Goodman Stadium
Lehigh has released it's 2012 schedule and the October 6th game against Columbia at Goodman Stadium will surely be one of the toughest games of the year for the Lions. I am told the game will be a 12:30 start.
While the Mountain Hawks are losing a once-in-a-generation QB in Chris Lumm, they return all the other key skill players and a solid defense.
Columbia hasn't played Lehigh since a 63-13 trouncing in 1999.
Why RB'S?
What will Rutgers be getting by hiring Norries Wilson to coach the Scarlet Knight running backs?
It's an interesting question because Wilson's pre-Columbia days were mostly marked by his expertise as an offensive line coach.
I think the best quality Wilson will bring to the table is excellent recruiting skills. And his experience in the Ivies will be an added plus when he meets with the parents of Rutgers recruits who are more concerned about their kids' futures AFTER football.
But running backs were a particular area of weakness for Columbia in Wilson's tenure. In fact, during his six years the Lions were clearly the weakest team at that position almost every season.
To be very fair, Wilson inherited a real mess at the position when he took over in 2006.
The only two backs with any real experience on the roster that season were Jordan Davis '09 and James Cobb '07.
In Wilson’s first season at the helm, Davis and Cobb combined for a grand total of 556 yards, two TD’s and a paltry 3.1 yards per carry.
The best new runner that year talent-wise was then freshman Ray Rangel '10, but he injured himself in training camp and only had seven carries all year.
Despite those weak numbers, there were no real personnel changes the following season. Davis and Rangel did most of the running, combining for just 713 yards and six TD’s on just 166 carries.
By season three, the plan shifted to letting the quarterbacks do most of the running. Starting QB’s M.A. Olawale ’10 and Shane Kelly ’09 outrushed Rangel and Davis by 675 yards to 649 yards, respectively.
The only real standout pure running back performance in the Wilson era came in 2009, when Rangel started the first half of the season rushing at a 1,000 yard per season pace. But Rangel injured his foot badly in week six at Dartmouth and his Columbia career was over after that.
The next best running back in Wilson’s time is current rising senior Nick Gerst, but he too has been straddled by injuries for much of his first three years on Morningside Heights.
In general, the best runners over the past six years at Columbia have been QB’s. That's something that may continue into this season with QB Sean Brackett.
To be even more fair, it’s not even disputable that running back has become the most difficult position to successfully recruit in the Ivy League.
Wilson will surely get more talent to work with in East Brunswick, but I’m not sure why he was hired for this specific position as opposed to coaching the offensive line at another FBS school or offensive coordinator at the FCS level.
2 comments:
As a former HC and OC at a successful FBS program, Wilson is considered qualified (if not over qualified) to coach every position on the offensive side of the ball.
I wouldn't be surprised if his decision to take the Rutgers job was motivated by the same factors so many of us make...ability to stay in the area, etc.
Maybe we gan get Savon Huggins to transfer from RU to CU now that Norries is there... Wishfull thinking, I know...
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