Head Coach Jon Poppe will surely be named Ivy League Coach of the Year, but I'd like to make sure we're all on the same page in pushing for Poppe to be named NATIONAL coach of the year, (at least for FCS football).
Here are some of the key talking points in promoting his candidacy:
1) Took a team picked for last in the Ivies to a tie for the championship
2) Inspired, by word-of-mouth only, several key Columbia players to commit to a 5th year after he was named head coach in December 2023.
3) Established and developed amazing depth at the QB position after Columbia's two starters from 2023 graduated. All three Columbia starting QB's this season won at least one key Ivy game and looked confident in their roles, even if suddenly thrust into them.
4) That said, Poppe and his staff made the quick and difficult decision to make the change at the starting QB position after the Harvard loss to a true freshman.
5) Overcame an unusually long list of key injuries to starters, including two QB's, CU's All American candidate at DE, and multiple starters on the offensive line.
6) Instilled a remarkable level of resiliency both during games when bad things happened and in the weeks following Lion losses.
7) Provided excellent communication with the fan base, with weekly emails that were truly educational about football and forthcoming. With the exception of the need to surprise Brown with the move to insert freshman QB Caleb Sanchez as the starter in week 9, even the weekly game notes and two-deeps were honest and trustworthy.
I'm sure there are more items to list here, so feel free to add to them.
NOTE: None of this is in any way an insult to Al Bagnoli, Mark Fabish, Joe D'Orazio, or any of the coaches who have come to this program since 2015 and played a role in making this season happen. Because I have a job and a life, I just can't police the immature comments on this blog as much as I'd like. But I do know that gratitude is the key to happiness in life and I'm publicly acknowledging Bagnoli, Fabish, etc. now and always.
11 comments:
Well said. And I would emphasize other injuries as well to at least 7 starters. Sanchez outplayed Wang. That means he was coached to succeed.
Wang’s challenge was top of the Ivy League defense Columbia.
Cornell Daily Sun article on the game reads as if our win was a fluke.
Lions move up to #3 in FCS in scoring defense. 16.10 ppg.
Jake, it's kind of fun to note that in the comments section at the end of your Tuesday August 6, 2024 blog someone (not me) posted anonymously the following comment: "We will win the Ivy Championship this year, the soph QB is the real deal and the team is loaded on both sides." Whoever wrote that post (not me) is certainly entitled to come forward and take a bow
Jake as always handling the controversy with the coaches with class. Acknowledge the shoulders of giants that Poppe stood on (Fabish Bagnoli, D'Orazio) but still respect the season that Poppe was able to produce. Well said
Wasn’t me either, but whoever it was, was truly prescient. Like our chances next year with the experience our “next man” players gained this year, the “real deal” soph QB returning as a junior and the enthusiasm and momentum Poppe and staff have instilled in the program. Congrats to all and Go Lions
We will have a real battle for starting QB next year.
Perhaps. Competition is a good thing, right? One thing is for certain, all the cheerleading, which goes back to Feb. 2024 and continues today, will have zero impact on the outcome!
If my counting is correct 5 returning Oline with at least one start under their belt (hoping carr can rehab for full season in 2025). Imho lack of starting experience among Oline was biggest factor in 2023 struggles
Classy like an open field slide
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