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 5th 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.
12 comments:
You all should be commended for your efforts, hardwork, and overall ability to address the weekly challenges and balance of football life and being a Columbia University Student Athlete.
You should walk away this year, not with your heads down, but heads up knowing that this like many things in life can be astruggle, but what you learaned of yourself, those around you, and what you take forward into your future are the important items to remember!
Be PROUD of WHO YOU ARE!!
Congratulations Gentlemen!
The very best to all of you.
Rich Forzani '66C
Congratulations, gentlemen.
No one besides you understands what it takes to stay the course as you have done. You have my respect and appreciation, along with the same from every other Lion football alum.
Good luck.
Great post, Jake, one of your very post and for a wonderful cause, honoring our beleaguered seniors.
I AM SHOCKED by the drop-off in comments here
since Bollinger's lying, sneering, ridiculous reply which obviously was written by Murphy, ignored the football disaster, and was stuffed like sausage with lying and twisted statistics about archery and badminton.
The hyper-insult from Bollinger that "within this context"of minor sports, football did not "reach it's potential" should by itself get Bollinger fired. He's been in charge much too long. Any aluminum-siding salesman can raise money. We need a Leaderwho can and will solve real problems.
Firstly, to the Seniors, congratulations on a job well done. You hvae made the Columbia faithful proud that you have stuck it out in the face of, seemingly, insurmountable adversity.
On people not writing, I think that has more to do with the moratorium on the battle. Bollinger's letter only made me think of whether or not his hair was flowing in the wind when Dianne left his office after dropping off her little piece of propaganda.
Rich Forzani '66C
On a side note, I appreciate the lull in commentary/traffic. It will not last long, I promise.
But I would like to describe something else today on this blog; a beautiful fall day many years ago at Baker Field (yes, it was called Baker then). It was Homecoming, and I brought my 13 year old daughter to her first college football game. She thoroughly enjoyed the big tent and the food, etc. and then we took our seats.
Columbia had, at that time, lost 44 consecutive games and was a large underdog to the hated Tigers. At the end of the game, which concluded in the final seconds with Princeton missing a FG and losing, my daughter and I watched incredulously as thousands of students streamed onto the field and took down both goalposts.
Of course, this spoiled her for any future games, since she thought they would all be like this.
But the vision of the supposedly "apathetic" student body being caught up in that moment and storming the field has always stayed with me. And I know that we can see it again if we stay the course and demand the programs that all of us deserve; students, athletes, parents and alums.
We can do it. We will do it.
See you tomorrow.
I didn't know there was a moratorium. For the seniors to finish the season and their careers? That's fine, but it must resume post-game. They were insulted by Bollinger even more than we were.
Thanks Jake for putting this tribute out to our senior lions and for all the time & effort you put forth on this blog.
It's been a long hard season and I'm proud of each and everyone of you for staying the course.
I wish each and every one of you all the best life has to offer. You received a world class education from Columbia University and that's something that will be with you the rest of your life and something no one can ever take from you.
Character is not made, it's built brick by brick atop a solid foundation. Your strong character, determination and the will never to quit will lead to all your future successes.
God Bless you men and may you kick the _ _ _ _ out of Brown on Saturday.
Best to you seniors. You have gutted out a very difficult situation. Your perseverance is much admired.
Great kids no question. Remember Norries staff recruited them. Great character kids and all have become solid ivy players. Just remember when your moaning about coaches and your tampons get in a tizzy. Norries guys recruited them.
To Rich Forzani,
Thanks for your efforts in this cause, Rich. I also was there when we broke The Streak with my daughter who was a Columbia frosh. I ran onto the field to join that crowd and jump around like a lunatic. What the nerds like Bollinger don't understand is that we protesters do not love football because we are violent Neanderthals. We love football because we love our university for being a mighty engine of intellectual freedom...or actually for what it USED TO BE. Now it's mostly a leftist, PC factory.. Interesting that as the intellectual honesty of the U has declined, so has the football program.
good job, jake. once again.
seniors, i know it has been a real challenge - for some of you an incredible challenge.
thank you for hanging in there. though we all wanted more on-the-field wins, there is victory in staying the course when things are difficult.
i am proud of all of you, and i wish you the best!
roger dennis '66
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