Wednesday, June 12, 2013

One Who Got Away


David Drummond 


Google’s Chief Legal Officer, David Drummond, is in the news a lot today because he’s leading his company’s pushback on the NSA surveillance program.

And seeing Drummond on TV a lot lately has more than a few longtime Lion insiders feeling a little down about what might have been.

You see, Drummond was all but signed, sealed, and delivered to the Columbia football program way back in 1982. Our good friend, Don Jensen ’73, helped to recruit Drummond out of the Monterey Peninsula. He was perfect for the Ivies, a graceful WR with good grades and class.

The coaching regime under then Head Coach Bob Naso liked what it saw and brought Drummond to campus that summer of ’82. But problems with helping to get him a summer job and/or campus housing left Drummond disillusioned. He left by the end of the summer and ended up playing for Santa Clara. Later, he got his JD at Stanford.

It’s not like Drummond became an All-American player, and of course Columbia has plenty of football alumni who are now prominent corporate all stars. But it’s always a shame when red tape kills a good match like that would have been.


Columbia’s football program is not perfect today, but it does a MUCH better job with this kind of stuff nowadays. Incoming freshmen and returning players who want to stay on campus or near campus for the summer are almost always accommodated within the rules.  

9 comments:

Anonymous said...

How about this for an idea....throwback jerseys for one home game this year, based on the design of the 1934 Rose Bowl winning team...

Anonymous said...

Almost always is correct.

Anonymous said...

They already did the throwbacks for 2003s Homecoming game.

Anonymous said...

Those were cool.

http://www.columbia.edu/cu/news/photogallery/03/c250/images/49_hc11.jpg

http://static.flickr.com/108/291031546_3d0704ee4e_o.jpg

Columbia lost that game, but had a decent season.

RedTiger61 said...

I'd be more thrilled with another night game ... say Penn at Homecoming ...

Anonymous said...

Would be a great idea, but unless Herr Murphey comes up with it so she can take full credit it won't happen. I hear there will be new unis though.

jock/doc said...

I believe that was a needlessly personal remark. grow up!

Anonymous said...

Right on, jock/doc. Too many people here don't give Ms. Murphy credit for the many improvements in Lion sports (which will soon include football and basketball).

Anonymous said...

The throwback unis look better than the ones we've had recently (thanks for the pix). Let's see if the new ones add some much-needed black or dark blue.