Flushed at the Bowl

Yale 35 Columbia 7

Why Yale Won

The Eli offense was efficient all day while the defense never lost control of the line of scrimmage either. Even some Yale turnovers never did much to hurt them.

Why Columbia Lost

The offense continued its season-long ineptitude, with the offensive line doing a particularly poor job at run blocking. Meanwhile, the Lion defense put in their worst performance of the year. 

Key Turning Points

-After Columbia went three-and-out on its opening possession, (thanks greatly to an under-thrown pass from QB Joe Green to WR Edan Stagg that would have gone for a big gainer or a TD if thrown accurately), Yale took over at its own 30. The Elis then marched down the field easily on a 10-play, 70-yard drive that included just two 3rd down plays. 

-With the score still 7-0 and 4:15 left in the 1st quarter, Yale began an even more impressive 75-yard TD drive on 13 plays that included a 4th down conversion. After that score, the competitive phase of the game was essentially over. 

Columbia Positives

-The Lions did not turn the ball over.

Columbia Negatives

-The Lion defense had no answers and seemingly made no adjustments to the more than dozen times Yale QB Nolan Grooms threw sideline screen passes for gain after gain. 

-The Lions offense was putrid, and did not even complete a pass until the 2nd quarter. 

Columbia MVP

-P William Hughes averaged 43.1 yards per punt and had some beauties during the day. 

The Disappointed Bowl

 

QB Nolan Grooms leads Yale... in rushing

Columbia Lions (2-4) vs. Yale Bulldogs (3-3)

October 28, 2023

Kickoff Time: 12 Noon

Yale Bowl

West Haven, Connecticut

Game Time Weather Forecast: 74 degrees and sunny

The Line: Columbia is a 9 1/2 point underdog

TV/Radio: The game will be streamed live on ESPN+

Columbia Game Notes

Yale Game Notes

Leading Story Lines

-Both teams come into this game as pretty strong disappointments for 2023. Yale was a massive preseason favorite to win the Ivies, but the Elis are just 3-3 and 1-2 in the Ivies. The Lions are 2-4 and have lost all three of their Ivy games in soul-crushing fashion. 

-Yale's season has faltered because of its weaker than expected defense. Columbia's season has taken a big hit from a subpar offense. One of these has to give tomorrow... maybe. 

-After weeks of rainy Saturdays, this game will not only be under a sunny sky but it will be hot. Will the radical weather change produce radically different results?

3 Lions to Watch

-RB Malcom Terry #6 may be the primary rusher for CU tomorrow against a Yale rushing defense that has not been consistent. 

-DE Justin Townsend #36 will likely be chasing Yale QB Nolan Grooms all day.

-PK Hugo Merry #98 will be playing in his first game ever at Yale Bowl; probably the toughest FG kicking venue in the Ivies.

3 Elis to Watch

-WR Mason Tipton #1 can do a lot of damage and he will look to shine in dry weather.

-LT Jonathan Mendoza #76 is taking over that vital position now that NFL draft prospect Kiran Amegadjie is out for the season with an injury. Will Grooms be able to adjust?

-DE Clay Patterson #97 is considered one of the best pass rushers in the league. 

Week 7 Picks

I went a dismal 1-5 straight up and 2-4 against the spread last week. That brings my season totals to 27-19 SU (.586) and 23-22-1 AGS (.511)

Brown + 10 1/2 at Penn

The Quakers will win, but this will be a fun shootout 

Dartmouth +10 1/2 at Harvard

Some of what I saw from the Big Green vs. Columbia gives me pause, but I think they will be able to cover vs. the Crimson. Harvard still wins. 

Princeton +6 at Cornell

Inconsistent Big Red will lose. 

Lafayette -10 1/2 at Georgetown

Leopards keep rolling

Marist +13 at St. Thomas

The Red Foxes will keep it close in a loss. 

 

Ivy League Power Rankings

 

1) Harvard

The Crimson got dinged by poor QB play for the first time this year at Princeton. But they still fought back and made it close. 

2) Penn

The Quaker win over Yale at Yale was impressive. 

3) Dartmouth

The Big Green have a path to the title. But the big test at Harvard awaits.

4) Yale

The Elis defense has betrayed the team this year.

5) Princeton

Nice win in the rain for the Tigers last week, but now it's back to reality.

6) Brown

The Bears can be brutal on the road, but they can still beat anyone.

7) Cornell

In an inconsistent league, the Big Red are the most inconsistent team. 

8) Columbia

The Lions are the only Ivy team without a conference win. 

What is the Color of Pain?

Dartmouth 20 Columbia 9

Why Dartmouth Won

After allowing the Lions to go 75 yards for a TD on the opening drive of the game, the Big Green defense did not allow any more points the rest of the way. The offense was inconsistent, but effective at key moments as well. 

Why Columbia Lost

The offense could never duplicate the intensity and effectiveness of its opening drive. The defense could not keep Dartmouth down all day.

Key Turning Points

There was really only one

-After Columbia jumped out to a 9-0 lead on the opening drive TD and then a safety on a bad snap play, the Lions took over on their own 30 after the free kick with 5:56 left in the 1st quarter. After Columbia went three-and-out, Dartmouth's Patrick Campbell blocked William Hughes' punt (after a bad snap), and Campbell recovered it in the end zone for a TD. Columbia never regained the momentum after that. 

Columbia Positives

-Joe Green put up some decent overall numbers and seemed more comfortable completing passes. 

-The Lion defense allowed just 13 1st downs.

Columbia Negatives

-The Lions failed to finish drive after drive, looking totally inept in the red zone. 

-The Columbia defense missed some key tackles. 

Columbia MVP

-LB Anthony Roussos had 12 tackles and a TFL. 

Gut Check Time

 

It's Joe's turn now

Columbia Lions (2-3) at Dartmouth Big Green (2-3)

October 21, 2023

Kickoff Time: 1:30pm

Memorial Field 

Hanover, New Hampshire

Game Time Weather Forecast: 57 degrees and raining

The Line: Columbia is a 3-point underdog

TV/Radio: The game is on ESPN+ and in the New England area on NESN

Columbia Game Notes 

Dartmouth Game Notes

Leading Story Lines

-Perhaps we can call this the "Bereavement Bowl" as both of these teams were unexpectedly forced to play this season without their legendary head coaches at the helm. The tragic death of Buddy Teevens still weighs on a lot of us who follow this league, and I can imagine it must be a lot worse for the folks at Dartmouth. Meanwhile, Columbia fans miss the order and respect Al Bagnoli commanded even though he is still with us and in relatively good health considering his heart issues. But in a bold move, Dartmouth has removed the "interim" part of the head coaching title for Sam McCorkle in what has to be a nice boost for him and his staff. 

-Both teams are maybe a little more desperate than usual to get a win. The Big Green still have a shot at the Ivy title with only one conference loss, while the Lions have lost two heart breakers in the rain and are looking to salvage their season. 

-After weeks of Lion fans complaining about the QB play, Joe Green will get his first start of this season Saturday.

3 Lions to Watch

-Obviously, QB Joe Green #11 will be in the spotlight in a big way as he looks to get the Lion passing game going. 

-LB Anthony Roussos #16 will draw much of the responsibility for making sure Dartmouth QB Nick Howard doesn't run all over the CU defense. 

-WR Marcus Libman #3 was always one of Green's favorite targets, he may be targeted regularly in the rain. 

3 Big Green Players to Watch

-LB Macklin Ayers #40 is perhaps the finest defensive player in the Ivies. He will be all over the field in any scenario one can imagine. 

-QB Jackson Proctor #12 may be the key factor in this game. Howard will get his yards, but the CU defense will likely be able to keep him from dominating the game entirely. So, whether Proctor can make the Lions pay through the air will matter a lot. 

-PK Owen Zalc #35 like Lion PK Hugo Merry #98 could very well make the difference in this rainy game. 

Week 6 Picks

 

I went 6-1 straight up and 5-2 against the spread last week to put my season totals at 26-14 SU (.650) and 21-18-1 AGS (.538)

Yale -7 over Penn

The Eli offense will succeed where Columbia's failed. 

Harvard -7 1/2 at Princeton

The Crimson may start slow in this one, but will pull away. 

Brown -3 1/2 at Cornell

The Bears will keep the Big Red woes throbbing. 

Colgate +4 1/2 at Georgetown

Both teams are due for a fall. I'll split the difference and say the Hoyas win but the Raiders cover. 

Lafayette +14 1/2 at Holy Cross

The Crusaders will win, but not cover. 

Presbyterian +1 1/2 vs. Marist

The Red Foxes will lose a close one. 

Ivy Power Rankings, 10/18

 

1) Harvard 

The Crimson haven't been tested since the Holy Cross game, can Princeton do it? Probably not. 

2) Yale

The Elis are getting in a groove.

3) Brown

The Bears offense continues to operate almost perfectly. 

4) Dartmouth

The Big Green is struggling with consistency, but they're still in the running. 

5) Penn

The Quakers didn't exactly look impressive in their close win over Columbia. 

6) Princeton

The Tigers have their toughest games ahead. 

7) Columbia

The Lions offense just isn't functioning correctly.

8) Cornell

The Big Red are running on empty. 

Emotions & Reality

I made a commitment more than 10 years ago to never stifle the fans' right to vent their frustrations and anger over losses and mistakes, (with some obvious exceptions), and I'm sticking with that. 

BUT, just in response to the angriest folks commenting here:

1)  These losses are not all on Coach Fabish and his staff

2) Lashing out at Al Bagnoli and attacking his reputation is unfair and only makes you look a bit stupid

3) Pre-Bagnoli and Pilling, this was a very different program. The administration and athletic department wanted to win, but was never willing to make major, bold moves to do so. Fear of what others would say was the dominant force for them. That is no longer the case and anyone who doesn't see that isn't being fair. 

4) Those who consider comments on this board to be a problem even worth caring about for more than two minutes as opposed to fixing the real problems are equally unfair and annoying. 

 

More Pain in the Rain

Penn 20 Columbia 17

Why Penn Won

Quaker QB Aiden Sayin sliced up the CU defense, taking advantage of the Lions' softer coverage and lack of blitzing all day. Meanwhile, the Penn defense bent but didn't break on a number of key Columbia possessions. 

Why Columbia Lost

The Lions offense was still inconsistent and ineffectual at the most crucial times, while the defense didn't adjust to the Penn passing attack. 

Key Turning Points

-With Columbia leading 7-3 and 1:24 left in the 1st quarter, Penn took over at their own 25 and began a 12-play 75-yard TD drive that ended on a one-yard TD run on 4th down and 1. This drive would be eerily similar to one later in the game. 

-With 2:31 left in the 3rd quarter and now leading by 14-10, the Lions began a drive at their own 28 that fizzled when an apparent great catch by WR Wills Meyer for what would have been a 22-yard TD was called incomplete by the refs. Hugo Merry kicked a clutch 40-yard FG on the next play, but the game's momentum swing hard to Penn after that pass was called no good. 

-The Quakers responded with a 75-yard TD drive that took just seven plays and included just one 3rd down. That made the score 17-17. 

-Columbia only had the ball twice after that and did not get even one 1st down. 

Columbia Positives

-The CU defense had another solid game against the run, giving up just 72 net rushing yards. 

-Merry continues to show great poise for a true freshman. Columbia is looking at no real downgrade despite the loss of now-Penn State kicking starter Alex Felkins. 

Columbia Negatives

-The Lions put no significant pressure on Sayin and paid and paid a huge price for it. 

-Caden Bell's passing stats continue to look ugly. Not mixing up the CU passing attack by subbing in Joe Green from time to time is becoming harder to understand. 

-When the Penn kickoffs repeatedly kicked away from return threat Carter McFadden, the other CU returners were clearly told to call for a fair catch on kickoffs. In some cases, those fair catches clearly negated opportunities where big returns were possible. 

Columbia MVP

-Aaron Brebnor had six tackles, a tackle for a loss, a forced fumble and a key pass breakup. 

Homecoming Test

 

Caden Bell is fighting for his starting spot

Pennsylvania Quakers vs. Columbia Lions 

October 14, 2023

Kickoff Time: 1:30pm 

Robert K. Kraft Field at Wien Stadium

Game Time Weather Forecast: 54 degrees and cloudy, with rain expected before the game ends

The Line: Columbia is favored by 1 point

TV/Radio: The game will be broadcast on SNY and ESPN+,  Lance Medow will be doing play-by-play and Shawn Fitzgerald '80 is the color commentator.

Columbia Game Notes 

Penn Game Notes

Leading Story Lines

-With both the Lions and Quakers coming into this game with one Ivy loss already, the contest is essentially an elimination game in the Ivy title race. No team with two losses has won even a share of the championship since 1982. 

-Columbia's QB situation is under the microscope as QB Caden Bell has yet to recapture much of his effectiveness from last season. Don't be surprised if Joe Green replaces him at some point in the game if the dry spell continues.

-On paper at least, this looks like an excellent test of Penn's potent offense vs. Columbia's stingy defense. Will the expected rain be the final arbiter?

3 Lions to Watch

-DE Justin Townsend #36 will be pressed with the task of putting some pressure on Penn QB Aidan Sayin, who has enjoyed good protection most of the year so far. If Sayin is not pressured, the Quakers will roll on offense, period. 

-WR Titus Evans #85 figures to get more targets as the more veteran Lion receivers will draw more coverage. This could be a breakout game for the freshman. 

-RB Joey Giorgi #25 left last week's game early and is likely to be very eager to make up for it against Penn's strong rush defense. 

3 Quakers to Watch

-DT Micah Morris #98 had a monster game vs. the Lions in Philadelphia last year, and he will be looking to make Bell or Green's day a bad one. 

-WR Joshua Casilli also had a monster day against CU last season, but he hasn't made as big an impact in any game so far this year. 

-DB Julian Talley #7 has the tough job of filling in for the injured All Ivy DB Jayden Key. Talley is five inches shorter than Key, and he will be a noticeable new target in the secondary. 

Week 5 Picks

 

I went 4-1 straight up last week and 3-2 against the spread. My season totals are 20-13 SU and 16-16-1 AGS

Brown +7 vs. Princeton

I don't think the Tigers have enough offense to keep up with the Bears in Providence. Brown to win. 

Dartmouth -7 1/2 at Colgate

The Big Green will bounce back big. 

Sacred Heart +21 1/2 at Yale

The Elis will cruise here, but take their feet off the gas pedal at some point and allow SHU to cover. 

Bucknell +10 1/2 at Cornell

Cornell will win, but not cover. 

Harvard -11 1/2 vs. Howard

Easy win at home for the Crimson. 

Marist +4 1/2 vs. San Diego

The Red Foxes will win this one.

Georgetown -1 at Lehigh

The Hoyas have really turned a corner, and I think they will keep some consistency to beat the Mountain Hawks on the road. 

Ivy Power Rankings

 

1) Harvard

I didn't see anything in Friday night's win over Cornell that led me to believe the Crimson still aren't the top Ivy team. Did you?

2) Yale

The Elis didn't just beat a good Dartmouth team on the road, the offense looked good against a great Big Green defense. 

3) Dartmouth

The Big Green hurt themselves with mistakes, but still look like a top team. 

4) Penn

The Quaker defense was surprisingly porous at times in a squeaker win over Georgetown, but a win is a win.

5) Brown

The Bears lost to URI, but took a very good FCS team to the wire.

6) Princeton

The Princeton offense is just not consistent enough.

7) Columbia 

With a passing attack, the Lions could do some real damage. 

8) Cornell

The Big Red are good fighters, but they don't have the weapons. 

Is it the Rain?

Many of us who are concerned and puzzled by the dropoff in QB Caden Bell's passing efficiency are starting to think it may mostly have to do with the terrible weather Columbia has faced in three of its four games. Remember that Bell played his HS ball and hails from the fair weather climes of Southern California. 

Bell's five starts last season, each of which were better than any of his performances this year so far, were all in dry and usually sunny weather (it was overcast at homecoming vs. Dartmouth, but never rained or got very windy). 

It seems crazy, but would it make sense to bench Bell in favor of Joe Green during poor weather games? Green is from the rainy Pacific Northwest after all. 

This becomes a "right now" issue in many ways, because as of now there's a 50% chance of rain for this Saturday's Homecoming game vs. Penn. I think Columbia can win that game, but probably not without a more potent passing game. 

Look, one of the luxuries of the college football roster is that you can put more players on it than NFL teams. That's especially true at home. The Lions should be ready to use that luxury and not let added talent rot on the bench. 

I don't pretend to know what shuttling QB's in and out of games could do to continuity on the team. but right now Columbia needs to shake the passing game up, period. 

Sloppy Second Win

 Columbia 16 Marist 0

Why Columbia Won

The Lion defense held the Red Foxes to just 34 rushing yards, picked up four turnovers, and blanked Marist despite the Red Foxes starting three possessions on the CU side of the 50. The offense used a dominating running attack in the 1st half to give Columbia the points it needed. 

Why Marist Lost

The Red Foxes went 0-4 on 4th down conversion attempts, could not get a running game going, and turned the ball over too often to pose a real threat. 

Key Turning Points

-With the game still scoreless and 10:35 left in the 1st quarter, a 26-yard Carter McFadden punt return set the Lions up nicely at the Marist 35 to start their second possession of the game. Columbia then began a 10-play drive of all running plays that ended with a TD by Ty'son Edwards on 4th and 1 at the 1. That would turn out to be the winning score. 

-Columbia began the 2nd quarter with a fumble that set Marist up with the ball at the CU 49. But a 12-yard sack by Quentin Autry basically ended the drive and the 6-0 Lion lead was safe. 

-Less than three minutes later, a Joey Giorgi fumble set Marist up with a 1st down at the Columbia 37. But on 4th and 2 from the Lion 29, Red Fox RB Amin Woods was held to just a one yard gain by DE James Knox, and another major Marist threat was over. 

-With 2:18 left in the half and CU leading 9-0, the Lions started their last possession of the 2nd quarter at the 50 after another solid McFadden punt return and a Marist penalty. The drive ended with a strong 22-yard TD run by Edwards and the Lions had finished the scoring for the day. 

Columbia Positives

-The defense, especially against the run, was strong and the pass rush was vigorous at least through the 1st half. 

-Columbia's 1st half running game was mostly unstoppable. 

-The secondary was excellent when it was actually in coverage. A number of ball were knocked down, and CB Aaron Brebnor showed great concentration on the two deflected balls he picked off. 

Columbia Negatives

-The CU passing game is just not working, as QB Caden Bell continues to struggle. 

-Yes it was a very rainy day but the Lions fumbled the ball way too much, twice in clutch situations. 

-The team definitely lost some energy in the 2nd half, but the defense was tough enough in the red zone to preserve the shutout.

Columbia MVP

It feels weird giving the MVP nod to an offensive player in a game so dominated by the Lion defense. But RB Ty'Son Edwards had his best game as a Lion with 103 yards on the ground and those two TD's.

Final Interlude

 

Like stability? Jim Parady has been Marist's head coach for 33 years

Marist Red Foxes (2-2) vs. Columbia Lions (1-2)

October 7, 2023

Kickoff Time: 12:30pm

Robert K. Kraft Field at Wien Stadium

Game Time Weather Forecast: 68 degrees and a 40% chance of rain

The Line: Columbia is favored by 27 1/2 points

TV/Radio: The game will be streamed on ESPN+,  Lance Medow will be doing play-by-play and Shawn Fitzgerald '80 is the color commentator. 

Columbia Game Notes

Marist Game Notes have not been posted as of 2pm on Friday

3 Columbia Players to Watch

-DB Hayden McDonald #3 will likely be seeing a lot of chances to pick off or knock down passes Saturday as Marist's passing game really sprays things all over the place. Don't be surprised if McDonald is an impact player. 

-KR Carter McFadden #23 might get a chance to feast off of Marist's looser kick coverage teams. He could break one. 

-WR Marcus Libman #3 (also) may be the beneficiary of a Marist defense that seems to leave receivers open in the middle of the field very often. 

3 Marist Players to Watch

-QB Brock Bagozzi #18: yes, the QB is always in focus, but Bagozzi seems to be evolving and improving as the season goes along. He's also a good runner. Fun to watch. 

-LB Mike Arrington #2 is the team's overall leader and will be specifically focused on stopping the CU running game. 

-WR Matt Stianche #19 is a 6-3 receiver who has been putting up good numbers so far this year. Marist will likely try to test the Lion secondary using his height advantage. 

Week 4 Picks

 

In what continues to be a brutal year, I went 3-5 straight up last week and 3-5 against the spread. My season totals are 16-12 SU and 13-14-1 AGS

Harvard -19 1/2 vs. Cornell

It feels like Cornell's bubble has popped.

Yale -2 1/2 at Dartmouth

The Elis are getting into a groove. 

Brown +7 vs. Rhode Island

I believe in this Bears offense, and good luck. at home.

Lafayette pick 'em at Princeton

The Leopards are for real. 

Penn -13 vs. Georgetown

The only thing consistent about the Hoyas is their inconsistency.

Ivy Power Rankings 10/4

 

1) Harvard

I boldly pick the Crimson for 6th, and as soon as all eight Ivy teams play at least one league game, it's clear Harvard is #1. The convincing win on the road (technically a neutral site) against Holy Cross was worth watching to see the Crimson's overall team speed. Do I get a pass on my preseason prediction because of the caveat I set saying all bets were off if Harvard finds a good QB? (they have). 

2) Dartmouth

What you saw Saturday at Franklin Field wasn't really a team playing for its departed and beloved coach. You saw a very, very good defense confound the Quakers and expose Penn as a team without a varied enough attack. The Big Green's ground and pound plus that defense will win a lot of games this fall. 

3) Yale

Don't look now, but the Elis came back to life last week with a vengeance. This sets up a great matchup vs. Dartmouth Saturday.

4) Penn

Penn needs a RB who can do more  

5) Brown

The Bears have a consistently lethal offense and only a few Ivy teams will be able to match it in an individual game.

6) Princeton

It's hard to really assess the Tigers after their win over the Lions Friday night. For now, it's still wait and see on the Princeton offense.

7) Cornell 

Losing to Colgate at homecoming should never have happened if the Big Red were a very good team. They're not. 

8) Columbia

There are still plenty of chances for the Lions to roar, but the Princeton loss was a huge emotional setback and the passing attack is not developing. 

Let's Party

As millions of people in my generation learned from the movie Animal House, when you're in trouble or feeling down (like we all are after that loss Friday night) the best thing to do is... PARTY!

Luckily, our friend Jon Hart has just released his raucous new novel Party School to get us into the right mood. 

You might remember Jon from his chronicling of the Columbia Football program just after Al Bagnoli took over and a little while afterwards. 

Check it out! 

Inched Out

 Princeton 10 Columbia 7

Why Princeton Won

The Tigers defense was stingy, especially in the 2nd half, while the offense put together one long and gutsy drive that was good enough to win.

Why Columbia Lost

The Lion offense struggled most of the night and blew two golden scoring opportunities early in the game. The passing game especially never got on track.

Key Turning Points

-With just under 7 minutes left in the 1st quarter, Columbia began a 16-play drive that relied mostly on strong running from Malcom Terry and Joey Giorgi that covered 61-yards and set the Lions up with a 22-yard FG try. But a bad hold doomed the kick and the Tigers held on to their 3-0 lead. 

-With 8:21 left in the half and the score still 3-0, Columbia's Ethan Hebb blocked a Princeton punt that helped set the Lions up with the ball at the Tiger 45. Once again, Columbia used mostly the running of Terry to get inside the Princeton 5, but this time the Lions decided to go for it on 4th and 1 from the 3 rather than try another FG. On that play, QB Caden Bell was unable to gain any yardage and the Tigers dodged another bullet. 

-With Columbia leading 7-3, Princeton took possession at their own 19 with 12:14 left in the 4th quarter. The Tigers proceeded to put together a 20-play drive that included two successful 3rd down conversions and three successful 4th down conversions, including a 4th and goal at the 1 that resulted in a John Volker TD that just crossed the goal line. 

Columbia Positives

-Until the final drive, the Columbia defense played extremely well, capped off by an extraordinary interception and TD by DE Justin Townsend. The Lions gave up just 80 net rushing yards. 

-Terry and Giorgi made up a formidable rushing combo for most of the game, combining for 102 yards on 23 carries. 

-P William Hughes had a clutch game, averaging 43 yards a punt and nailing two inside the 20.

Columbia Negatives

-The Lion passing game is just not getting the yards, consistency, or accuracy that it needs and this game was the biggest example with Bell going just 11 for 26 for 71 yards. 

-The final drive was brutal as Columbia missed some key tackles and couldn't stop the clutch plays time after time. 

-The two missed red zone opportunities were a combination of the bad weather and bad decisions. 

Columbia MVP

-Thanks to his amazing TD, a big TFL for a nine-yard loss, and the pressure he put on the Tiger O-line most of the night, the game MVP is Justin Townsend.