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The new uniforms with an entirely new look for the Columbia football team have been ordered.
Judging by what Head Coach Al Bagnoli said about the light blue color at his introductory news conference, I think we can expect to see a lot less pure light blue in the new look unis.
Ever since I was an undergraduate from 1988-92, I've heard fans clamoring for a black uniform with light blue lettering and trim. That means probably something like the Carolina Panthers home uniforms below:
In fact, I'm going to make a wild prediction that this is a lot like what we're going to see when the uniforms are finally revealed.
But you don't have to wait to find out just what Columbia's recruiting pitch is already sounding like to potential players.
Offensive Line Coach Jon McClaughlin has been tweeting a lot of statements, complete with links to back it up, about the very diverse student body and faculty at Columbia.
Here are some samples:
"Columbia has the highest black freshman percentage for the top-ranked national universities" - the Journal of Blacks in Higher Education
"Columbia University's commitment to diversity, creates the Nation's ideal environment for elite student athletes"
"Gentrification is turning all of NYC into the hottest and hippest urban environment in the world"
Recruiting is all about sales, and while McClaughlin didn't go to an Ivy school himself, he's been coaching this league for a very long and knows how to sell it.
Mark Fabish and Joe D'Orazio were stars at Penn and they are more than informed and bought-in. Jon Poppe didn't go Ivy, but he played at an elite academic school and had a brother and a dad who played right here at Columbia.
It's in this aspect of the game that this staff really is a major upgrade from what we've seen in the past. And I sense real energy from these guys as they begin the long process of recruiting the 2016 freshman class.
Of course, there's a tremendous amount of focus on the coming season and ending this 21-game losing streak. But the long game is really in motion and I like the aggressive but sagacious recruiting effort we're seeing now.
19 comments:
New uniforms are a cool twist. More importantly, this time next year will be a much stronger and capable team, perhaps middle of the conference. 2 years, mmmmaybe 3, competing for a championship.
When are we going to hear the names of the players that the new staff has recruited?
Al talked about getting a waiver from the league to continue recruiting. Does anyone know if that happened ?
I'm pretty sure it didn't. But keep your ears open for transfers.
In regards to the waiver, it feels as if there has been a sanction, like an NCAA violation that Columbia is basically allowed to sign only 21 players after 2 winless seasons.
This is a total failure by the administration.
Perhaps I am wrong, but something is out of whack. Would like to hear a comment from the Athletics Director.
Lou: I don't think it's a total failure. First we don't know if we'll get some late recruits or not. Second, it's possible we will get some love on the transfer front.
Let's take a moment to regard the "toxicity" of Jake's Blog.
Isn't it amazing that after years of insults and disparagement from the AD group and supporters, there is now silence. Could this be due to the amazing changes/improvements over the past 5 months re said AD department? And possibly because every change is clearly a major move in a great direction, and each one of these had been requested repeatedly in Jake's Blog and other forums.
So now, all I see in this Blog are enthusiastic descriptions of good things happening. Gee!!
Could it be that when people stop being idiots and start doing smart stuff, that critics will stop criticizing? Maybe if we had done this years ago, things would have started sooner.
In the meantime, keep up the commentary, Jake. At least now we have enjoyable things to discuss. PS....lose the light blue uniforms.
That's exactly how i feel dawg. The admin is finally doing so many of the good things I begged for for years. So it's like a weight's been lifted. I see no reason for negativity now. Just enthusiastic realism.
For years UCLA was similarly straddled by a powder/baby blue hue. They have recently moved to a much darker blue for the or blue football uniforms. And they are a much better team now as well!
UCLA had a set of black football uniforms the past few seasons. I'm sure the players like it but it is unnecessary. Uniforms do not make the team better. Is there some sort of psychological edge with it that actually makes a difference?
Looks like Bags is much more welcoming regarding visitors for Spring ball.
Black uniforms to me say Nike and ESPN-style pandering and mere trendiness. (The very things that the moralistic Phil Mushnick always correctly inveighs against in his Post columns.) The school colors are light blue and white. If you want to add a dark blue as an "accent," fine. But black uniforms would not be saying anything important about 'diversity" although they might be saying a lot about how even a school like Columbia can possibly be bought. W're not the Carolina Panthers.
I think that this business about giving up on our traditional light blue is a bit absurd.
Old Lion,
I agree. It's what's in the uniform, not the color that matters. Uniform color is not going to scare anyone. Why not put a snarling lion on the helmets if they think it will intimidate the opposition.
We're not going to give up our light blue and white school colors, be we could use a more rugged looking uniform. Our uniform is consistently voted "worst in the league," and it's because of the colors -- adding black or dark blue will help. Our Rose Bowl team of 1934 had a black band on the shoulders and arms...don't know if it helped but it sure didn't hurt. Yes, alswingman, there is definitely a psychological component involved.
Allie
For some reason I like those chrome style helmets. That would be interesting.
They have used navy blue in the past with uniforms so I would not be surprised to see a return to using it, even in combination with the light blue.
My guess is that Bags pushed for the new uniform, and you can't argue with his success. When I was younger I used to think the light blue was beautiful, now I know better, too many of our opponents chide us for it. It could just as easily be called
"sky" blue, but our detractors prefer "baby" or "powder," of course.
Looks like Columbia hired a new Strength and conditioning coach- Matt King from Maine
There could be something to it. I recall 2 especially bad programs that turned things around in a big way. Not just because of a new look but a new everything.
The Oregon Ducks wore ghastly yellow uniforms and helmets (with a decal resembling Donald Duck) for many years before Nike stepped in. Kansas State wore purple from head to toe with a wimpy "'Cats" scribbled on their helmets. Both of those programs were embarrassments but look at them now.
LOL, you guys are just praying for ANYTHING, cant blame you though. NEWSFLASH........same players will be wearing those unis!
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