Just in case those of you reading my two blogs over the past 10 years haven't figured it out...
The ONLY reason I do this is because I have always believed and still believe that Columbia Football CAN win!
In fact, those who attack me here and elsewhere always take that assertion of mine as an insult in some way. They think up a million excuses for our records and seem most angry that someone has come along to say it's not acceptable and certainly not inevitable that we have to lose.
I may not always be right about the best way for us to get there, but the criticisms I level here are always made with the clear knowledge that we have failed to do something that is not impossible.
Anyone who doesn't know this already about me and this blog has willfully not been paying attention.
28 comments:
Anyone who thinks Columbia can't or shouldn't win should just shut up.
Here's a guess about the coach they're pursuing:
Rex Ryan? He's lost an awful lot of weight, a Columbia requirement
Of course we can win- we have won- Tellier's two winning season, when we had Marcellus, and the fact that we received the academic waiver from the League.
So much of our fate is dictated by the Ivy League , who insists that Columbia get no help and stay on the bottom. Bollinger should attend these Ivy athletic meetings and kick some ass.
Jake, You have never given any indication that you thought we CAN'T win. Why elese would you be raising hell all these years if in your heart you thought it was hopeless?
Norries would have produced a winner if he had canned Vinnie Marino as OC. He came very close to turning us around; injuries plus Vinnie did him in.
PS, it will be interesting to see if any Dartmouth football players are included in the 64 suspensions which were announced today.
Rex will likely be an NFL head coach next season. As for serious candidates, any ideas? Money is a factor for big names. I know I harp on Jeff Tedford so let's use him as an example. Money is not an issue for him necessarily but a big name guy wants good money for his coordinators. He recently negotiated with the BC Lions for such a deal. Tedford is making much less than 500K at BC so that his coordinators can fit into their budget.
What will the new Columbia head coach be offered and who will he bring with him? They can't possibly consider keeping the duds they have on staff now can they?
Recruiting, recruiting, recruiting is the most important part of being competitive in any conference, any sport. A true "big name coach", needless to say', will have a winning record everywhere he's been. That means that he knows how to recruit.
Fingers crossed for a real BNC.
Let's get back to the primary thrust of Jake's comment. He clearly states what has been obvious; that he cares about CU football and he is disgusted with how things have been (mis)handled over the years. I guess he feels like the rest of us.
Now, I personally think that he has drastically overstepped boundaries from time to time. I've stated that on occasion, and also discussed this with Jake. BUT, the constant "Jake" message has always been on line. He loves CU football. He is sometime a fanatical, insulting critic of same. BUT, his heart is aligned with improving the program, and what he has accomplished re raising consciousness in the past couple of years is outstanding.
I say again, I personally do not agree with much of what Jake has said on this blog, but overall, he has caused much more action and movement than more "polite" commentators, and for that, I respect and appreciate him.
For those of you who claim he damages CU by helping the competition, I suggest you consider the damage our record over the past (name a number) years has done to our reputation.
Get us a hot coach and AD, and watch how quickly things turn around.
In the meant"Big Dawg"ime, let's get this thing happening.
Rich Forzani "66
AKA "Big Dawg"
Recruiting is an important part of the puzzle not the only piece.
Recruiting is something that comes when the organization is sound from the top down - A President who wants a successful program supports an AD who wants the same, and the both of them provide the tools and support necessary for a good coach to succeed. I don't know that we have ever had all three components in place at one time in the past 60 years.
By the way, does anybody have any leftover Mama Joy Vouchers? :)
No- but I have one for Takome!
How long did Taylor work on the report? A week and a half? It is probably a thin report. Who was he able to get a hold of to get feedback during the holiday season?
Same old set of cronies advising Bollinger with no counterweight to the intrusive BillC.
Taylor will say that the culture of Columbia in regards to football has to change. Faculty, students, administration must all change.
He completed the report by Friday the 18th I believe. He started working on it in early December...
How much time does he need to interview with leadership, some professors, alums, athletes, coaches and students before he sees the big picture?
Especially when he probably saw a lot of the same issues at Northwestern and Dartmouth.
I bet he had a pretty good feel of what needed to be done by lunch time of the first day.
WOF,
You're giving the suits way too much credit.
Most ADs and University Presidents will take the football teams glory and none of the blame.
ADs and Presidents don't search the country and interview kids and parents.
It's not that CU doesn't have the recruiting budget, just not the correct foot soldiers out in the trenches.
Do not think for a minute that Dartmouth and Northwestern had the same issues as Columbia. Not even close. Dartmouth, especially, had great championship football teams under Blackman and Crouthamel. Columbia's situation is much worse, not excluding the fact that it is January 9th, have not won a game in 2 years, have no AD or football coach, and still no report from Rick Taylor, which the administration is probably trying to hide under a desk .
Food for thought
One statement Rick made at his meeting last year was that he is absolutely recommending an improvement to the campus physical facilities.
Northwestern was hopeless, by far the smallest team in Big Ten and had zero history. Remember, we also broke their streak.
Columbia Fan, point is that unless support is given from the top down very few organizations of any kind succeed....
WOF- still cannot compare Northwestern to Columbia- they had winning teams in the 50's and 60's under Ara before he went to Notre Dame, and have won for the last 30 years. Also, one of Columbia's great line coaches was Hal Hunter, a Northwestern grad, who is now coaching the line for the Colts- should be considered for the job at Columbia.
WOF,
I agree, but the support seems to have disappeared 50 years ago. What makes you think it will reappear now?
That's why I say that the right HC will need a blank check to be successfull. With no over sight from the penthouse.
I don't know if it will reappear,I just think that if we have any real chance of success it needs to change from the top down. I don;t think a blank check alibnw will be enbough to make it all happen...
I'm surprised the process has taken this long. Bollinger has his strengths but managing athletics isn't one of them. If I have learned anything in business it is if you really don't have an answer then you hire someone who does. Or, outsource and do it quickly enough that you do not miss your target window.
I just don't get the impression there is any backbone to this operation. Murphy is useless, should have already been dismissed and replaced. How would Bollinger even approach what to do next other than call BillC? Even with the report, what is the man equipped to do about this situation? Evidently NOTHING. If this process was outsourced like it should have been, what is the harm in announcing that? As if a stealth operation makes a difference. They have already lost a recruiting class and quality pool of coaching staff candidates.
Bunch of clowns disguised as leaders running the show.
A shameful example of mismanagement. A top notch coach will not be easy to get with this track record of extreme failure.
My picks for football, in no order:
1. Brian Flores- Patriots
2. Joe Moglia- Coastal C
3. Hal Hunter- Colts
4. Keith Clark- Dartmouth
5. John Garrett- Oregon State
6. Marty Fine. - Bryant
Bryant was very impressive last season. Very efficient and well organized team. I happened to catch 1 or 2 games streaming. If Marty Fine is available and open to a move that would be a win.
Can't imagine why an NFL coach would step own like that, especially since both on that list are in the AFC championship game.
Coach,
Do any of these names you bring up have any relevance and are these guys all intereste in the job? Coach Hunter was a great guy and everybody who knew John loved him but are you saying that they both really want this job?
John Harbaugh didn't want the Michigan job until they offered enough money. How a out Columbia making an offer to some of these great coaches.
Coach,
Common knowledge when NFL assistances interview for open positions with other teams. Has anyone actually been interviewed yet for either CU job?
Is this the CIA or CU?
My guess is that there have been no interviews.
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