Jersey Cat Fight

Will Townsend tear up the Tigers again?

Columbia Lions (1-1) at Princeton Tigers (1-1)

September 29, 2023

Kickoff Time: 7:00pm

Princeton Stadium

Game Time Weather Forecast: 61 degrees and raining 

The Line: Columbia is a seven point underdog

TV/Radio: The game will be nationally televised on ESPNU with my old WVII-TV co-worker Eric Frede doing play-by-play and Jack Ford on color commentary. An audio-only feed with Lance Medow doing play-by-play and Shawn Fitzgerald '80 will be avaiable on GoColumbiaLions.com. 

Columbia Game Notes

Princeton Game Notes

Leading Story Lines

1) Both teams come into the game with a lot of unanswered questions after mixed performances in their first two games. No matter how ugly a win it might or valiant a loss, the winner of this game will likely be tabbed as an Ivy title contender and the loser will be seen as a spoiler at best. 

2) The status of a number of key players remains a total mystery because of some injuries and the "Non-information pact of the Ivies." Much of the game will be a lot different if Princeton OL Jalen Travis is out and if Columbia WR Bryson Canty remains on the sidelines. Oh and don't bother looking in the Princeton game notes for a starting lineup, they don't even bother to include one... though maybe omitting it is better than the outright falsehoods most Ivy game note starting lineups often are. 

3) This is an important game for Columbia interim Head Coach Mark Fabish for all the obvious reasons, but there's added importance for the New Jersey native who is clearly trying to increase Columbia's recruiting appeal in the Garden State. Of course, both Princeton and Columbia recruit nationally but the Lions would like to start challenging the Tigers more for some of Jersey's best high schoolers. 

3 Columbia Players to watch

-DE Justin Townsend #36 had a dominant three-sack game against Princeton last year, and he's one of those Jersey natives who chose Columbia. If Travis is out of the game, Townsend will be a bigger handful for the Tigers to handle. If Travis does play, it will be a great battle in the trenches. 

-WR JJ Jenkins #8 will likely play a major role in the game whether Canty is in the lineup or not. If Canty is out, Jenkins becomes CU's primary deep threat. If Canty does play, Jenkins could take major advantage of the extra attention going Canty's way. 

-LB CJ Brown #0 will be a major part of the Lion hopes to shut down the Princeton sideline screens and the running of RB John Volker. Brown will need his speed to get to key spots in time to disrupt the Tiger attack. 

3 Princeton Players to Watch

-QB Blake Stenstrom #18 is a very good passer and can even run pretty well when needed, (watch for the Tigers to run him on purpose to cross up the Columbia defense early). He's especially patient in the pocket, but without Travis anchoring the O-line to protect him late in the game against Bryant last Saturday Stenstrom was under too much pressure to do much damage. 

-DE Bakari Edwards #93 is a good pass rusher and a new face among the Tiger starters as a sophomore. With most of the focus on Princeton's excellent linebacking crew, he can make a difference up front. 

-P Brady Clark #89 has a good leg but had a terrible time handling wet footballs against Bryant, fumbling two of them away (with one luckily called back on a penalty). If we get the rain that's expected to come Friday night, he will have to prove he's learned something over the last five days. 

The Princeton Proving Ground

 

Princeton's old Palmer Stadium was pretty, but started to fall into disrepair

Columbia's annual game against Princeton has almost always been a major bellwether for the season at large... and that's been true for most of the last 100 years, not just since the official formation and start of Ivy League play in 1956.

You didn't know 2017 was going to be a special year until the Lions pulled out that dramatic 28-24 win on national TV at Princeton Stadium. And you knew Columbia probably wasn't championship material after losing to the Tigers every year since.

So many of Columbia's highest highs and lowest lows have come in games against their closest Ivy neighbors to the south. The 1933 CU team that went on the win the Rose Bowl on New Year's Day 1934 had one loss. You guessed it, it was to Princeton. The 1961 Ivy championship team's one conference loss was to Princeton. The 1988 game that end Columbia's then-record 44-game losing streak? Yep, it was a win over Princeton.

Last year, the Lions were exposed a bit in a 24-6 loss at home to the Tigers; a defeat that makes more sense now that we know then-starting QB Joe Green was suffering from a shoulder injury. But his injuries aside, Columbia committed some of its biggest blunders of the years in the contest and continued that sloppier play at crucial times until thankfully turning it around in week eight at Harvard and through the rest of the season. 

Of course, the first Ivy game of the year would be super crucial whether it was against Princeton or not. But there's something about playing the Tigers that seems to test this program more than anyone else. Perhaps it's because Princeton is a school that is so different in setting and character from the urban Columbia landscape. Perhaps it's the proximity the two campuses share. 

This year, Lion fans hope there is truth to a impression many Ivy experts have that this is a rebuilding year of sorts for the Tigers while Columbia is ready to roar a little louder .

Week 3 Picks

 

I have a rough time of it in week 2, going 3-4 straight up and 3-4 against the spread. My season totals are now 13-7 SU and 10-9-1 AGS

Penn -3 vs. Dartmouth

This spread seems exactly right for a Penn team that appears to have most of the ingredients needed to win a title and a Dartmouth team that is improving quickly. Both defenses are very strong, and this could end up being a 17-13 affair or something like that. 

Holy Cross -10 vs. Harvard

The Crimson's competition has been getting tougher each week, and now they take to the road for the first time in 2023 against a program that always loves to thrash them. 

Yale -13 1/2 vs. Morgan State

If the Elis can't cover this spread against Morgan State at home (well, Yale is ALWAYS at home) then I think it's fair to say this team is in some form of crisis. 

Brown -11 1/2 vs. Central Connecticut

The Bears are going to look like a much better team at home, and they haven't looked that bad on the road so far anyway this season. 

Cornell -7 1/2 vs. Colgate

Cornell is looking really good. Colgate is not. 

Lafayette -14 vs. Bucknell

The Leopards get another home game here... and they will cover. 

Fordham -14 1/2 at Georgetown

Now, the wheels will start coming off for the Hoyas. 

Stetson -2 1/2 at Marist

I'm still not sold on the Red Foxes, despite their OT win at Valpo last Saturday. 

Tall Order/Short Week

As expected, Princeton has a new star on the D-line: Bakari Edwards

The Lions face the usual big test pressure and excitement that comes every year with its first Ivy game of the season vs. Princeton. But adding to the excitement is the national TV spotlight coming from the ESPNU airing of the game Friday night. 

It's also a short week with that kickoff coming about 18 hours earlier than a usual Saturday afternoon contest. So there's less time for the team, and those of us covering the game, to prepare. 

Let's start by looking at Princeton and how the Tigers have fared so far...

As I noted in my league-wide preview, Princeton came into this season with the best pocket passer in the league in QB Blake Stenstrom, but also faced major challenges from the graduations and transfer departures of many of its best players from 2021 and 2022. 

So far, that concern has proven to be legitimate. The Tigers are 1-1 on the backs of an easy, but not dominating, win over U. San Diego and a surprise loss at home to Bryant. 

Without many of the experienced O-lineman he had protecting him and at least two world class receivers to throw to last year, Stenstrom's stats through the first two games are way down from this point in 2022. 

This season, Stenstrom is averaging just 175 yards passing per game, with two TDs and two INTs on a 57% completion rate. Last year after two games, Princeton was 2-0, and Stenstrom was averaging 274 passing yards per game, with three TDs and two INTs and a 72% completion rate. 

The difference is even more stark when you look at the receiving stats. This year the top Princeton receiver, Luke Colella, has a total of nine catches for 96 yards and one TD. Last year after two games, current Cincinnati Bengal Andrei Iosivas had 13 catches for 199 yards and 3 TD's, and his fellow All Ivy WR Dylan Classi had 10 catches for 132 yards. 

Now there is an added concern for the Tiger offense as the already graduation-gutted offensive line may be without its best remaining player in Jalen Travis, who had to be helped off the field near the end of the Bryant loss. Many consider Travis to be an NFL draft prospect. The breakdown in pass coverage for Stenstrom after Travis left the game was noitceable. In fact, the entire offense sputtered after that. 

On the bright side for Princeton, RB John Volker has come back from 2022's injury with a vengeance. He has a total of 240 yards so far this season and a hefty 7.1 yards per carry average and two TDs. It's been a long time since the Tigers offense featured a single primary running back as its key weapon. In the Bob Surace era, Princeton has usually been mostly pass oriented, with the running load split between a number of backs and the QB. Friday night's game will likely give us an answer as to whether the Tigers will shift down a gear or two when it comes to passing. 

The Princeton defense is performing well, considering it also suffered a lot of graduation losses on the D-line and in the secondary. So far, the Tigers have allowed a total of just 403 total yards and 28 total points. That's compared to last season when Princeton had already given up 496 yards and 31 points. This year's Tigers are also allowing just 1.2 yards per rushing carry. 

As expected, your leading Princeton tacklers all come from its very deep and talented linebacking crew. They are senior Ozzie Nicholas, senior Will Perez, and senior and 2022 co-Defensive Bushnell Cup Winner Liam Johnson.

But a new ingredient in the defensive mix is sophomore edge rusher Bakari Edwards, who already has three sacks and a safety on the young season. 

While Tiger fans are griping about special teams problems because of a failed PAT and a costly fumbled punt snap in the loss to Bryant, there still is good experience and talent in this unit for Princeton. Junior PK Jeffrey Sexton is back after a stellar 2022 season, though he did miss that PAT* and has yet to attempt a FG this year. 

(*for some reason, the Princeton stat page has decided to completely erase PATs as a stat and just put an empty set parentheses to "indicate" the failed PAT in the Bryant game box score. I'm not sure if this is just a coding error or an Pravda-like effort to whitewash mistakes). 

New punter freshman Brady Clark has been doing fine replacing long-time Tiger punter Will Powers, (and I mean long time... it feels like Powers was at Princeton since the 1970s), with a 42-yard average and five boots inside the 20. The problem for the Tigers is that Clark has been busy; he's already punted 12 times compared to just six punts at this point last year for Powers. He was unable to handle two slippery balls against Bryant and fumbled both of them away, but the first fumble was called back on a penalty. 

But stats, as usual, really don't tell the whole story. We've been used to seeing Princeton dominate for most of the last 10 seasons, especially at this point in the season. Even in 2017, when the Tigers were forced to play without all-world QB John Lovett, Princeton still started 2-0 and boasted a very potent offense all year long. It's especially unusual to see the Tigers struggle in the passing game, or at least not put up huge numbers. So many of Princeton's passes have been little sideline jobs, with fewer shots down the field. 

And while it may be tempting to write off the Tiger loss to Bryant Saturday and blame it on the weather. It's important to note that Bryant came into the game without its two top running backs and still had decent success on the ground at times and took care of the ball. Rain or shine, I think the Tigers teams of the last two seasons would have easily beaten Bryant. 

I'm sure none of this is giving Columbia's coaches and players any false sense of superiority, but it should give them a good degree of optimism that this could be the year the Lions break a four-game losing streak to PU. 

From Princeton's point of view, there will be some pressure on the program to right the ship quickly and decisively vs. CU. That could mean that with everyone in the stadium expecting the Tigers to establish Volker's running attack early, Princeton may choose to test the Lion secondary early and often instead. 

Accurate or even remotely accurate injury reporting in the Ivy League is a lost cause, (as evidenced by Columbia WR Bryson Canty being introduced on the video board just prior to kickoff last Saturday as a starter when he wasn't starting and didn't even play... his appearance on the two-deep as the starting WR was also an example of how reliable game notes are), but if we find out Princeton OL Jalen Travis is indeed out of the game, it may change a lot of strategies on both sides. For what it's worth, I believe Canty will play and likely start Friday night, and that Lion QB Caden Bell is okay after almost getting his Bell rung, (sorry had to do that), late in the Georgetown game. Make sure to stay tuned for more non-information on injuries etc. from both the Princeton and Columbia athletic departments. 

Ivy Power Rankings

 

1) Penn

The Quaker defense has been better than its already good reviews coming into the season, while QB Aydin Sayin is still playing at a high level.

2) Cornell

While QB Jameson Wang is playing very well, it's the Big Red defense that has been making the difference so far.

3) Harvard

The Crimson are using a strong ground attack not many expected to see. If the defense improves from here, Harvard can be dangerous. 

4) Dartmouth

A respectable loss at UNH and a strong win at home over Lehigh have the Big Green more optimistic right now. 

5) Princeton

The Tigers didn't look too impressive in their win over USD, and then the offense and special teams floundered vs. Bryant on Saturday. 

6) Yale 

Yale's loss to Cornell was a close one, but if you watched the whole contest you saw that the Big Red really outplayed the Elis convincingly. Biggest surprise: Yale's vaunted O-line is underperforming. But the talent here is still too good to write them off. 

7) Columbia

The Lions looked solid in every phase of the game vs. Georgetown, and the week one loss to Lafayette is looking less embarrassing all the time given the Leopards' overall play. But one big win over a weak program isn't enough to take the question marks off this team yet.

8) Brown

Once again, the Bears have an offense that is excellent and a defense that breaks its fans' hearts time after time. But there's no team Brown can't theoretically beat on any given day. 

Leaps and Bounds

Columbia 30 Georgetown 0

Why Columbia Won

In a complete reversal from last week, the Lions dominated both lines of scrimmage all day. The defense was especially dominant early on, and the offense slowly found a way to make the Hoyas pay on the scoreboard. 

Why Georgetown Lost

The Hoya running attack, which had been very strong for its first three games, could muster just 32 net rushing yards in this game. Meanwhile, the Georgetown defense mostly allowed the Columbia offense to run at will as they gave up 222 net yards on the ground. 

Key Turning Points

-With the Lions leading 6-0 and just over three minutes left in the 1st quarter, Columbia took over on offense on their own 22. The Lions then began a 15-play TD drive that epitomized the dominance from its offensive line in the game. The run-heavy drive included two 4th down conversions, including one for the TD by RB Ty'son Edwards. 

-With the score now 16-0 early in the 3rd quarter, the Hoyas took over at midfield after the Lions turned it over on downs. Georgetown then started a pass-heavy drive that gave them a 1st and goal at the CU 10. But the Hoyas would get no closer than the Lion 8, after a short run and then three straight incomplete passes left them turning the ball over on downs as well. The last incomplete pass was nicely broken up by DB Carter McFadden. If Georgetown had scored a TD and a 2-point conversion off that drive, the game would have looked a lot different at that moment. 

Columbia Positives

-The Lions only had one official sack, but they notched eight tackles for a loss and harassed GU QB Tyler Knoop most of the game. The D-line also batted down multiple passes. 

-The offensive line opened lots of running holes and rarely put QB Caden Bell under much pressure. Georgetown had no sacks and just three tackles for a loss. 

-RB Joey Giorgi continued his excellent senior campaign, starting fast and then cruising to 116 rushing yards on 21 carries. 

-WR JJ Jenkins also had a 100+-yard day, going for 119 yards on just four catches, including a 43-yard TD on a bomb down the west sideline. 

-The Lion secondary broke up multiple passes, especially on pressure downs. Hoya QB Tyler Knoop was thus held to a sub-50% completion rate. Every receiver was always pretty well covered; none of the soft zone open receivers we've seen for years, etc. 

-QB Caden Bell had a much better game, especially running the ball. One of his two running TD's was especially gutsy into the Hoya defense. His passing accuracy was weak at first, but picked up noticeably as the game went on. 

-McFadden also put in an astounding day returning kickoffs and punts. He returned two punts for a total of 60 yards (with another return negated by a penalty), and had a 48-yard kickoff return as well. 

-PK Hugo Merry looked strong in the rough weather conditions. His 43-yard FG attempt early in the game against the wind just hit the post and fell no good. But his 25-yarder later in the game was perfect, as were all of his PATs. He also kicked off very well, (and from the 35 in this non-conference game), leading everyone in the stands to believe he will be nailing kickoffs well out of the end zone when he kicks off from the 40 in every Ivy game. 

Columbia Negatives

-Bell's above-mentioned slow passing start led him to another sub-50% completion rate for the day. But his yards per attempt came in at a very strong 7.2. 

-It probably took too long for the second team players to get inserted into the game. Bell stayed out for one possession too many and got hit pretty hard on his final play of the day. 

Columbia MVP

This was one of those great games where a lot of players and full units could easily get the nod. But while I may be inclined to give this award to the entire O-line for its significant improvement and impression on this game, I'm going to give it to LT Luke Painton because I noticed the large amount of room Bell had every time he rolled or ran to his left. The blindside was covered and then some today.

Take Two

Lou Little

Georgetown Hoyas (2-1) vs. Columbia Lions (0-1)

The Lou Little Cup Game

September 23, 2023

Kickoff Time: 12:30pm

Robert K. Kraft Field at Wien Stadium in the Baker Athletic Complex

Game Time Weather Forecast: 61 degrees and raining

The Line: Columbia is favored by 7 /12 points

TV/RADIO: The game will be streamed on ESPN+ with play-by-play man Lance Medow. (THE GAME IS NO LONGER BEING BROADCAST ON SNY)

Columbia Game Notes

Georgetown Game Notes

Leading Story Lines

1) Week one of the Mark Fabish era began with a thud as the Lions looked unprepared and over matched vs. the underdog Lafayette Leopards last Saturday. That creates this crucial chance to right the ship and make a better impression at the Columbia home opener. But another flop of a performance will put this entire coaching staff under extreme pressure.

2) Last year's rout of the Hoyas notwithstanding, the Lou Little Cup series that began in 2015 has usually featured close games and more than a couple maddening Lion losses. Georgetown will definitely be coming in motivated to take the trophy back with them for the first time since 2019.

3) The main focus will be on the CU offensive line, which was under the gun throughout the Lafayette game. The Hoyas haven't shown much of a blitzing attack nor a steady QB pressure defense, but they will assuredly give that a whirl in this game. 

3 Columbia Players to Watch

-LT Luke Painton #65 needs to be an anchor of support protecting Lion starting QB Caden Bell much better than the offensive line did last week. The wheels of an entire team just come off when the O-line isn't functioning, and that will be job #1 in this game for Columbia.

-RB Joey Giorgi #25 is a cutting and slashing runner who doesn't need an offensive line to bowl over tacklers as much as he just needs a small seam to do damage. Look for him and RB Malcom Terry to get more carries in hopes of off-setting Georgetown blitzes. 

-LB C.J. Brown #0 will be a part of a major challenge to the entire linebacking crew to contain GU RB Joshua Stakely, who is a threat on the ground and as a receiver out of the backfield. If Stakely is neutralized, the Hoyas cannot win. If he has a big game, they can. 

3 Georgetown Players to Watch

-RB Joshua Stakely #22 (see above)

-LB Naiteitei Mose #32 has emerged as a new defensive threat for Georgetown this year as just a sophomore. He will likely be the blitzer the Hoyas use in hopes of blowing up the CU offensive line. 

-RB Naieem Kearney #20 is the second most lethal Georgetown offensive weapon, who ran for 140 yards in the Hoyas win over Sacred Heart.  

The "M" Word

The pressure is on Fabish this week

It feels a little crazy to use the "M" word this early in the season.

"M" and in "must." 

"Must win," that is. 

But I don't think there's any other honest way to put it:

Columbia MUST WIN this Saturday's home opener against Georgetown. Otherwise, the consequences will be dire for the rest of the season and this coaching staff. 

Georgetown isn't the weakest opponent on the Lions schedule, (that would be Marist), but it's definitely one of the weaker ones overall. A loss to the Hoyas would send the already growing pressure on interim Head Coach Mark Fabish to a boiling point for sure. 

Georgetown suffered its first loss of the season last week at home against Stonehill. I had predicted Stonehill to cover the spread, but not win. The Hoyas, who had been winning on the backs of a strong and varied running game, ran well again last week but had a tougher time defensively and could not hold the lead. 

More specifically, Georgetown has 790 total rushing yards through just three games and are averaging a hefty 6.1 yards per carry. On the more encouraging side for the Lions, the Hoyas have only recorded two sacks so far this season and are allowing a decent 4.3 yards per carry on the ground as well. 

But since the Lou Little Cup series began vs. Georgetown in 2015, the Hoyas have given Columbia plenty of trouble most of the time. Last year's blowout win by the Lions was out of the ordinary to say the least. No one should expect this game to be an easy win. 

This game won't be so much about how strong the Hoyas are; it will be about how much more prepared and capable Columbia looks and plays like throughout the game.

If Columbia can right its ship this weekend and get a solid win, not many people will be thinking too much at the end of the year about the poor loss at Lafayette. But a loss here will be debilitating in more ways than one.  

 

Week 2 Picks

 

Last week, I went 8-1 straight up and 5-3-1 against the spread. My season totals are now at 10-3 SU and 7-5-1 AGS

Brown +19 1/2 at Harvard (FRIDAY NIGHT GAME)

I think this spread is way too big, even though I still believe Harvard will win. Brown hasn't beaten the Crimson at Harvard Stadium since 1998, but Columbia ended a 27-year drought there last year, so... 

Yale -14 1/2 vs. Cornell

I think the Elis will be getting a lot of frustrations out on the Big Red this Saturday. 

Lehigh +15 1/2 at Dartmouth

I think the Big Green will win by 10-14 points. 

Bryant +15 1/2 at Princeton

The Tigers will win a lot of games by a little less than expected this year. A nice problem to have. 

Penn -14 at Bucknell

This 14-point spread seems like a major gift as the Quakers should easily cover. 

Monmouth -4 1/2 at Lafayette

Lafayette may be a little overconfident after last week's easy win over Columbia, 

Valparaiso -7 1/2 vs. Marist

Marist is really struggling.

The Fan's Guide to Getting to & Enjoying a Game at Wien Stadium 2023

Sign advertising Columbia Football at the corner of 218th and Broadway, 1927

The football home opener is THIS SATURDAY AT 12:30 PM!

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 12:30 pm this season. Free beer and soda and even free hot dogs should be available again this year on the hill opposite the entrance to the stadium! 

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!

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 no longer 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. 

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 or a smartphone that has a service like Apple Pay, etc.. Just tap your smartphone at the turnstile, or to buy 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. 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 or a smartphone that can make payments), 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. Now that the Long Island railroad is connecting to the Metro North via the new LIRR Grand Central stop, people from Long Island can choose the option below as well: 

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 or 125th Street, it's not a terrible idea. Just get a MetroNorth CityTicket from Grand Central or 125th St that is $5, very good deal.  Just be sure to select "CityTicket" on the app or at the ticket kiosk. WWW.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 or ! trains, 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. Here are his comments for 2023:  

This year marks a century of Columbia football in Inwood.  It's a lovely area to explore, filled with parks and charming blocks if you know where to look.  For eats and treats, here are some places of note, listed in terms of proximity to Baker Field:

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. Outdoor seating.  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.  Highly recommend.

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

4. AMORES - cafe at Broadway and 214th with some nice empanadas.  Outdoor seating. 

5. MAMA TACO - Solid Mexican restaurant with cocktails, extensive selections and kids' menu, on Broadway at 214th St.  Outdoor seating.  

6. LIFFY II - At Broadway and 213th, the sole survivor of Inwood's once-numerous Irish bars.  Now with a nice outdoor seating area.

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

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

9/10. 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.  Grandpa's has outdoor seating. Highly recommend.

11. 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.  Highly recommend.

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

13/14. DUNKIN' & BUNNI COFFEE - Dueling coffee places on either side of Broadway north of 207th.  One is a legit coffee house with Ethiopian treats, the other is... Dunkin'.  

15. YUMMY THAI - Longtime staple of great Thai food on Broadway north of 207th.  Outdoor seating.

16. INWOOD LOCAL - Recently re-opened, still Inwood's best beer garden. On Broadway north of 207th St.  

17. DICHTER'S - On Broadway north of 207th.  The epicenter of all Inwood life, Manny runs a traditional pharmacy/general store complete with ice cream counter, bagels and sandwiches.  Friendly atmosphere.  Stop in and say hello.  

18. TUBBY HOOK - Perfect local pub for pre- or post-game while checking out the scores.  On Broadway north of 207th.  Outdoor seating.  Highly recommend.

19/20. CAPITOL & G's - Two classic diners for a quick bite, near Broadway and 207th.  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. NAPA IN THE HEIGHTS - New wine bar with a full gourmet menu, on Broadway just south of 207th.

22. CHICK-FIL-A - After construction delays, this massive new outlet should finally open later this fall on W225th St just north of the stadium over the Broadway Bridge.   


Farther afield, there are more restaurants concentrated around Dyckman Street and Broadway ranging from Starbucks to Mamajuana.  At the far west end of Dyckman Street, the Hudson NYC is also an excellent waterfront spot with outstanding river views that will be open until their season ends in October.  Happy eating!

Buddy Teevens 1956-2023

Buddy Teevens & Wife Kirsten

The news many of us had been dreading went public just this hour...

Buddy Teevens, a great athlete, coach, parent, and ambassador for college athletics, has passed away after fighting the effects of a severe bicycling accident earlier this year. 

I wrote a tribute to Buddy at the time of the accident, but I must say that I always expected him to at least pull through even if it meant he would not coach again.

This is a very serious loss for everyone who loves Ivy football. 

I don't think I could be sadder, even if this were a beloved Columbia player or coach who had passed. That's especially since he and his wife Kirsten showed me kindness at the height of the antagonism I was facing from the Columbia athletic department. They knew what I was trying to do and appreciated it. 

May his memory be a blessing. 

Looking at the League

It feels a little early to embark on my "Ivy Power Rankings" posts after just one week of play and no head-to-head Ivy games.

But I am ready to make a few observations based on the games the other seven Ivy teams played Saturday and what to look for from them this week:

Probably the most impressive victory of week 1 was Brown's win over Bryant. The Bears came in as six-point underdogs and rallied to win. They have a much tougher test at Harvard this Friday night.

Speaking of the Crimson, I think their win over St. Thomas shouldn't just be discounted as an easy win over an over matched opponent. Even more notably, Harvard has clearly chosen to end its QB losing streak by going with a running QB as starter Chuck Deprima ran for more than 100 yards in the game.

I don't think we learn much about Yale or Dartmouth from their losses to top FCS teams Holy Cross and UNH, respectively. Yale predictably performed better on offense and Dartmouth was unsurprisingly better on defense. 

Cornell travels to New Haven to take on the Elis this Saturday coming off a possibly tougher than expected win over Lehigh. But QB Jameson Wong did look better than expected, and that has to concern Yale now. 

Dartmouth should feel good about what its defense should be able to do to the Mountaineers when Lehigh comes to Hanover on Saturday. The offense will still face a challenge. 

Penn's win at Colgate seems like a "hold serve" type of outing. The Quakers won by a bit more than the spread predicted, but not much surprising resulted in the game. Penn needs to throttle Bucknell this Saturday to keep its high standing intact. 

Princeton seemed a little wobblier than expected against San Diego, but never really seemed threatened either. Bryant will be a much better test for the Tigers in New Jersey this Saturday. 

 

Rough (& Familiar) Roads

It hurts that Columbia not only lost on Saturday, but were thoroughly defeated by a team the Lions were favored to beat.

It hurts that Columbia didn't score a TD for the first time in 54 games. 

It hurts that the team generally looked very unprepared for the regular season opener. 

Longtime Lion fans have felt like this before, and we hate it every time no matter how often it happens. 

When things look particularly hopeless, and the athletic department and the rest of the university administration doesn't seem to get it or care, I don't think there should be many limits to fan anger and expression. 

But I really don't think that's where we are right now after just one game. 

No one can accuse me of being too easy on this program. My decision to let mostly fair attacks on previous regimes to go forward earned me incredible scorn from athletic department to the point of being totally blackballed. Granted, not many people are still in the department from those days (except for one who still gives me a good dose of the stink eye every time I see him) but it's understood that I'm probably never going to be allowed to participate with the department in any official way ever again.

With all that said, I will be moderating the comments section lightly, but fairly. Go ahead with any venting you want to do about play calling, other clear coaching choices, colors of uniforms, etc. But it's just too early and unfair to go around calling coaches "liars," etc. 

And as always, try to put your name on comments good and bad. As the only person who paid any price for the criticisms of the previous regimes here, it's a request I have the right to make.