Harvard Square
Columbia Lions (5-2) at Harvard Crimson (6-1)
November 9, 2024
Kickoff Time: 12 noon
Allston, Massachusetts
Game Time Weather Forecast: 49 degrees and sunny
The Line: Harvard is favored by 9 1/2 points
TV/Radio: ESPN+
Leading Story Lines
-For the second time in three weeks, but only the fifth time in 63 YEARS, Columbia is playing a game after the midseason Mark where a win gives the the chance to control their own destiny to grab at least a tie for the Ivy crown. Let that sink in,
-Harvard is coming off perhaps the most impressive win of the season with its win over previously unbeaten Dartmouth in Hanover. Now the Crimson must prove they truly are the best with a win against the only other team that even has a realistic chance to snag the title from them.
-Columbia Head Coach Jon Poppe and Offensive Coordinator Seitu Smith are former assistant coaches at Harvard, with Smith also being a former star player for the Crimson. During the off-season, a large degree of bad blood among the Harvard assistant coaches came to light before HU settled on hiring Princeton assistant Andrew Aurich to replace the legendary Tim Murphy at the helm. Neither Poppe nor Smith were still on the Harvard staff last season, but they surely were keyed into the drama in Cambridge all along.
3 Lions to Watch
-WR Marcus Libman #3 while still in a much reduced role than he was in 2022, Libman seems to be the man CU goes to for key scores.When Columbia gets into the end zone, look for him.
-LB Anthony Roussos #16 will be directing the CU defense as usual, but he'll be tasked with dealing with Harvard's multi-QB attack.
-CB Carter McCray #22 the freshman CB is having a breakout season and will get his toughest test against the Crimson's talented receivers.
3 Crimson to Watch
-QB Chuck DePrima is a dangerous option QB who comes in when Harvard wants to mix things up, especially in the red zone.
-DL Jacob Psyk #94 is a sack master and can disrupt passing and running games often.
-WR Cooper Barkate #18 is one of the top 3 receivers in the Ivies, and maybe the best.
182 comments:
Great pregame, as usual Jake, just not sure the relevance of the Hvd coaching soap opera. Can Poppe and Seitu conjure something out of that nobody else in the league could?
Crimson were inconsistent vs Big Green last week, with BG defense disrupting all game. Until the end. When the BG defense had a letdown in face of Crimson explosive finish. Lions D can disrupt as well, just may have to holds stouter at the end.
Go Lions!
Go Lions!
Lions in a route today
All I can say is, isn’t it great to be in the mix and challenge for the championship. What a great effort this season and looking forward to high noon in Cambridge. My old Columbia still dwells in me and I feel while we have the team, this will be tough. I fear Barkate, and especially DiPrima who always impresses me and Jake called it out in his pregame notes.
Harvard fears Canty. They will try to double him up and force Freeman to get rid of the basil quickly.
The entire IL fears Canty. Today we will do what many think impossible! Lions prevail 24-20.
Let’s go Lions 🦁!!
The Lions need to get it together if they are to win this game. Too many missed opportunities with dropped balls and possible interception. That turnover is a punch to the gut!
where is the Stagg kid?
McCRay breakout player?? He is getting best left and right & gave up that TD!! Get him out of there
Need to get 22 off the field
interception may cost us in 4th quarter. 22 is struggling.
QB missed a wide open WR in a slant that could have been an easy TD.
wonder if Simpkins will get it
in
QB is painful to watch I'm sorry he ain't cutting it!!
tough 1st half. We will come back in 2nd
agreed. Painful.
One sided game. Lions offense just not elite with this QB. D did an ok job but just on the field too much. Overall disappointing game.
CUFB Alum
Can’t be to upset with Poppe after a decent first season however I can’t help but wonder what if. Fabish consistently was able to create a game plan that picked apart the crimson and Dartmouth. If he had been behind the wheeler this season I think we would have seen the first Ivy League championship in half a century
Freeman is not the guy they can win with. At this point, put in the #2 Simpkins kid.
I feel bad for the whole offense for having this QB
Poppe overrated. Need D’Orazio’s offensive scheme.
you must be joking. Nothing is worse than D'O
All of the recruited QBs and THIS is who our #2 is? Sad. It just cost up the #1 tie spot
Agreed. Need to get Simpkins some game time. He had a good Spring. Hopefully Goodwin will be ready for next season.
PULL THIS QB OUT ASAP....
What happened to our offense? Embarrassing.
Can you stop already! Go root for Peddie Prep and stay off this site.
receiver fumbled again!
Poppe has done a great job this year. But we need to have the best players out there, Carter McFadden (super senior) was a catastrophe today. Broken hand, gave up multiple catches. His broken hand cost an INT, horrible coverage all day. There here has to be an alternative to him
Probably not
WR’s besides Canty and Libman are struggling right now. Need to utilize quick passes to TE Dougherty better to get run game open again.
Bring back Fabish!
Very typical Columbia game. After showing promise, we lay an egg! Especially when it comes to Harvard...
agreed where are the other 2?
I missed game. How did Sanchez look in garbage time?
So Sanchez is #2?
Sanchez!
A few months shy of April 1, but you are being sarcastic? Right?
depth must be bad if we allowing a broken hand to protect our end zone
Caden Bell==Cole Freeman-both have occasional good games but have a limited upside. that showed in spades today. Like in the first half of the Dartmouth game, today we had the ball at the five in the first half and Freeman threw his first pick. He plays with heart and throws his body on the line but I just don’t think he can take us all the way. Had we scored that first touchdown in the first half it may well have turned into a different game. But he makes too many mistakes, keeps the defense on the field for too long, and then the roof falls in., I hate saying this, because he gives it all that he has, but he just doesn’t have a high enough ceiling. Maybe if we hadn’t lost so many starters on defense we could have hung in there until the end, but the defense clearly seemed to play toward the fourth quarter as if the offense was not going to score enough points to win. PS, Tim Murphy was the worst color commentator in terms of bias in all of recorded history.
yes, he said "us" ALL GAME. Unbelievable
very similar to Bell, he is not our guy
interception by Libman hurt, and the other later on even after they missed 2 field goals. Freeman is not the QB we need.
just stop the madness
To have a chance to win this game we needed to have Justin Townsend (without whom we had no pass rush), Chase Goodwin, our starting LT, our two starting LBs, the DL who went down in game 1, and then we needed to play error free football and avoid dumb mistakes and turnovers..and PS, how do we have another clock violation on a punt again, caused by playing games with the formation.
We needed Sanchez in there
We need to start Sanchez next game. Look to the future
This QB gotta go
Agreed. We need play another QB
Asap !!’nn
We want Sanchez
We have no pass protection. Freeman may have happy feet but there were more Harvard players in our backfield than there were Lions. A QB can only stay in the pocket if there is one.
We have no pass rush. We cannot solely rely on our defensive secondary. Opposing quarterbacks can have cement feet with all the time they're given. We might as well provide them with a rocking chair to sit in while they're waiting for their receivers to break free.
Boys played hard today. Objectively Harvard and Dartmouth are just better teams.
He even said ‘we’ and caught himself when discussing a play by Harvard.
DL who went down in week 1 is Owen Thomas
We have almost always lacked depth compared to the top teams in the league. That has proven to be an issue again late in the season.
Why is that though?
do we really or is it others don't get a shot? legitimate question
Gr8t things happen when Sanchez has the ball.
Also missing all Ivy C
Terrible red zone offense.
Sanchez with 2 min left got us a TD!!! Let that sink in...
Sanchez got us a TD with 2 min left! Should have put him earlier game would have been different!!!
Agree Sanchez is our guy!!
We have way more talent than 5-3. BEST wr room in Ivy. 3 deep at RB. Top tier H backs. Stout defense even banged up. We can't have a total disregard for ball security.
Canty and Libman got us to the last score. Great adjustments and catches.
I think New York is due for another episode of the Sanchize...the last Sanchez QB to roll thru NY led the Jets to 2(!) AFC championships. Maybe this one can lead us to the promised land like many before him have come short of accomplishing.
Libman had a crucial interception and almost another. Think again. Kelley needs to be used more for sure.
Very disappointed with QB play. I think the word around the league is that Freeman cannot throw the deep ball. Otherwise we would take more shots down the sideline. Also, our TE is open on crossing patterns. And how many times have we gotten inside the 10 and failed to score?
Murphy was truly revolting. Worst color commentator ever. Just a shill for Harvard with no effort to act even a little bit like a neutral. All he wanted to talk about is his recruits
We also seemed outcoached today.
Kids sometimes choose HYP knowing they have less of a chance to be a starter. Willing to be a back-up for a few years. This isn't always the case but it happens across the league in every sport. I'm sure someone will have a smart ass reply but this is well known.
Sound bite
Does Caleb Sanchez get in early next week if Freeman falters? Sanchez has a big arm.
Sanchez looks very poised in the pocket. Great presence. Throws into tight windows with pace and accuracy. Opens up the offense with Goodwin out. Helps the running game. Should get a lot of clock the rest of the season.
Harvard and Dartmouth are better.
Not outcoached - out-depth’d.
He reminds me of Mahomes
Then why is Dartmouth so good year after year?!?!
Dartmouth finds diamonds in the rough—great scouting of HS prospects who are often under the radar and coaches them up. Also, after a bad stretch about 15 or so years ago it fired its HC, brought back Buddy, and decided to loosen up admissions standards for football.
Yes, they are a good example of non HYP schools having recruiting success and winning. There are certainly other examples. Penn men's hoops is another.
Starting QB is missing easy stuff. 19 wide open WITH A POCKET and he doesn't throw it. Simple post player reads. Wide open glance. Had a Harvard guy say to me that he looks confused. Just makes poor decisions, including all the times he has open guys and pulls it down. 1st qtr in red zone and we are going to score - he just gets reckless w the ball.
Didn't like the way the frosh threw into dbl coverage. Canty and Libman bailed him out. Didn't look too mobile.
Defense can't be expected to pitch shutout. D has more injuries than offense. Plays better.
We struggled vs blitz.
Need to regroup or we go 5-5.
Don’t really care about Tim Murphys past, he showed himself to be a complete tool today. I really hope we beat Harvards ass at some point over the next few years so we can put this D’Bag in his place. He should have no place on a National Network game, send him back to Pop Warner.
Stop
Deep and flat is where he's best. Intermediate, especially from pocket he's under 25%. He can throw fades and posts. Issue is he sometimes throws into coverage. I'm convinced he can't see over OL.
Now we are getting rediculous.
Newton was all over the field today. Really solid job.
It isn’t.
Dude , our player with the club on his hand is that not the next Dion sanders and if you’re telling me right now that there isn’t a DB on our team that could’ve been playing better with two hands on the field , then I’m gonna reveal my identity and meet you for coffee to discuss in person.
Mark, you would have been in the cellar this year.
Well stated
Let’s hear from the imbecile who said there is nothing to worry about, in regards to the Freshman CB #22. He got toasted all day & single handedly cost us this game. McFadden had a broken hand and had multiple slips on multiple big pass plays. Safeties are playing well, but the corners have been horrendous
QB play is really erratic . Doesn’t have much arm talent , especially in a 20mph wind, but more importantly forces too many balls into tight windows . Can we kill the sprint right throw to the boundary play please . He also isn’t big enough to stay in pocket and read the D .
DB play wasn’t great either . Several times our guys ran stride for stride with H WR’s and just never looked for the ball or even put an anticipatory hand up to deflect them.
Some curious 4th down calls as well. We had a very make-able 48 yarder in second Q with huge tailwind to make it a 10-3 game. But instead on 4th and 5 we just watched the QB play what appeared to be back yard ball where yet again he couldn’t get it to anyone .
A few positives : great turnout on both sides of the stadium. And I love JP’s positive energy with the kids in game regardless of the score .
Let’s get QB3 ready for the next one and see what we have there as we await 15’s return next season. RLR!
When Townsend went down we lost our ability to rush the passer. Zero pressure on H QB., Of course Tim Murphy would say he has at least half a dozen potential NFL draft choices on he field for Harvard—-the world’s worst color commentator. But the fact is that our offensive production has been poor since Goodwin went down. On the OL we lost our all Ivy center, our starting LT and don’t have a QB who can play a complete game. On defense we have lost our best defender in Townsend, a starting DL, two starting LBs, and a starting DT. And Hughes had a poor day with mediocre to poor punts. And on the coaching front our red zone schemes on offense are not working.
As far as the criticism of first year QB Sanchez, at that stage in the game I can understand throwing deep 50/50 balls.
Canty is being underutilized; take more verticals shots down the filed with him;
I expect Yale will upset Harvard.
they took one early in the 1st and he dropped what would have been a sure TD
2 more weeks and I will not have to subject myself to the stupidity found here again
Hmmm, could H’s strategy at that point in the contest have anything to do with that?
“Poppe is a great coach”. “Poppe is playing wrong QB and CB”
I am so confused - what is it that the asshats and jagoffs want?
Yes, the coaches are against daddy’s little boy. Could there be another reason your poopsie-poo rides the bench?
He is a talented player who had a bad day. Man up buttercup. Sometimes things dont go the way you want them to. Those who have been in the arena know you pick yourself up, dust yourself off andgo back to work
Then don’t read the blog
These coaches are more fair than Fabish, but they definitely have their favorites. Best guy out there should be playing, and the last few weeks, it definitely has not been the case in some instances
6-4 or 5-5 a very good first year! Who called it? NJ LIon is really sharp! AND he knows that Engles is the worst coach in Ivy League history
AMEN
We want this staff to play best man out there & not play their favorites
I agree that the Harvard announcers were horrible homers, but still much, better than our guy, Lance Medow, a/k/a the "King of Cliches." I can't stand his non-stop cliches--"coast to coast," "make something out of nothing," "hot potato," too much mustard, "man on a mission," etc., etc.
Since you're on ESPN+ announcers, I remind you of Dartmouth's former head MBB coach. I think Cormier? But even though he cheers and practically shouts for Dartmouth during the broadcasts, he doesn't bother me. Maybe because Dartmouth MBB has been so bad. The Penn hoops broadcasters on ESPN+ really bother me. So I agree, while Murphy was low key, his constant use of us/we means he should be cancelled from broadcasts. He kept touting the recruitment (his recruitment). That they recruited first and foremost for "character". That's a bunch of hokum. I recall someone on this blog wrote that recruiting for Harvard football is the easiest job in the league. I bet that's correct. But there are still plenty more prospects (and as noted above, Dartmouth's "diamonds in the rough"), and I feel the Lions will turn it around regardless of starting QB to defeat Brown and Cornell and complete a fine 7-3 (5-2) season. Proving the media dead wrong and making Coach Poppe a candidate for coach of the year. If, some how, miracle and we tie at 5-2 for championship, Poppe becomes coach of the year. Penn will give Dartmouth a handful next week, and Yale will beat Harvard. Interesting to see if we can put up the points as Yale (Brown) and Penn (Cornell) did this weekend. Sorry for the lengthy post.
6-4 or 7-3 What a blast from mediocrity past
Football games are generally won by the team with the best players. Occasionally, a team gets a lucky break, an official muffs a call, or a coach develops a unique scheme, maybe even the weather becomes a factor. But, by and large, talent prevails. “Talent” is more than the starters. Every team gets pivotal players injured. To be talented, a team needs to have minimal falloff when a key player gets replaced. HYP have always been talent laden. So too, has Dartmouth. Dartmouth lacks the “cache” of HYP, but they win. Players care about winning. Winning makes a desolate Hanover attractive. String together a few seasons at 7-3, and the Lions will be able to compete with the talent of HYP and D. For the first time in over 50 years I think the program is headed in the right direction. What makes me nervous is other teams poaching this coaching staff before the momentum reaches a crescendo.
Pope may be the 2nd coming of Bags
Agree with this assessment. We did not have the depth to compensate for key injuries.
We are more injury prone than we should be—that’s the breaks, it’s a tough sport. But I really believe that we lost too many difference makers to have won at Harvard, especially in the 4th quarter when our lack of depth showed up. If we had Goodwin, Townsend, Thomas, Chapman, Milia, our starting LT, etc we could have played a better game. Without Goodwin we minimize our WRs, especially Canty. A few emerging bright lights on offense are Johnson at RB and Dougherty at TE,
Agree with above. Difficult to win with no pass pro or rush. Was hoping for a more imaginative playbook to enhance our chances.
Again, we spend alot of time on propaganda and advertising, and really don't do the research or development.
I would add Evans, Gardoni and Kelley at WR.
Already hoping that JT comes back for a redshirt year.
Looked like he was playing in garbage time. Tossing long 50/50 at best balls; but that’s what you do down 26 with 2 minutes left. Canty and Libman made great plays for the ball.
That would be huge. Possibly the best defensive player in the league
These comments that coaches play favorites are UTTER NONSENSE!!!
Harvard coaches can answer that. Regardless of that, those completed passes got us our only TD.
😂
I think a large part of Dartmouth success is due to stability of coaching staff over last 10 years. If Poppe and staff stay together for next 5 I see a couple of Ivy titles in the future
Kelley yea, other 2 maybe not
We're on a good trajectory that was started by Bagnoli and Fabish, but Rome wasn't built overnite. I may take a few more years of recruitong and player development to get to championship caliber. I actually think Engles will win a title before Poppe does, although he got an 8 year head start. Regardless, we always have the female BB team. They are the most exciting varsity team at Columbia. I think Princeton has taken a step back. Harvard beat no. 25 Indiana on the road so they may be our biggest challenger in ladies BB.
If we had had JT and Goodwin for our three losses we probably would have won at least two of them.
facts
conjecture
Who has the scoop on Staggs?
Definitely no depth in comparison to other Ivy teams
Lots of dads on here...if you kid was that good you would not be paying for their education
Kelley very consistent
he quit?
wait what??
Jake eradicates any negative reference to Bagnoli. I don't tolerate mediocrity and think that $$$ spent on Poppe is well spent. Engles would lose at the high school level
Well said!
I don't tolerate mediocrity! What a clown.
This is very interesting and well written.
No nimrod. Your eyes can tell you that. No pressure. Soft coverage. Game was over
So he is not a good coach? Wouldnt a good coach, by definition, play his best players? What leads to your assertion that best players are not playing?
Dude. Accept facts. Your son actually sucks at football. He is just there to fill the 27th slot in his recruiting class. Hope you are not paying full tuition!
Reminds me of Tom Brady
Stop hating on that Frosh QB that came in garbage time you should be thankful he got us a TD it was a great pass he trust his receivers! How you going to say he ain't mobile man he only ran one time lol and good he has great arm no need to run you want him to get hurt like Chase Goodwin. Give the Sanchez QB credit where it's needed his that good enough as freshman that's why coaches put him in!!
I heard he was going to but thinks this fan blog is too stupid. Grad transfer
You could not be more wrong. Must be nice living in your ivory tower, oblivious to reality.
The mustard is off the hot dog!!
Stagg is on the roster-so what is this all about?
they def play favorites
please elaborate. Missed last 2 games. I thought he was hurt.
Dude, you are an idiot!!! Did you ever consider than may of these young man are not concerned about the free ride to a subpar education as opposed to playing ball at an Ivy League school and getting a 10/10 education, as ball is temporary, their Columbia degree is lifelong
That’s not the point, 22 is not ready to be starting & McFadden has a broken hand. Staff needs to have better personnel in place to make sure we are capable of defending the pass
just looked, he is still on the website
Can’t agree with you more. I’d like to know who that is who made that comment. A Columbia education is better than any free ride.
Jock strap clown
Goodwin and Townsend are true difference makers. Townsend would have been a DPOY candidate. Tough to surmount those losses, despite the “next man up” ethos.
This isn’t pee wee football, dad. These coaches have zero incentive to play favorites. They all want to win a friggin game in a competitive league and play the players who put them in the best position to win
We have kids on our team who had scholarship offers, plural, who don't play. Don't marginalized their commitment to the program.
no other degree compares to a degree from an Ivy League college. Priceless!
Mark and Jim, your flunkeys are on this thread.
Hey nimrod !! You must be a QB dad because you’re only one that comment on a previous comment and took it personally. Sad but true Sanchez probably jump your son in QB depth chart. Case close.
And what could be the reason they play? Think hard daddy
You whiny commenters are a pathetic bunch. It hurts to lose when you let yourselves dream of victory. It takes a true maturity to accept that pain with dignity and keep working to get better
Those who complain about personnel are neither mature or dignified
Hatin on a frosh qb who got them their only touchdown with 2 min left! Keep that same energy cz you about to see more of Sanchez 😀
Criticizing him for giving their only TD iwith garbage time instead of giving the kid credit lol! 🤣
"22 is not ready to be starting". You're a nut job. He's our best corner. The best players play. The idea that Columbia has someone better standing on the sideline is pure stupidity. Anyone who keeps saying that is stupid.
Engles will never win an IL title. Poppe, on the other hand, will win one in 3-4 years. I like how Engles has never won more than 5 games in conference, won 4 last year, and now has people thinking that the team will win the IL THIS YEAR! I get that the team is 3-0, but hold your horses. He hasn’t even ever made the playoffs. Even if he had a truly dominant team (which he doesn’t), he would still give away 2-3 games in conference due to his late-game coaching ineptitude. Sorry, but I think the better part of a decade is enough time to show that he can’t coach. Look, I’m happy for the players that they’re now winning some games, but I don’t want you (or them) to be gutted when the team underachieves yet again.
I agree that both were key impact players that would have been made a difference in the last 2 games
Without naming them, coach in his letter unloaded on several players, including our QB for making some critical mistakes, and one of our DBs for dropping a sure interception. He also seemed to be saying that the refs screwed us by calling an incompletion on Hebb’s great reception to the Harvard 4 yard line (that really was a home town call, he made the catch).
so asked my kid and he is gone
def not gone per my son but somebody needs to tell us something
Ok. And?
You hope the team loses
Nope, none of our business
exactly I am sure the team will work their own stuff out.
tell your son stop telling you all the team's business sir
Wake up buddy, this isn’t elementary school. New Head coach is going to play his guys!!
where is this "letter" at?
You totally figured it out! Engles has won a total of 23 Ivy League games over seven seasons and has lost more than three times as many conference games as he’s won, but you’re spot on—I’m the problem!!! Absolutely brilliant analysis!
You're clearly not the problem. But you do root against Columbia, which is shameful. Nobody stopped rooting for you when you went 0-44.
I’m not rooting against Columbia. Rather, I’m being realistic about Engles. In the (exceedingly unlikely) event that he wins the Ivies this year, I’ll be the first to personally congratulate him. But I won’t say that we should give him more time if, as I expect, he has another sub .500 or non-top 4 finish in conference.
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