Moment #18: Futility Defined

For one fleeting moment in Columbia’s historically awful loss to Harvard in week eight, it looked like the Lions might grab at least a little solace.

That happened with about 15 seconds left in the 1^st half and CU trailing by 42-0.

A Paul Delaney punt was fumbled by the Crimson’s Scott Miller at the Harvard 32 and picked up by Columbia’s Augie Braddock.

Braddock got all the way to the Crimson three before he was tackled by Alexander Norman.

That left five seconds for the Lions to get some kind of score to at least avoid the shutout.

It was not to be.

All QB Sean Brackett was able to do was fire off two incomplete passes before the half ended.

If any one series in this game defined just how futile the Columbia efforts were, it was this one.

KC Star Tells Martin's Story

Here's a short, but great piece in the Kansas City Star about how Josh Martin '13 beat the odds to make the Chiefs roster.

I don't know which Columbia coach recruits the Missouri area, but this should help his cause immensely.

New Video

Here's the latest video coming out of Lions training camp.

It features coach Alvin Smith working with his charges on the defensive line.

The first two players you see in the video are guys who have moved over from the O-line, Eric Stock and JD Hurt.

The you see the big man, freshman DT William Carson, hit the tackling dummy. He's followed by Nick Melka, (good to see him looking good after his 2012 injury-laden season).

Then you see Smith talking in between two frosh, Kyriakos "Eric" Mourkakos and Charles Melka, (Nick's younger brother).

In the next shot, you seen another freshman, Anthony Bonadies, working with the D-linemen, so it would appear he has been moved over from the O-line as well.

The next shot shows Seyi Adebayo, Niko Padilla, Hurt, and Nick Melka lining up on the line together as they defend a play with Kelly Hilinski handing off to Alan Watson.

Moment #19: Spiraling out of Control

Columbia never had a chance in its week eight game against the Crimson at Harvard Stadium.

But there were a few key moments in the contest that turned what would have been a regular rout into a historically horrific loss.

The first round of those moments came in rapid succession early in the 2^nd quarter.

Already trailing 14-0 with 13:23 left in the half, the Lions took over at their own 25. But on 2^nd down, QB Sean Brackett fumbled the ball away to the Crimson at the CU 27.

Five plays later it was 21-0 as Harvard score from the Columbia eight.

On the ensuing possession, Brackett was intercepted by Chris Splinter at the CU 33 and he returned it back to the one yard line.

One play later it was 28-0.

On the ensuing possession, QB Trevor McDonagh came in. But he threw a pick six on the very first play to Connot Loftus who took it in from the Lion 15.

In less than four minutes, Columbia had committed three turnovers that Harvard had converted into three TD’s. 

BREAKING: JMart Makes it!!!

Josh Martin '13 has made the KC Chiefs 53 man roster!

This is a big deal for the entire Columbia program, and of course for Martin personally!

Congratulations Josh!

Moment #20: Slamming the Door

After Columbia scored a TD with 45 seconds left in the week seven game against Yale to make it 26-22 Lions, just how comfortable was the Wien Stadium crowd?

Not much.

By all rights, they should have been. With no real QB in the lineup, the Elis needed to score a TD with less than a minute left and no timeouts.

Yale did bring in WR Henry Furman, who was a super emergency QB, for the series.

But with the drive starting at the Eli 25, he was mostly helpless.

Rushed mercilessly by the Lion defensive line, Furman did manage to complete one pass to Yale 42.

But on the next and final play, he was sacked by senior Greg Lee to end the game.