Michigan Prospect

Ian Tyler


Muskegon Catholic star TE/LB Ian Tyler is reportedly in the process of committing to Columbia.

Tyler and MCC just defeated Beal City in the state championship game at Ford Field.

Don't Be Fooled

More than 99.9% of the people who read and comment on this blog know that we need to remove Dianne Murphy and Pete Mangurian as soon as possible. The 1-2 people who are commenting about how "angry," or "nasty" the blog has become are just that, 1-2 people. They use the same IP addresses and are the same people who make the most negative comments against me in the comments section. They are 100% wrong about everything and are trying to stir the pot, as they say. I suggest we ignore these two people.

This blog is not nasty. I defy anyone to find anything in any of my posts that's nasty. The same 1-2 commenters using nasty language do not taint the entire picture, especially since most people don't even read through all the comments. And as I've said before, I won't delete comments that don't contain vulgarities because like Lee Bollinger, I believe in Free Speech. I also know full well that the Athletic Department thinks it has a legitimate weapon against truth by claiming its critics are "being too negative" and thus it tries to shut us up.

In other words, the AD thinks that by painting those of us who want change as a bunch of angry wackos, their problems would go away. First off, I suspect some of the nastiest commenters are either AD employees, (one of the IP addresses used frequently for nasty comments of all kinds is a Columbia University/Campbell Center address), or AD sympathizers acting as Internet agents provocateurs.

Secondly, with thousands of daily visitors to the blog, it's just ridiculous to even attempt to paint the entire readership or me with the brush of just 1-2 commenters.

And finally, we're back to the same ridiculous statement from Murphy et al about how they say the biggest problem right now is the negativity from the alumni... as if the 0-10 record and the historically worst-ever statistics would somehow go away if we all just shut up, smiled, and oh... kept giving money. I understand that they think that their biggest problem is the alumni anger, and it should be. For now, it appears the passivity of just one alum, Bill Campbell, is enough to save their jobs despite indisputable failure.

NW vs. PM

Of course, this blog's commenters are often very insightful. And those who have pointed out that former Head Coach Norries Wilson was able to recruit better talent are exactly right. His failures came on Saturdays as the Lions lost so many close games that it was obvious he could not get us over the hump.

And while I was relieved to see him go, I wrote several times about how the new coach should not come into CU thinking the program was bereft of talent and any positives. So what did we get? A coach who came in here thinking the program was bereft of any talent and positives. It was EXACTLY the wrong match, one that Murphy would have seen if she truly understood the football program. This bad fit is being allowed to continue as of today because of one man. That's a disgrace.

Again, this is all on Campbell's shoulders. He OWNS this and his true friends should be advising him to cut his losses with this regime as soon as possible.


Now for some more constructive thoughts from Rich Forzani '66, I disagree with his depiction of the blog becoming too nasty, but I think his general thoughts are on target:

A Modest Proposal

The football season is over, but the problem is still unresolved.

The commentary here has, at times, become very angry. We’ve all seen attacks and insults directed at each other, as well as at various people in the U. While this has engendered discussion and woken people up to a very bad condition, it is now becoming, possibly, counterproductive.  We run the risk of appearing as caricatures, and while venting frustration may provide temporary relief, it doesn’t provide a long term solution unless it leads to specific action.

I believe we are at a stage where we must move to another level, if we’re truly serious about improving the situation. This is not to say we should leave this forum; it is, after all, how we all found each other. But I do believe that a number of us are ready for direct involvement. Jake’s blog continues to be an invaluable and timely means of communication.

A few weeks ago, several concerned alumni, including CU notables, formed an ad hoc group called “ the Committee for Athletic Excellence at Columbia” (CAEC).

The goal of CAEC is to provide a formal point of contact for Columbia to engage with alumni who are dissatisfied with the current scenario. This is in stark difference to the U-affiliated groups who essentially go along with the status quo.

Our intention is to articulate our issues, organize the alums who feel similarly, and demonstrate to the U that we are not just a handful of discontents. Along these lines, we will be conducting PR exercises and reaching out to the undergraduate community as well as groups like Spectator and WKCR. Full disclosure: these issues include the replacement of PM and DM, and the commitment of LB to a robust and competitive athletic department.

I am asking any of you who feel this is a productive idea to join with us.

We will nominate a steering group who will be involved in immediate activities. What we need from the rest of you is your membership and support, so that we can demand the attention this issue deserves. The more members we have, the more relevance we have to the problem and the solution.

What we must do is take this from the individual level to the organizational level. CAEC provides us that opportunity.

Please email me your contact info if you wish to participate. No “Anonymous” any more. We need names and Class year, and whatever credentials (varsity sports, honors, etc.) you believe add credibility. This is NOT restricted to athletes; it is open to all Alums or parents of students. Send your info to me below.

Rforzani1@optonline.net

His Decision (bumped)

He's our only hope


Congratulations to our three All Ivy honorees, P Paul Delaney (1st Team), LB Zach Olinger (2nd Team), and DT Nico Padilla (Honorable Mention).

With Delaney and Olinger graduating in May, Padilla will the sole All Ivy player on the squad in 2014.

Also congratulations to the men's basketball team for their 61-47 win over American University last night. The game featured a breakout performance from freshman power forward Luke Petrasek from Long Island! I sincerely hope this young team proves me wrong and posts a winning Ivy record this coming winter.

As far as getting the change we need for the football program, it's clear the only person who can pull the trigger on making that change is Bill Campbell. And Bill Campbell is the King Lear of Columbia Athletics right now.

My Lit Hum professor taught me in 1989 that King Lear was not only the greatest of all of Shakespeare's plays, but it was the most profound piece of literature in the history of the modern world.

He had a point. And in the last few days, I feel like I've been reading Lear all over again.

I've seen countless emails, very well-written and passionate, not only lauding Campbell's undeniable achievements and contributions to CU football, but they also insist that no one really has the right to question his judgment about Dianne Murphy, Pete Mangurian, or anything.

I respectfully submit to Mr. Campbell that these people are your fans, your devotees, but they are not your true friends. They are giving you bad advice, rubber stamping everything you say, and not allowing you to see the situation clearly.

True friends do not only crave a person's approval and attention. True friends point out important mistakes in a friendly way without taking away any due respect or admiration.

And so while I really don't know Campbell personally, here are three things his true friends would and should be telling him:

1) Standing behind Mangurian and Murphy, both financially and institutionally, is a bad decision right now. It's making you look bad personally and hurting athletics and the University in general.

You've backed beleaguered head coaches in the past, but never in so public a manner. If you allow this to continue, you own this in every way shape and form. Do you really have that much confidence in Mangurian and Murphy that you're willing to put your good name up with them and their records now and in the future... for all time?

2)  If you do choose to stand by them, the students and alumni deserve a real explanation why. Saying that two years is not enough time to judge Mangurian is not a good enough answer when he's just turned in the very worst performance of any football team in the history of the Ivy League. If the COO of Intuit or Apple had a full year of record poor performances, I can't believe there would be much chance that you would retain him or her.

As far as Murphy goes, we all deserve much better than the flat out inaccurate and misleading defense of her record signed by President Lee Bollinger last week. That was a true embarrassment to him and the school at large and it's in your best interest to distance yourself from that statement as much as possible.

Don't you think the students and alumni who have just endured this abomination of a football season, more than a decade without a winning Ivy men's basketball record, and countless other failures deserve more of an explanation or at least an acknowledgement of the validity of our discontent? Wouldn't you be calling the paramedics to check for signs of the fan base's life if we DIDN'T have negative comments as a result of all of this? And aren't you in the least bit disturbed that Mangurian's "explanation" for where the program was going was basically nonsensical as soon as he cited "empirical data?" Aren't you in the least bit disturbed that Murphy hasn't made any assurances for improvement in football?


3) You have a lot of commitments in your personal and professional life. And yet your financial and emotional commitment to Columbia Athletics is unimpeachable. So why NOT allow an outside consulting group to take over the department and make the overhaul we so sorely need? This is your chance to delegate this key job and be the savior, once again, for making the call. The humility and responsibility you'd be showing by doing that would be truly worthy of a legend.

It's really up to you Bill. You can ignore this advice from someone who doesn't owe you money, doesn't need a job from you, and isn't looking to get his kids into Columbia.

But you shouldn't, because it comes from someone who genuinely admires you yet realizes you need a little push to the right direction.

I'm sure you'd return the favor.

Let's Take a Break for a Nosh

If anyone needs some comfort food right now, it's the legion of disappointed Columbia football fans out there.

And when you think New York and our city's unique brand of comfort food, you have to think deli!

Our good friend Erik Greenberg Anjou, who directed and co-wrote the masterpiece documentary, 8: Ivy League Football and America, has just completed another super work, Deli Man.

The film's trailer speaks for itself, so please enjoy.

And please consider making a donation to the Kickstarter campaign to get this film widely distributed.

Here's to a hearty appetite!

His Decision

He's our only hope


Congratulations to our three All Ivy honorees, P Paul Delaney (1st Team), LB Zach Olinger (2nd Team), and DT Nico Padilla (Honorable Mention).

With Delaney and Olinger graduating in May, Padilla will the sole All Ivy player on the squad in 2014.

Also congratulations to the men's basketball team for their 61-47 win over American University last night. The game featured a breakout performance from freshman power forward Luke Petrasek from Long Island! I sincerely hope this young team proves me wrong and posts a winning Ivy record this coming winter.

As far as getting the change we need for the football program, it's clear the only person who can pull the trigger on making that change is Bill Campbell. And Bill Campbell is the King Lear of Columbia Athletics right now.

My Lit Hum professor taught me in 1989 that King Lear was not only the greatest of all of Shakespeare's plays, but it was the most profound piece of literature in the history of the modern world.

He had a point. And in the last few days, I feel like I've been reading Lear all over again.

I've seen countless emails, very well-written and passionate, not only lauding Campbell's undeniable achievements and contributions to CU football, but they also insist that no one really has the right to question his judgment about Dianne Murphy, Pete Mangurian, or anything.

I respectfully submit to Mr. Campbell that these people are your fans, your devotees, but they are not your true friends. They are giving you bad advice, rubber stamping everything you say, and not allowing you to see the situation clearly.

True friends do not only crave a person's approval and attention. True friends point out important mistakes in a friendly way without taking away any due respect or admiration.

And so while I really don't know Campbell personally, here are three things his true friends would and should be telling him:

1) Standing behind Mangurian and Murphy, both financially and institutionally, is a bad decision right now. It's making you look bad personally and hurting athletics and the University in general.

You've backed beleaguered head coaches in the past, but never in so public a manner. If you allow this to continue, you own this in every way shape and form. Do you really have that much confidence in Mangurian and Murphy that you're willing to put your good name up with them and their records now and in the future... for all time?

2)  If you do choose to stand by them, the students and alumni deserve a real explanation why. Saying that two years is not enough time to judge Mangurian is not a good enough answer when he's just turned in the very worst performance of any football team in the history of the Ivy League. If the COO of Intuit or Apple had a full year of record poor performances, I can't believe there would be much chance that you would retain him or her.

As far as Murphy goes, we all deserve much better than the flat out inaccurate and misleading defense of her record signed by President Lee Bollinger last week. That was a true embarrassment to him and the school at large and it's in your best interest to distance yourself from that statement as much as possible.

Don't you think the students and alumni who have just endured this abomination of a football season, more than a decade without a winning Ivy men's basketball record, and countless other failures deserve more of an explanation or at least an acknowledgement of the validity of our discontent? Wouldn't you be calling the paramedics to check for signs of the fan base's life if we DIDN'T have negative comments as a result of all of this? And aren't you in the least bit disturbed that Mangurian's "explanation" for where the program was going was basically nonsensical as soon as he cited "empirical data?" Aren't you in the least bit disturbed that Murphy hasn't made any assurances for improvement in football?


3) You have a lot of commitments in your personal and professional life. And yet your financial and emotional commitment to Columbia Athletics is unimpeachable. So why NOT allow an outside consulting group to take over the department and make the overhaul we so sorely need? This is your chance to delegate this key job and be the savior, once again, for making the call. The humility and responsibility you'd be showing by doing that would be truly worthy of a legend.

It's really up to you Bill. You can ignore this advice from someone who doesn't owe you money, doesn't need a job from you, and isn't looking to get his kids into Columbia.

But you shouldn't, because it comes from someone who genuinely admires you yet realizes you need a little push to the right direction.

I'm sure you'd return the favor.

Good Thought from Roger Dennis '66

I think Roger makes good sense here.

Other efforts, including a very severe "nuclear option" are still on the table, but this is worth doing.


"As much as is possible, I want to hear from EVERY young man who played – FOR ANY LENGTH OF TIME– on this year’s football team, and/or last year’s team. (parents too, and managers, and anyone else close to the scene)

We will be able to move forward with much more assuredness if we include substantive input from the players as part of the decision-making process. Not only do these young men have the most to gain or lose via a good or bad coach, but they know better than anybody how they feel about their coach professionally - and as a person. (BOTH of which are important!)

I think we need to give the players, and other respondees, the choice of anonymity; because I have heard that they are afraid of repercussions if they speak out. While I personally don’t think it would hurt them re graduating and getting jobs – in fact I think it might actually help - I can see where their admittance to grad schools (especially Columbia schools) might be compromised by their taking a stand.

But really it doesn’t matter what I think – it has to be their choice. Whoever feels that speaking out might be harmful later on must have the right to stay anonymous.

WE NEED THEIR TRUTH, not necessarily their names.


Here’s what seems to me to be a good plan:

A. Have players choose a person whom they trust (to protect their identities) to collect all their assessments and compile them into one document.

B. Ask players (parents, etc.) to respond to these three questions:

1- Do you think the head coach should be retained or let go, and why?
2- Do you have anything you want to say about any of the assistant coaches?
3- Any other thoughts, ideas, stories?

C. (Individuals who so choose should surely identify themselves.)

D. The designated ‘receiver’ will compile all the assessments into one document and forward same to all the appropriate people. (Jake and those of you who are closer to the situation than I am will have a better idea of who ‘all the appropriate people’ are.)

E. A parent whom I heard from yesterday had what I think is a good idea; i.e. keep this document ‘under the radar’ initially. If the comments are generally supportive of the coach then maybe he should be retained – but if the comments are strongly suggesting his removal then give ‘the powers that be’ the opportunity to act accordingly and keep this an ‘in house’ issue.

F. If the comments suggest removal, and ‘the powers’ do not respond appropriately, then go public!"


Roger Dennis CC’66

Stand Up for CU

The time to remain anonymous is over.

We now have about 65 former players who have signed on to the petition/letter calling for Dianne Murphy and Pete Mangurian to be removed immediately.

I know hundreds more former players feel the same way and the CU football program, especially all the younger players who will return in the coming years, really NEED you to step up and speak out for them.

Coach Magurian says we're trying to tear down the program. We know the truth is just the opposite.

Note the MAJOR names listed below who have already stood up. They include a former Trustee, two Columbia Athletics Hall of Famers, and a very large group of our most successful alumni.

If you are a former CU football player or student athlete who agrees with the sentiments of the signatories, I am told you can add your name to this letter at any time. To do that, you can email me at roarlions2012@gmail.com or Rich Forzani at rforzani1@optonline.net.

Dear President Bollinger and Chairman Campbell:

As alumni of Columbia and the Columbia football program, we feel compelled to speak out about the current state of the program and the disastrous job performance of its current head coach.

In fewer than two years, Pete Mangurian has done what many thought impossible. He’s taken a program with a very sad recent history and made it clearly worse. The scores and statistics tell a woeful story. This team is performing worse than even the squads at the height of the infamous 44-game losing streak of 1983-88. We went 0-10 this season for the first time since 1987.

That alone would be unacceptable, but we can also see that much of this futility is not an accident. Coach Mangurian has deliberately enacted policies that are not only making it impossible for us to win but are also putting the players in physical danger.

We refer to the deliberate practice of forcing the team’s linemen to slim down to weights sometimes 50 to 60 pounds lighter than the Ivy League norm. We also refer to the deliberate benching of experienced upperclassmen, some of them All-Ivy awardees, in favor of first-year players who have not been given a chance to develop their skills and boost their strength. As much as we hate to see the team continue to lose, we hate even more to see our current players put in a totally unnecessarily dangerous situation.

We know of no other solution to this problem but to replace Coach Mangurian as soon as the season ends. It pains us to publicly embarrass the program in this way, but it’s essential that the athletics department cut its losses and move on. Many of us were dismayed two years ago when we saw the hiring process for Mangurian not being carried out in the open way we were all promised. We know of several candidates willing to coach at Columbia who were not even interviewed. Some of those candidates include excellent former Columbia players and assistant coaches. In short, we believe the hiring of Coach Mangurian was not conducted properly, and thus the current poor results should not be a surprise to anyone.

To that end, we also strongly request that an outside group be brought in to assess the entire athletics department and conduct the hiring process for a new head football coach. We believe too many of the same people in and outside the department have failed in the past in this endeavor, and it’s time to look elsewhere for this crucial decision.

We remain ever loyal to Alma Mater, and that is the main reason we have decided to make this plea in this way. The signatories below include three Columbia Athletics Hall of Fame members and several substantial donors to the University. We all know that football and athletics in general can be more successful at Columbia provided our teams and athletes get the proper leadership. We are ready and willing to do whatever we can to help you make that happen.

Sincerely,

Jim Armstrong '99; Patrick Armstrong '94; Chad Andrzejewski , CC ’94, three-time letterwinner; Rod Azar, ’93; Billy Basso, ’93; Matt Barsamian '07, 2006 team captain; Richard Beggs '66; Mark Bernstein '01; Rashad Biggers '05, 2003-04 team captain; Matt Bloodgood '00, Chandler Bockledge '00; Ed Botwinick '56, Trustee Emeritus; Greg Bowman '00; Rob Carey, CC ’92; Joe Calcagno, CC ’93; Thomas Chorba, ’66; Jim Daine, CC ’94; Marcel Deans '98; Jay DePurtuis '98; Gary Edmonds, ’95; Tommy Enright '03; Darren Finestone '91; Rich Forzani, ’66; Ray Gerena '98; Michale Hefferon '94; Brett Hixon, ’03; Brad Hutton '92, 1991 team captain, Jennifer Jackson Strange, manager 1988-90; John Jennings, ’94, three-time letterwinner; Michael Kamen '66; Quinn Kayser-Cochran, CC ’91; Bob Kent, CC ’92, letterwinner; Chris Konovalchik '90; Neal Kravitz '00; Justin Logan '02; John MacKinney '00; Alberto Marconi, ’93; Chad Moore, ’93; Dean Mothard; Paul Myott '90; Lawrence Nelson; Kiernan O’Connor, CC ’92; Matt Orlowsky '99; Jason Overdorf '93; Daniel Palmer '07; Pete Passaro '92; Matt Porter '01; Matt Radley '00; David Ramirez, CC ’96; Christopher Reed '90; Dominic Riebli '98; Claude Roxborough '00; Tom Samuelson, ’84; Mitch Sisskind '68; Scott Spivey '93; Matt Stary '02; Matt Streem '93; Kyle Stupid '12; Matt Swyers, ’93; Jason Tarbart, ’93; Jeremy Taylor '99, team captain; Matt Thompson, ’93; Kevin Townley '85; John Vomvolakis '91; Bob Walcott, SEAS ’92; Desmond Werthman, CC ’93, Columbia Athletics Hall of Fame; Rory Wilfork, CC ’97, Columbia Athletics Hall of Fame; Stephen Wolfson 

Final Insult

Click enlarge the photo taken by Spectator's Peter Andrews. It says it all

Brown 48 Columbia 7

Why Brown Won

After a bit of a slow start, the Bears started moving the ball at will. RB John Spooney was the catalyst, with a 45-yard TD run to get it started and 187 total rushing yards on the day. QB Patrick Donnelly didn’t complete as many passes as usual, but he did throw for four TD’s and 305 yards. WR Tellef Lundevall had 151 yards receiving and a TD. The defense held Columbia to just 206 total yards.

Why Columbia Lost

The Lions committed six turnovers and were just one of 16 on third down conversions. The defense allowed 627 total yards. QB Trevor McDonagh completed just 32% of his passes.

Key Turning Points

-After being forced into three-and-outs on both of their first two possessions, the Bears started their third possession on their own 34 with 9:15 left in the 1^st quarter. Three plays later, Spooney broke free for his 45 yard TD run and the rout was on.

-Columbia had a slight chance to get back into it with 3:46 left in the 1^st when Spooney fumbled and Mark Cieslak recovered it at the CU 43. But Columbia went three-and-out on the ensuing possession and had to punt it away.

Columbia Positives

-RB Alan Watson had a nice 43 yard run that didn’t lead to a score but it was nice.

-WR Toure Douglas got open for a TD pass for Columbia’s only score. Preceding that TD catch, TE Garrett DeMuth had a nice catch and run for 31 yards.

Columbia Negatives

-Too many to mention, but a particular problem was tackling. Brown’s final TD was a comedy of bad tackling as Jordan Reisner changed directions 3-4 times for a 31 yard score. 

Now What?

I hope no one construed my last post as some kind of evidence that I'm giving up on the quest to truly fix Columbia football and athletics and replace Head Coach Pete Mangurian and Athletic Director Dianne Murphy.

The point of the post is that while fans and alumni like us SHOULD matter all on our own, we won't get anything done without getting some of the powers that be at Columbia to see the truth and act.

To that end, several higher level meetings are being held this week and at least some of them, our documented and serious issues with Mangurian and Murphy will be addressed.

Dead Giveway

Whenever a person is being criticized and his or her first reaction is to try to counterattack his or her accusers personally... well, that's a dead giveaway.

In today's Columbia Spectator, Coach Mangurian decries people trying to "tear down the program", especially those who come from "inside the family."

Oh, and then we were treated to the following quote which lacks any specifics but is big on condescension:

"There’s a plan in place that’s based on empirical data, and a lot of knowledge and observation, and a great team of people that’s a lot larger than anybody realizes working to make this program and these kids successful.” 

Huh?

Where's the empirical data supporting the playing super-light linemen? Where's the empirical data on deliberately playing inexperienced freshmen when upperclassmen are available? Where's the empirical data that explains why in the 123 seasons of Columbia football, this team was by far the worst?

Nobody is trying to "tear down the program." What decent, non-sycophantic, sane people are trying to do is basically take the car keys away from the drunk. I don't know if any of you have ever actually tried to do that, but it's not like in the movies where the drunk gives up after a few jokes and the hero gets the girl, etc. Usually, you only succeed at getting the keys after the drunk has take a few slugs at you and called you every name in the book. And plenty of times, the drunk still gets away from you and drives away.

So now, we have the equivalent of Mangurian being the defiant drunk refusing to give up the keys and acknowledge what the rest of us can see so plainly.

But the obsession with WHO is criticizing him as opposed to the facts and details of the complaints is a trait all corrupt people with power share. Watch closely and the coming days go by and we still don't come close to getting any explanation for why this season went down the way it did, etc.

Letter/Petition Update

We now have over 65 former player signatories of the letter/petition calling for Murphy and Mangurian to be replaced.

A big name added today was Chandler Bockledge '00, who is one of Wall Street's most elite stock traders. Good traders know when to cut losses and this is one team we should be short selling, not holding into the new year.

But we need more players and former players to help us get the keys away from this losing, defensive, defiant, and harmful team.

It's true we don't matter right now, but that may change in the coming days.

IVY (CO) - CHAMPIONS/POWER RANKINGS

This past Saturday was filled with surprises in Ivy football,. Sadly, Columbia's blowout loss to Brown was the only thing that didn't surprise, (the full review of that game is due out later today).

Dartmouth pulled off the most significant win, beating out mighty Princeton in Hanover with a 28-24 victory over the Tigers.

There were a lot of reasons to be impressed with this win, but the fact that the Big Green did it by grinding it out on the ground, (51 carries versus 18 passes total), was a big part of it. The defense holding Princeton to 24 points was even more impressive, but that was only after it allowed the Tigers to erase a 21-0 deficit and tie the game.

That game and the Harvard rout of Yale, means we have a co-championship in Ivy football for the first time since 2008. By my standards, Princeton is still the only REAL champ since the Tigers not only beat Harvard but beat them in Cambridge. But officially, that's the way it goes.

The other big surprise was Cornell's 42-41 thriller win over Penn at Franklin Field. I did expect the Big Red to beat the spread, but not eke out a win. Congratulations to QB Jeff Mathews and company on closing out their season so well.

So here are the official final standings in the Ivies:

1t. Princeton 6-1
1t. Harvard 6-1
3. Dartmouth 5-2
4t. Brown 3-4
4t. Penn 3-4
4t. Yale 3-4
7. Cornell 2-5
8. Columbia 0-7

And here are my final Ivy Power Rankings, (with quick takes),  for 2013:


1. Princeton

Epperly and the offense just took it to another level this year. It's actually hard to say how good or bad the defense was because the offense was just so dominant... except for a few quarters in Hanover. Epperly comes back next year, and it's hard to believe much else will matter.

2. Harvard

The Crimson finished very strong and with RB Paul Stanton coming back for two more years, things are looking up for Harvard.

3. Dartmouth

My third place prediction for Dartmouth at the beginning of the season may be the only one I got right, but the Big Green really deserved it. I've always said that a QB who can execute the read option well is the #1 ingredient to winning in Ivy football. The two teams with two of the best read option QB's in recent Ivy history had a combined league record of 11-3 this season.

4. Brown

It's hard to pinpoint exactly what went wrong for the Bears this season. But maybe if RB John Spooney had been able to heat up sooner, this team could have gone 5-2 instead of 3-4.

5. Penn

Billy Ragone and the Quakers' luck finally ran out. The Penn offense and defense were really much weaker than expected. Perhaps 2012 really was a fluke. One thing though, this team still never lost its fight.

6. Yale

A real Jekyl and Hyde team this season. It's impressive the Elis were able to win as much as they did without a fully healthy Tyler Varga. But the blowout loss to Harvard to finish things out has to have a lot

7. Cornell

The Big Red was actually the only Ivy team that played exactly up, (or down), to expectations. Good luck to Jeff Mathews in his quest to make the NFL! Good luck to Cornell trying to field a decent team without him.

8. Columbia

This was the worst season logged by any team in the Ivies since the league was formed in 1956. The fact that anyone employed by the Columbia who had anything serious to do with this debacle is still employed is beyond disbelief.

We Don't Matter

Well, it took 26 years but Columbia football finally crashed back down to rock bottom again today and fell to 0-10 for the first time since 1987. 

 

Not a single game was close. Not a single Saturday was without humiliation. 

With so many of the most dedicated fans in the Ivies who are hungrier than all the other schools' fans combined, one might ask: "How can this happen?"

And I'm here to tell you the answer is simple: WE DON'T MATTER. 

That's right, the true devoted fans, alumni and even the hard-working players just don't count. 

We are nothing. 

Who DOES count?

Big donors and powerful administrators who not only fail athletics time and again, but lack the decency to even admit their obvious failures. Just this week, they did it again by authoring a letter for President Bollinger to sign that was the equivalent of peeing on our legs and telling us it was raining. 

Who DOES matter? 

An athletic director who treats fans and students with disrespect. A woman who refused to even acknowledge the death of a star football alum in a decent manner. An athletic director who hired a coach who was out of work just so she could control him, knowing he owed her so much. This, after contracting a search committee with no sports search experience led by another out of work individual who would not have the standing to object to her corrupt hiring practices. 

Who DOES matter?

Members of a "football committee" all with personal agendas that have nothing to do with football, like getting their children admitted to Columbia. And thus they do not object to the obvious futility we all see and suffer with each year. They remain silent, except for occasional wordy, non-sensical outbursts accusing us of being childish for being outraged by our historic futility. And naturally, these attacks against us are posted anonymously on this blog and elsewhere.  

Who DOES matter?

A former coach and current Chairman of the Board of Trustees who says he wants change, but has yet to truly demand it or achieve it. Perhaps he will step in and really affect change this time. Or maybe not. Who knows? He matters and we do not. 

We may have all the facts on our side. Any other Ivy school with our results would have made massive changes decades ago. But when people who see the truth and know what needs to be done do not matter, then nothing changes. 

To those of you who still actually expect Coach Mangurian to be fired before next season, or Dianne Murphy to be replaced anytime soon, let me bring you the truth: it's not going to happen. 

We may be the only ones who really care. We may be the ones who have the guts to demand better and say so. We may be the only ones with no other agenda than wanting to see Columbia win. 

But no amount of donations, season ticket purchases, reasoned letters and editorials, or even flying banners in the skies over Baker Field will ever matter. 

Perhaps the magnitude of Bollinger's letter to the Columbia Spectator is eluding some of you, but it's really crystal clear.  

Columbia Athletics will never improve. 

Because we don't matter. The players don't matter. The students don't matter. Even the truth does not matter. 

Mangurian will be back next year and we will go 0-10 again. We will be told progress is being made and to shut up. 

The men's basketball team will not have a winning record, or a winning Ivy record. The women's basketball team will not win even four Ivy games. 

We will be told we are improving. 

Because we don't matter. 

If and when we bring up our concerns once again, we will be patronized, ignored and then insulted again. 

Because these people in power never really cared in the first place, or gave up so long ago that they can't believe people like us still care. 

They laugh at us. They ridicule us. We are not worth even telling the truth. They've moved on to things that matter to them more than winning, respect, and the scholar-athlete/team ideal. 

And they have no time for suckers like us who still care. 

Because we don't matter. 

Last Chance

Day-to-Day work and updates on the Ivy football season will continue on this blog. But to make sure the emergency situation Columbia football and Columbia athletics are under remains on the forefront, the following extremely common sense demands will be posted on top of every new post on this blog until changes are made:

FIRST: If you are a former player, please consider signing the letter in the post below: (click here to see it), which has now morphed into a living petition. 

Here's what we need to do as well: 

 1)    Replace Dianne Murphy as Athletic Director right away

2)      Replace Pete Mangurian as Head Football Coach the moment the season ends

3)      Bring in an outside consulting/expert group to make the replacement hires and evaluate the positions and effectiveness of everyone in the athletic department.

4)      Do NOT allow anyone who has had a leadership position or position of influence in any past hiring process to participate or interfere in any way with the overhaul process.

Please call President Bollinger at 212-854-1754 as soon as possible and asked to be connected to his office. Please respectfully ask that Murphy and Mangurian be let go as soon as possible.

You can also email: officeofthepresident@columbia.edu

MY EMAIL FOR ANY AND ALL QUESTIONS AND CONFIDENTIAL CORRESPONDENCE IS:

roarlions2012@gmail.com

Brown Bears at Columbia Lions

Location: Robert K. Kraft Field at Wien Stadium

Kickoff Time: 1:30pm

Gametime Weather Forecast: 45 degrees, mostly sunny

The Spread: Brown by 22 1/2

Columbia Game Notes

Brown Game Notes

TV/RADIO

The game will be broadcast live on Fox College Sports

Superior audio commentary from Jerry Recco and Sal Licata will be available on the Ivy Digital Network.

The Columbia student station broadcast is on WKCR at 89.9 on your FM dial.

Lead Stories

-Will Columbia really go 0-10 for the first time since 1987? The 2011 Lions dodged the 0-10 bullet with a stunning double OT win over Brown, but this time it will be harder... a lot harder. No Ivy team has gone 0-10 since the 2008 Dartmouth Big Green. 

-What will the mood on the sidelines and the stands be like as universal anger at Head Coach Pete Mangurian and the CU Athletics Department reaches a fever pitch? 

-Will Brown take out its frustrations from a generally disappointing season on the Lions? No mercy?

Columbia Keys to the Game

1) Be Ready for Spooney

Brown speedster RB John Spooney could effectively end this game before the end of the 1st quarter with the kind of long TD runs he's been ripping off lately. 

2) Let McDonagh throw it to Connors and Garner

Can we please stop throwing the ball to guys who haven't been able to catch it? Chris Connors and Hamilton Garner can catch the ball and get open. Just do it.

3) If Garrett is Healthy, Give him the Ball 40 times

I think that's self-explanatory.

Senior Shout Outs

Every year, I take great pride in writing a little something about each and every graduating football senior the day before their final game as Columbia Lions.

Just once, I’d like to be able to say something about them other than, “they deserved so much more.”

But this year, that line is more dead-on than ever.

Seyi Adebayo

Seyi made a splash with the players on his first weekend recruiting trip to campus because he was clearly the most athletically in-shape high school senior they had ever seen on an official visit. He started getting playing time late in his freshman season of 2009 and was an impact player by his junior year. But injuries robbed him of just about every minute of the 2012 and 2013 seasons, even though he made the extreme physical and financial commitment to stay for a 5^th year. His injury in the early moments of the Fordham game nine weeks ago was heartbreaking.

Joey Andrada

Stuck with the program though he never seemed to get a chance to play with the varsity. He did have some good moments on the JV in 2010 and 2011. I still get emails from reporters who covered him in high school asking when he’s going to get on the field for CU.

Marquel Carter

Was already an extraordinary young man long before he came to Columbia. Grew up in Los Angeles and became fluent in Japanese while attending a special school there. Picked up his intensity on the field and became one of the better safeties in the Ivies before he was done.

Wells Childress

Injuries robbed him of a chance to really make a splash this season after he really got into top shape. But he was still a good contributor on the D-line for two seasons. His blocked PAT against Marist in the 2012 opener saved the game for the Lions. Keep an eye on this kid, I suspect he’s going to make it big in business or even politics.

Paul Delaney

Tough and talented. He may be the only Lion on the All Ivy team this year, unless the other coaches just overlook him. He wasn’t just a great punter, but also a super holder.

Louis DiNovo

Broke out in training camp in 2011 and jumped up the depth chart. His spectacular run after the catch for a long TD in the Fordham game last season was a great highlight. Why he didn’t see the field this season is a question no one can adequately answer.

Brian East

Not too many football players have a grandfather who’s won a Nobel Prize. Brian East is one of those guys, but he earned the spotlight in his own right with some stellar play this year. His pick six against Yale is a highlight, but the way he stepped into the starting lineup this season should be appreciated as more of a long-form work of success.

Luke Eddy

Still the strongest leg I’ve ever seen on a Columbia kicker, and one of the toughest guys on the team. Came very late to the game of football and might really benefit from some better coaching if he wants to look into extending his athletic career.

Tyler Feely

From the famous Feely kicking family and  simply had the bad luck of having to play behind Delaney all these years. Still, he filled in extremely well in the Yale game this season and he clearly has a lot of power in his small frame.

Hamilton Garner

One of the best receiving tight ends in CU history, and that’s saying a lot. Why isn’t he on the field on every offensive play? Again, no adequate answer. But in 2011, he was a bright spot in a tough year and he made the All Ivy team as a sophomore. Last season, he made one of the great TD catches ever in the win over Cornell.

Marcorus Garrett

The day he committed to Columbia, the coaching staff held an impromptu Christmas party in the old offices at Dodge. It was easy to see why. #23 burst onto the scene with a big long run against Princeton in a 42-14 win over the Tigers in 2010. He played through some injuries in 2011 and still had a few spectacular TD’s. And last year was a tour de force, just falling barely short of a 1,000 yard season. Injuries and poor play calling cost him his chance to really bust out this season. Hopefully, he’ll get one more chance to see the field tomorrow.

Joe Ghergurovich

A senior OL who bulked up, bulked down, and then just sat down thanks to the crazy world of our offensive line coaching. Who knows what his obvious dedication to the program could have yielded if he had been allowed to excel?

Bruce Grant

Local HS star with super speed who switched to the defense to get a chance to play. He indeed did see some decent playing time this year, but not enough.

Dyland Leonard

Another senior OL who could have helped this team enormously considering all the inexperience on the line. We never really saw what he could do.

Griffin Lowry

Very tough player who filled in for a decimated RB corps, especially his sophomore season. Also contributed on special teams. His really sacrificed his body in the Yale “snow game” in 2011.

Zack McKown

Another player who will be best remembered for his part in the “snowmageddon” game. He somehow got open on that slippery field for a big TD that almost turned that game around.

Nick Melka

Injuries robbed Nick of way too much playing time, but he was a big impact player his sophomore year and made some big plays this season as well before going down. His younger brother Charles will continue the Melka legacy at CU.

Jeremy Mingo

Good safety from the Akron area who got a good deal of playing time despite all the coaching and personnel changes over the years.

Zach Olinger

One of the best middle linebackers in CU history. Broke onto the scene his freshman year against Yale with 12 tackles at the Bowl and kept it going from there. Battled some injuries, but overcame them. Very tough player and a leader.

Jimmy Yukevich

It says a lot about Jimmy that he’s the only senior who plays and starts on the O-line. Clearly, he’s tougher than most. 

Final Week Picks

Day-to-Day work and updates on the Ivy football season will continue on this blog. But to make sure the emergency situation Columbia football and Columbia athletics are under remains on the forefront, the following extremely common sense demands will be posted on top of every new post on this blog until changes are made:

FIRST: If you are a former player, please consider signing the letter in the post below: (click here to see it), which has now morphed into a living petition. 

Here's what we need to do as well: 

 1)    Replace Dianne Murphy as Athletic Director right away

2)      Replace Pete Mangurian as Head Football Coach the moment the season ends

3)      Bring in an outside consulting/expert group to make the replacement hires and evaluate the positions and effectiveness of everyone in the athletic department.

4)      Do NOT allow anyone who has had a leadership position or position of influence in any past hiring process to participate or interfere in any way with the overhaul process.

Please call President Bollinger at 212-854-1754 as soon as possible and asked to be connected to his office. Please respectfully ask that Murphy and Mangurian be let go as soon as possible. 

You can also email: officeofthepresident@columbia.edu

MY EMAIL FOR ANY AND ALL QUESTIONS AND CONFIDENTIAL CORRESPONDENCE IS:

roarlions2012@gmail.com

Final Week Picks

I had one of my best weeks last week, going 5-1 straight up and 5-1 against the spread to put me at 50-13 straight up and 39-22-1 against the spread going into this final week of the season. 

Six games on this final docket: 


Princeton -10 1/2 at Dartmouth

The Tigers offensive steamroller will keep rolling on to an undisputed Ivy title. 

Yale +8 vs. Harvard

I like the Elis to make a close game of The Game... but then lose... again.


Cornell +18 1/2 at Penn

The Big Red have been bad this year, but they haven't embarrassed themselves. If Jeff Mathews plays they could even make a game of it. The Quakers will win, but by 17 or less. 


Colgate +16 vs. Fordham

The Rams are losing steam and I don't think they'll rout Colgate on the road. Fordham to win, but Colgate to cover. 


Lafayette + 5 1/2 at Lehigh

This game feels like a Lehigh win by a FG or less. Take the points but Lehigh wins. 


Monmouth -9 1/2 vs. Duquesne

The Hawks will finish strong at home and cover.