Mike Arrington picks up a fumble
Despite rumors of some kind of upgrade for week 4 opponent Marist Football this season, the Pioneer League writers didn't have much respect for the Red Foxes in the preseason poll. Marist was picked to come in 7th in the 11-team conference after finishing 6th last year.
Marist also only earned two spots on the All Pioneer League preseason team, and one of those slots was for the Red Foxes' long snapper.
The other honoree was LB Mike Arrington who is still on the team, taking a graduate year of eligibility. For the record, Arrington had eight tackles against the Lions last year that included one tackle for a loss in Columbia's 38-3 win in Poughkeepsie. In the 2021 37-14 Columbia win over Marist at Wien Stadium, Arrington had ten total tackles and shared a TFL for a loss of one yard.
Getting back to the Pioneer League poll, the University of Saint Thomas (located in Minnesota, not the Caribbean Island where my cousin was once the governor), is actually Harvard's week one opponent at Harvard Stadium. Despite the poll's vote of confidence in St. Thomas, it would still be a big surprise if the Crimson didn't win by at least two scores.
Coming in 4th in the poll was San Diego, who is hosting Princeton for the Tigers opening game on 9/16. Again, it would be a big surprise if Princeton doesn't win that one by at least two scores.
While a number of other schools in the Pioneer League, like Stetson, Valparaiso, Butler, and even Presbyterian have played Ivy teams in the recent past, the above schools are the only ones taking on Ancient Eight foes this season.
The Ivy League media poll is due to come out this Monday, 8/7 and the virtual media day (which has become just pre-recorded videos) is set for August 15.
One more comment: When I look at the Pioneer League and how the schools are spread out all over the country from coast to coast, I wonder how schools like Marist can afford what must be an exorbitant travel bill every year.
11 comments:
Harvard was very fortunate to escape opening week last year with an OT victory over an unheralded team from a school nobody every heard of. I wouldn't be surprised if a highly ranked team from the Virgin Islands (I mean MN) whooped them this year.
Yeah they almost lost to Merrimack (which I learned is a local Boston school).
In 2011, I (mostly) jokingly suggested Columbia should hire St. Thomas coach Glenn Caruso, mostly so he'd be gone from the MIAC, where he'd turned the Tommies into a national power and threatened my alma mater St. John's dominance. Then a St. Paul columnist suggested it was a possibility, though I think his sourcing was about the same as my imagination. But I did think he'd be a great fit: From Greenwich; played at Ithaca; coordinator at NDSU when they were D2 power; proven record of turning around struggling programs. Seemed absolutely capable of following a Bagnoli route.
Twelve years later...he's turned the Tommies into a legit FCS team and in a few years they'll be a playoff power. Dude can coach and the school is extremely supportive of athletics. As a Johnnie who still gets pleasure from seeing the Tommies lose, even though they're now in a completely different division, I'm hoping Harvard waxes them. But would not be at all surprised if St. Thomas knocked them off.
What I'm trying to say: I *do* think Caruso might have been a slightly better hire than Mangurian back in 2011....
I’m planning on attending the homecoming game on October 14th versus Penn. any advice on the tailgating situation at Wien Stadium?
to Francisco:
The question sounds like you must not have attended any Homecomings before ...
Good luck with a tailgate!
Ah man, thanks for the heads up doc.
Jake, it looks like we have eight quarterbacks on our 2023 roster which appears to be the most of any school in the Ivy League. Obviously, seniors Joe Green and Caden Bell are our two top guys, and as someone pointed out on the Blog earlier in the week their aggregate stats from last year are very impressive. My question, however, is who do you see as our #3 and #4 QB's as we enter the season? It seems to me that AJ Simpkins and Austin Greer, who are both from Charlotte, North Carolina are probably the leaders going into the season.
There will be several tailgates in the lot to the right as you enter stadium. Also, Columbia usually has a big tent.
Francisco .... to warn you ahead of time .... the parking lot will be JAMMED with kids .... moving around is difficult .... the Tent is probably a lot more 'organized' that the Baker parking lot will be .... consider buying a ticket for the tent
I’ll do that, thank you!
Simpkins is the #3 and likely next years QB1
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