title. 

Here's one of the many kudos I gave to Bill over the years in a post I wrote 14 years ago, 

May his memory be a blessing. 

Weekly Picks

Last week, I went 6-2 straight up and 4-4 against the spread. My season totals are now 7-3 SU and 5-5 ATS

Harvard -15 vs. Brown (FRIDAY NIGHT GAME!)

I often get suckered into thinking Brown will give Harvard a real run for the money... and it's often just a pipe dream. The weather could be a factor in this game, (showers could be going all day in Boston/Cambridge), but I honestly don't know if that hurts Brown, Harvard, or just the concession stands. 

Yale -10 1/2 vs. Cornell

Let's put it this way: if Yale doesn't win by 11 or more at home, then we have to reassess how good the Elis really are. 

Princeton -35 1/2 vs. Stetson

Stetson is ranked as the absolute worst team in all of FCS football. The Tigers just need to focus on no one getting hurt. 

Dartmouth -10 1/2 vs. Sacred Heart

The Green will be itching to prove their opening night rustiness was just a fluke, and Sacred Heart is likely to be without its all-world RB Julius Chestnut. 

Penn -3 1/2 at Lafayette

Given how far the Patriot League has fallen, I'm surprised this spread isn't larger. 

Miami (yes, THAT Miami) -34 1/2 vs. CCSU

I'm really not sure why this spread isn't bigger. 

Bryant -6 1/2 at Marist

This will be a good game, but I think Bryant wins by 7 or 8. 

Big Maryland Commit

Noah Jordan

6-5, 307-pound OL Noah Jordan from St. Mary's Ryken HS in Leonardtown, MD has committed to the Lions. 

Jordan will be the first player from his HS to come to Columbia Football.

So our 2022 incoming freshman list has grown to 10:

1. Ewan Clarke OT/DT 6"6 280 lbs. St. Stephen's/St. Agnes School Alexandria, VA

2. Ethan Hebb DB 6"2 190 lbs. Cardinal Gibbons/Williston Northampton School Raleigh, NC

3. Noah Jordan OL 6"5 307 lbs. St. Mary's Ryken HS Leonardtown, MD

4. James Lill OL/DL 6"5 287 lbs. Schroeder Webster HS/Avon Old Farms Webster, NY

5. Shawn Lin DL 6"4 250 lbs. Loyola HS Los Angeles, CA

6. Jayden Marshall DB 6"0 190 lbs. Lee County HS/WIlliston-Northampton School Sanford, NC

7. Kameryn Metcalf DB 5"10 180 lbs. D.R. Phillips HS Orlando, FL 

8. Jack Smiechowski LB 6"1 195 lbs. St. Joseph HS Montvale, NJ

9. Patrick Sodl LB 5"11 210 lbs. Loyola HS Los Angeles, CA

10. Edan Stagg WR 6"1 175 lbs. University Lab School Baton Rouge, LA  

Ivy Power Rankings

 

1. Princeton

The Tigers took on a weak opponent, just like almost everyone else in the league. But Princeton did not disappoint at any level.

2. Harvard 

The Crimson put up the second most dominant performance of the week. Now the O-line must be salivating over Brown for this Saturday.

3. Columbia

Dominated the game for 56 minutes without their best offensive weapon, at least what everyone thought was their best offensive weapon before Saturday. Good debut for new starting QB Joe Green,

4. Yale

Yes, Holy Cross is a good team. But the Elis had chances to win this game and they lost steam as the game went on. 

5. Penn 

Also overcame a slow start and had a good debut from a new starting QB.

5. Dartmouth

It took the Big Green longer to shake off the rust than some of the other winners, but the Dartmouth defense looks better than expected. 

7. Brown

The Bears lost to a good opponent, but the defense looks lost and QB E.J. Perry is doing too much.

8. Cornell

On paper, it looks like the Big Red played a ranked opponent pretty tough. A closer look shows VMI's QB was injured early in the game and the Keydets still won relatively comfortably. 

 

New Commit

 Kameryn Metcalf

As soon as the season starts, it can sometimes be easy to forget that recruiting is still in progress and a lot of high school players will be committing in the next 2-3 months. 

Columbia's newest commit is 5-10 180-pound DB Kameryn Metcalf from D.R. Phillips High School in Orlando, FL, that same school as current starting Lion junior CB Bryan Bell-Anderson. Metcalf had offers from Cornell, Charleston Southern, Arkansas State, and Tennessee-Martin. 

So our 2022 incoming freshman list has grown to 9.

1. Ewan Clarke OT/DT 6"6 280 lbs. St. Stephen's/St. Agnes School Alexandria, VA

2. Ethan Hebb DB 6"2 190 lbs. Cardinal Gibbons/Williston Northampton School Raleigh, NC

3. James Lill OL/DL 6"5 287 lbs. Schroeder Webster HS/Avon Old Farms Webster, NY

4. Shawn Lin DL 6"4 250 lbs. Loyola HS Los Angeles, CA

5. Jayden Marshall DB 6"0 190 lbs. Lee County HS/WIlliston-Northampton School Sanford, NC

6. Kameryn Metcalf DB 5"10 180 lbs. D.R. Phillips HS Orlando, FL 

7. Jack Smiechowski LB 6"1 195 lbs. St. Joseph HS Montvale, NJ

8. Patrick Sodl LB 5"11 210 lbs. Loyola HS Los Angeles, CA

9. Edan Stagg WR 6"1 175 lbs. University Lab School Baton Rouge, LA  

10 Side Notes

John Martin

There were so many interesting bits of information from Saturday's 37-14 win over Marist, that I feel like I could write about a dozen "sidebar" stories in addition to the overall summary and analysis of the game. 

But for what they're worth, here are 10 things you may have missed during the game that could become bigger stories down the road:

1) Big John Martin, the 385-pound OL (yes, he really is 385 lbs.), who I thought was not going to really play this year, did get into the game for a number of plays. Off the top of my head, I can't think of any Ivy OL who has ever approached that kind of size. If he's and effective blocker at that weight, then that could change the whole dynamic for the Lion OL and the entire season.

2) The extremely effective and multi-faceted running attack by Columbia Saturday could have simply been the result of a bad opponent, but the fact that the game plan included significant carries for three rushers tells you the coaching staff is at least envisioning this kind of strategy. The Lions have had good individual runners in recent decades, most notably all-time #1 Columbia RB Jonathan Reese. Guys like Ayo Oluwale and Marcorus Garrett come to mind as well. But you have to go back to the days of the lates 1980s when Head Coach Larry McElreavy had Greg Abbruzzese and Solomon Johnson both in the CU backfield threatening to go for 100+ yard games. Again, this could all be just a temporary thing, but for those of us who have long dreamed of a power rushing attack for the Lions this game was a real treat

3) The Mike Roussos saga is generating a lot of rumors and questions. My sources say he is healthy, but is likely to be out against Georgetown too just as a precaution. It's important to remember that Columbia just won its opener by 23 points without the guy touted to be its best offensive skill player on the field. 

4) I didn't think Steelers Head Coach Mike Tomlin's son Mason Tomlin would see much of the field this year, but he made more than a cameo Saturday and even registered two tackles. He has good speed and is willing to lay out to make a hard hit. So, that recharges my question about whether Coach Tomlin will come to see Mason's game during the Steelers bye week. That's the week of CU's Friday night game at Dartmouth, so Tomlin will have to make the travel team that week, etc. 

5) There's been a lot of great buzz about QB Gabriel Hollingsworth's debut as Columbia's option/wildcat QB, but there's also a lot of hand wringing about the call to have him throw a jump pass on the goal line that luckily fell incomplete instead of being intercepted. Actually, that was a great call to make sure opposing defenses know Hollingsworth could throw at any time. It was just on Hollingsworth to recognize the play wasn't there and simply tuck the ball in and run. 

6) The guy considered to be Columbia's best OL, Zach Minch, was injured and out the entire game. The Lions will need him back at some point. At least he seemed fine walking on the sidelines and wasn't in a cast, boot, or on crutches. 

7) Columbia is now 5-0 all-time against Marist. The Lions will open their season next year at Marist. I wonder if the Red Foxes are angry about having CU on the schedule, but two of the five games were very competitive. Next year's out of conference games in addition to Marist are a road contest against Georgetown and a home game against Wagner.

8) With Roussos out of the game, Ben Mathiasmeier and Marcus Libman fielded the punts and it seems pretty clear they were told to call for a fair catch every time... which they did successfully. Will Allen was given the green light to field kickoffs like he did in 2017 and 2018.

9) Considering this was the first game in almost two years for both teams, the low number of penalties was astounding. There were just three penalties in the entire game, and the first one didn't come until the late stages of the 3rd quarter. 

10) On the other hand, a lot of Marist players went down with injuries. The intense heat on the field seemed to be the biggest factor, with a lot of Red Fox players suffering with obvious cramps. Current forecasts are calling for temperatures to be 10 degrees cooler at Wien Stadium for this coming Saurday's game against Georgetown. 

Felkins Honored

In other news, junior PK Alex Felkins has been named Ivy Special Teams Player of the Week. 

Orientation Day

Ryan Young 

Columbia 37 Marist 14

Why Columbia Won

The Lions overcame a terrible start with an adjustment on defense and patience on offense to quickly erase a fluky 14-0 deficit. The Columbia running game dominated the contest with 312 yards on 5.6 yards per carry while the defense held Marist to just nine 1st downs.

Why Marist Lost

The Red Fox offense was unable to maintain its early long passing attack after the Lions made an adjustment in the secondary. Meanwhile, the Marist defense had no answers for Columbia's multi-faceted running attack.

Key Turning Points

-Trailing 14-0 with 6:34 left in the 1st quarter, Columbia began a drive at its own 30. Five straight running plays to start that possession netted 37 yards but the three passing plays that followed netted negative one yard and the Lions faced a 4th and 5 at the Marist 33. On that play, new Columbia starter Joe Green zipped a clutch pass to WR Wills Meyer for 18 yards and a key 1st down. On the next play, running QB Gabriel Hollingsworth rumbled it in for a TD from 15 yards out and the momentum of the took a clear turn. 

-Marist looked like it might answer back with a long pass on the ensuing drive. But three plays after that big gainer the Red Foxes decided to go for it on a 4th and 6 from the Lion 31. That gamble failed with an incomplete pass and Columbia was able to continue chipping away at the Red Fox lead. 

-Now trailing 14-10 with 7:57 left in the half, a short punt gave the Lions the ball at the Marist 46 to begin a drive. Five straight plays by RB Ryan Young -- three runs and then two passes -- set Columbia up with a 2nd and 4 at the Red Fox 6. Then the Lions mixed it up, and mixed Marist up, with a handoff to RB Broderick Taylor and he skipped into the end zone untouched to give Columbia the lead it would never give up.

Columbia Positives

-The team kept its composure after facing the quick 14-0 deficit, and clearly stuck to the game plan.

-The rushing attack was stronger and more nuanced than we've ever seen from Columbia in the modern era. The Lions had a 117-yard rusher, (Dante Miller),  a 95-yard rusher, (Young), and an incredible six ball carriers who averaged at least five yards per carry.

-In his first start since high school, transfer QB Joe Green played very well. He never forced any passes, made smart decisions with his runs, and made some clutch throws. 

-The defense took control of the line of scrimmage and was particularly adept at stopping several Marist screen passes after the Red Foxes were forced to abandon the longer passing game. LB Justin Woodley made a major impact in his long-awaited return to football, and fellow 5th year senior Ben Mathiasmeier made several key solo tackles.

-Hollingsworth looks every bit like the kind of added weapon Columbia hoped he would be. 

-PK Alex Felkins was a perfect 3-3 on FGs and 4-4 on PAT's. 

-The Lion play calling was extremely solid, with some real changes to what we've seen in recent years from this staff. When the run was working, which was almost all day, the coaches stuck with it but did so with different kinds of runner and ball carriers to still add an element of surprise. Even when down 14-0 early, the many newcomers like Green in the lineup were not asked to press or abandon the plan. The liberal use of Hollingsworth in more than just goal line situations was also a breath of fresh air. 

Columbia Negatives

-Obviously, falling behind by two TDs in a blink of an eye against the weakest opponent on the CU schedule to start the season is ugly. 

-Columbia's FG's all came after deep advances into the Marist red zone. Against better opponents, that will cost them. 

-The Lions were unable to get a consistent pass rush going, even though at times it was decent. Not having 5th year Cameron Carter in the game for most of the day, (he was allowed only spot duty), was part of the reason, but against better offensive lines Columbia will have to do much better.

-The Lions injuries are again a concern, with the biggest missing piece to the team being Mike Roussos. Roussos was fully suited up, and it looked like he could have been called on if Columbia really needed him, but if he's more seriously banged up and today's sidelining was something more than just a little over-precaution, Columbia's offense will be facing a significant challenge going forward.

-This isn't really at CU negative, but this win simply has to be taken with a grain of salt because Marist is simply the weakest team on the schedule. 

Columbia MVP

-There were a lot of standout players in this game, as you might expect in a 23-point win. But even though he was out gained by his fellow RB Miller, Ryan Young was the man the Lions went to on just about every key play when this game was still in doubt. Young's clutch plays made the difference.

 

Football... finally!

Marist Red Foxes (0-0) at Columbia Lions (0-0) 

September 18, 2021 

Kickoff Time: 1:05pm

Robert K. Kraft Field at Wien Stadium 

*NOTE all fans 12 and older must show proof of COVID-19 vaccination and wear a mask at all times

Game Time Weather Forecast: 79 degrees, cloudy

The Line: Columbia is favored by 17 1/2 points

TV/Radio: The game will be broadcast on SNY and on ESPN+

Columbia Game Notes



Leading Story Lines

1) Both teams are playing their first game since 2019, due to the COVID-19 cancellation of the 2020 season. Just getting out on the field again to play in a competitive game is the headline, period. 

2) After raising the level of the team with winning seasons in 2017 and 2018, Head Coach Al Bagnoli must show he's really turned around the Columbia program following 2019's disappointing 3-7 finish. Marist looks like the weakest opponent on the CU schedule this year, so a strong showing here seems mandatory.

3) Columbia seems to be in the middle of a bonafide QB competition, with co-starters named for this game. Who will win out, transfer passing ace Joe Green or senior running/passing QB Ty Lenhart?

5 Columbia Players to Watch

-Green and Lenhart are 1 and 2 on this list for reasons mentioned above

-Senior Mike Roussos has been worth the price of admission for the last two seasons for his spectacular return skills alone. Now, he's also the undisputed #1 WR on the team and could be all over the field. 

-Senior RB Ryan Young has already had a good career at CU, but can he step it up and be the dominant rusher the Lions have needed since Jonathan Reese finished his career in 2001?

-5th year senior Justin Woodley is back at LB after losing most of 2018 and 2019 to injuries. Will he make an impact?

Prediction Time

 

Last week, I went 1-1 with my straight up picks and 1-1 against the spread.

Princeton -17 1/2 at Lehigh

I don't love this big point spread, but Lehigh looks bad.

Holy Cross +10 at Yale

I think Yale will win this game, but not by two scores. 

CCSU +10 1/2 vs. Southeast Louisiana State

I think CCSU will make this close, but S.E. Louisiana pulls it out.

Harvard -13 at Georgetown

The Crimson almost always shine in season openers. 

Brown + 6 1/2 vs. URI

I like the Bears to win in a mild upset.

VMI + 1 1/2 at Cornell

I'm surprised VMI isn't favored by a TD. I like them to win this game. 

Dartmouth -27 1/2 at Valparaiso

Valpo looks really awful.

Bucknell +12 1/2 vs. Penn

I think Penn will win this game by 10 or 11. Bucknell is weak, but should put up a fight.

Two Deep Stunners

CJ Brown

The Two Deeps were released just as Yom Kippur began Wednesday night, so I apologize for the delay in getting to all the potential news coming from that release. 

First off, let's remember that all two deep releases should be taken with a grain of salt, and that what we see lining up on the field on game day may be very different. 

But let's look at the highlights:

-Joe Green and Ty Lenhart are indeed listed as co-starters with that "OR" designation

-Zach Minch, considered by many to be CU's best OL, is not listed as a starter. In his case, and in some other surprises in the two deeps, this could be the result of a minor injury. 

-Zach Mills is also not a starter. Surprise starters on the OL include junior David Sawyer. The only true freshman listed on the two deeps was backup OL Patrick Passalacqua at Center. That's pretty much the last place where you;d expect to see a freshman listed.  

-Sophomore WR Marcus Libman was not a surprise for being named one of the starting WR's opposite senior Mike Roussos, but sophomore Wills Meyer getting the third starting WR slot seemed to come out of nowhere. 

-On the DL, 5th year senior Cameron Carter was not listed at all but this is likely due to an injury he's recovering nicely from and he could still play. Junior Thomas Thibault is listed as the starter at Carter's position. 

-Also not listed at all is star LB Scott Valentas, but this is also likely due to a minor injury. Sophomore CJ Brown, who impressed with camp and possesses some serious speed, is getting a start at LB and senior John Harris, who has played very well in camp, is getting the start in place of Valentas. 5th year senior LB Justin Woodley is being moved from MLB to weak side LB to help him avoid any new injuries. 

-Junior Bryan Bell-Anderson gets the start at one CB position opposite 5th year senior Will Allen. Sophomore Seth Parker, who we expect to see a lot of playing time at one position or another, is listed as Allen's backup. 

Again, take all of this with some healthy skepticism. 

The Insider's Guide to Going to a Columbia Football Home Game 2021

 

.Remember this train!

The football home opener is THIS SATURDAY AT 1PM!

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!

If you are still dead set on driving...

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. Due to COVID restrictions, I doubt the usual pre-game activities will still be in the works, at least to start the season. So the free beer and soda are likely not happening this fall. That means, eating and drinking are more of a job you'll have to take on before the game. 

But don't worry, I got you covered. 

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 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. And just over the Broadway Bridge north of the stadium there's a strip mall with an Applebee's and a Starbucks!

COVID REMINDER: NYC restaurants are *supposed to be requiring proof of COVID vaccination for all customers at this time. I'm not sure they are all following this rule, especially uptown but come with a vaccine card if you can. 

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.

If you want to try free parking on the streets, just be SUPER CAREFUL and read the signs to make sure you will not be ticketed and towed. (More on this below)

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 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 of 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

*NOTE: Masks are required on all NYC public transportation at this time 

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 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. (If you plan on boarding the #1 train further uptown, note that the 1 train station at 168th St is BACK IN SERVICE after being out for all of the 2019 season)

Take the UPTOWN A train anywhere in Manhattan to 207th street and walk from there. 

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 to 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! (maybe)

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. (* I am NOT sure this will be in effect this year because of COVID! I will update this info as soon as I know) 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).

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 $18-$20 in cab fare not including tip... but it varies.

You can do Uber of course too. 

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 back over to Inwood resident "Inwood Tiger", who knows the neighborhood really well and is a big Ivy football fan. He says the restaurant scene has not changed since last year, so here are his comments for 2021:  

1. INWOOD FARM - Beloved coffee shop / restaurant / bar at 218th St and Indian Road.    Excellent coffee, food and craft beers, but people really go for the atmosphere.  Terrific live music and other programming. Highly recommend.

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 - Recently sold for redevelopment, so get your donuts and coffee while you can.

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

5. AMORES CAFE - sandwiches, salad and juice bar at Broadway and 214th.  

6. MAMA TACO - Terrific Mexican restaurant, on Broadway at 214th St.  Solid.

7. 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.

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

9. SERRANO SALSA - Outstanding burritos in a tiny spot next to the exit from the A train on Broadway just north of Isham.  Highly recommend.

10/11. GRANDPA'S BRICK OVEN & PIZZA HAVEN - Dueling pizza places on either side of Broadway near Isham Street.  Both are super for a NY slice before or after the game.

12. 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.

13. GARDEN CAFE - An Inwood standard for a local meal, especially on their back patio. On Broadway south of Isham St.

14. BRUNNI COFFEE - Inwood's best hipster coffee bar.  Will make you think you got off the A train in Brooklyn.  On Broadway between Isham and 207th.

15. YUMMY THAI - I can faithfully report that Inwood's only Thai outpost is in fact yummy.  On Broadway south of Isham St.

16. INWOOD LOCAL - One of the best craft beer bars in the area, with great bar food as well and a very big TV screen in the back . On Broadway north of 207th St.

17. 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.  Highly recommend.

18. 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.  Highly recommend.

19/20. CAPITOL / G's - Newly renovated but still a classic, this longstanding diner is on Broadway just south of 207th.  Around the corner is the old-style counter at G's luncheonette on 207th just west of Broadway.  While you're in the area, 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.

21. BEANS AND VINES - On Broadway near Academy.  Excellent wine bar and upscale menu.

22. 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.

23. INWOOD BAR AND GRILL - loud but full of screens showing games.  On Broadway north of W204th.

25. DYCKMAN STREET (MULTIPLE)  - The lively concentration of bars and restaurants here has only grown with extensive outdoor dining on the new pedestrian plaza.  Many solid bar and restaurant options if you have time to explore, along with Starbucks.  Along Dyckman Street between Payson and Broadway.

26. TRYON PUBLIC HOUSE on the east side of Broadway just south of Dyckman is the go-to neighborhood pub for southern Inwood.  Very popular and fun spot.  Highly recommend.

27. THE HUDSON NYC - Perhaps the grandest spot on this list, this casual clams & 'cue restaurant at the western end of Dyckman Street has stunning river views and is a neighborhood favorite.  Check their website at https://thehudson.nyc/ for hours as they vary with the season.