The Columbia Athletics Department has made the official announcement that Jon Poppe is the new football head coach.
But some of the info my sources provided me over the last several weeks has changed, (it happens in developing news stories).
-Sources tell me Justin Stovall is staying on as Defensive Coordinator.
-I can NO LONGER confirm that Princeton Wide Receivers Coach Brian Flinn is joining Poppe's staff at Columbia. I am now getting unconfirmed reports he will remain at Princeton.
-Gregory Skjold is returning with Poppe to rejoin the Columbia staff. Skjold served as the offensive coordinator under Poppe at Union this year, but I do not know what his job title will be at CU now.
-Poppe informed some of his Union players Thursday night that he was going to Columbia, as reported by the local press in the Union area.
As the official release reported, the official intro news conference for Poppe will be this Wednesday. Hopefully, we will have more answers then.
Of course, I have posted several thoughts about Coach Poppe over the years on this blog. As I re-read those posts last night, I realized they were ALL POSITIVE. That includes this post I made about how Columbia had the best secondary in the Ivies in 2017 and how that unit was going to miss Poppe as he went to Harvard.
58 comments:
The speed with which this was conducted suggests that Mark was always considered to be there as an interim HC unless lightening struck and he had a great season. I would guess that the search began during the middle of the season.
Search may have even begun with Al's decision to retire.
"Search may have even begun with Al's decision to retire."
Yes, correct. Anonymous, Anonymous, Anonymous, Anonymous, and Anonymous.
I am going to enjoy watching the Lions in the coming years.
Not here to bash Bagnoli, just saying we are now moving on from mediocrity and a recent debacle to Ivy Championship. It's just a matter of time.
" to Ivy Championship. It's just a matter of time."
What decade or century is that occurring?
Did you watch any Ivy games this year? Parity and a new young coach with plenty of experience
Agree. Assuming we junk the antiquated offense and build in 3 OOC cupcakes like someone we all know did. Ahhhh I already miss the Bubble Screen, NOT
"Did you watch any Ivy games this year? Parity and a new young coach with plenty of experience"
Do you think every year is like this year? Do you think that the other Ivy schools won't improve? lol
Without Bagnoli, the program would have continued to win 0 to 2 games a year, as it has forever. Pre Bagnoli, Columbia football was the worst college program in history. The worst.
I get it. The world wants to deify Al Bagnoli. But say what you want, he has to bear some responsibility for this season’s mess.
He got the program on track. You look like a tool bashing him. 75 years of the worst football in the history of college sports. A laughingstock for decades. Look at the record and the stats. We won 8 games in the 80s. Lol. You're going out of your way to bash the guy. It's unnecessary and unseemly. Your immediate suggestion that we are going to quickly win a title also shows a lack of intelligence and composure.
You can't lift up Poppe without giving credit to Bagnoli. They are tied.
Tied together*
"I get it. The world wants to deify Al Bagnoli. But say what you want, he has to bear some responsibility for this season’s mess."
ROFLMAO. no.
Why are you on this blog if you are going to be a pessimist! Poppe is a legit head coach & a winner!!
You're getting ahead of yourself, pal.
Great at Penn. Mediocre at CU. His time, like the 90s are over! Let's Poppe!
Tool ^
This seems like a great hire. We'll see, within the context (as some have noted) that Columbia (cough) is the worst program in the history of college football.
I was head coach at a prep school and sent some players to the Ivy league. Columbia helped me compile a winning record. At Columbia I learned how not to coach football.
Bagnoli worked a miracle to at least get Columbia off its back. Good luck to this exciting new head coach!
Surely, you jest.
The person tied to Bagnoli, just went 3-7, when 7-3 was clearly within reach. Ergo, they are gone.
What is your point? That if there was never a Bagnoli, no one would have ever taken this job?
By the way, the last time I looked, Mr. Bagnoli got paid for his services. He did what he was hired to do.
What more is he owed?
You’re joking, right? Scooby Doo could have coached up W’s over the cupcakes Bags and crew got on the schedule . So yes, thank him for getting our traditional PL games off the schedule and to put a few wins in the column to hide his bottom tier Ivy record.
Love these clowns who never played or coached a down of football arm chairing the program’s direction and crucifying its past. Go find another board to troll.
Let’s go Poppe !
Lay off Al, for heaven’s sake. He took a dead program and revitalized it.
Love these clowns who claim they "played football". Poppe may win or he may not. TBD.
Asshat
Maybe people are unnecessarily bashing Bagnoli, which is likely pent up frustration over the dismal performance of his handpicked successor. But, can someone kindly explain the post, “You can’t lift up Poppe without giving credit to Bagnoli. They are tied.”
Bagnoli’s legacy was Fabish.
The king is dead. Long live the king.
- Love these clowns who claim they "played football". Poppe may win or he may not. TBD.-
Bingo!
You people are COWARDS! Bagnoli clearly elevated the program from the basement of the Ivies to respectability and guess who was by his side, Fabish. Another words, Bags didn't do it alone. Fabish was dismissed, okay, I get it and understand why, so let's move on. Please tell me the value in rehashing Bag's record or besmirching Coach Fabish? Grow up!
Poppe has the energy and spark that this team needs to get them over this hump. Poppe is not blind, he knows what needs to be done to successful. If Green has eligibility and he can come back, that would be a great bridge for him at QB. Poppe will craft an offense around Green's ability and not force him into a system that does not highlight his skill set. The The RBs are fine. If Georgio comes back, they're great! If Auggie Hoffman is retained and heads up the O-Line, then they will be better, its that simple. Auggie was in charge of the TEs and they were utilized more effectively this year. At WR, we needs to look at how Princeton, Harvard, Yale and Dartmouth recruit that position. They recruit height and speed... and they win. How many times did opposing teams have 4th and 10+ and they converted because of our secondary? We have a tendency to jut recruit speed at WR. Obviously, Poppe saw that at Harvard and they recruited accordingly.
As far as recruiting, Murphy sticks kids up at Exeter, Andover and Deerfield for PGs. Reno puts them at Yale, Avon and Loomis Chaffe. We need to establish a rapport with key prep schools that have PGs who are more mature physically and mentally. Just look at each successful team in the Ivies and see how many PGs they have on their squads.
The D-Line played well, however, they need more depth. The LBs are really good! We all know the many challenges of the secondary (talent and schemes) and that should be a major focus.
Kicking is key! As we saw in the case of Dartmouth, we watched how their kicker won four games for the Big Green this year (he won two in the last 30 seconds of games)! Their new kicker led them to an Ivy Championship this year! We have above average kickers on the team with very good legs, Poppe needs to hire a kicking coach to work with these guys and refine their skill set. It would be worth the investment by ten fold.
Good luck Coach Poppe!!!
Poppe was on his staff as an assistant and part of Bagnoli's coaching tree.
Bags didn't do it alone is correct. Paul Ferraro, hardly referred to, the Master of the defense, kept Bagnoli from an early diaster and so did the cupcakes.
I agree. Let's move on from CU' s football past and look forward to a very promising future. Pilling is da man of the hour!
Poppe too
Poppe too
COWARDS!
"I agree. Let's move on from CU' s football past and look forward to a very promising future. Pilling is da man of the hour!"
Agree, let's go forward, however not sure I agree with "Pilling is da man of the hour!"
I haven't made a comment since the Mang fiasco. For all of you bashing Bagnoli, you are clueless. This man took over the worst football program in the history of college football and a bottomless pit for head coaches and in a short period of time made CU a winner and a consistent winner. Winning record 5 out of the last 6 seasons. Al is a Hall of Famer and the greatest head coach in the history of the school. None of you played here none of you experienced the brutal losing over the last 50 years so thank this man and hope for the future.
I think the hire will bear fruit. I suspect the players are satisfied with the Poppe and and are likely happy that the athletic department is paying attention to the program. Given the speed in which this happened, it definitely appears the wheels were in motion well before the actual end of the season.
Next thing that needs to happen. That abysmal locker room needs to be upgraded and replaced IMMEDIATELY. It has supposedly been on the books for a couple of years now but it needs to occur this coming off season to help with recruiting. That stuff matters a lot to the players giving how much time they spend there.
Send in a check
"That abysmal locker room needs to be upgraded and replaced IMMEDIATELY. "
Dream on.
Giving Day is tomorrow. Make a donation.
First I heard about the locker room being an issue. What is the problem? Surprising comment since the Campbell center is still relatively new.
Prepare yourselves, nothing is as it seems.
If Flinn is no longer joining the staff, here are thoughts on potential offensive coordinators:
Previous Columbia Ties- Todd Gilcrist at UChicago or Kevin Callahan Jr at Monmouth - both have been a part of great offenses since their time away from NYC. Both would be more pass-oriented than run-oriented to open up our offense more.
Ivy League - Could Poppe convince a sitting Ivy coordinator to come join him? Maybe Swanstrom at Penn or Daft from Dartmouth? Perhaps Mickey Fein from Harvard?
Patriot League - Dan Hunt at Lehigh would give Poppe someone with a bunch of head coach experience who has had a lot of success. His offenses at Colgate were always innovative. Dean Kennedy at Holy Cross or TJ DiMuzio at Lafayette were the top offenses in the PL this year - both run-heavy offenses who would supplement our good defense.
"Ivy League - Could Poppe convince a sitting Ivy coordinator to come join him? Maybe Swanstrom at Penn or Daft from Dartmouth? Perhaps Mickey Fein from Harvard?"
Not a chance....lol. It'll likely be someone Poppe coach with.
"Dean Kennedy at Holy Cross or TJ DiMuzio at Lafayette were the top offenses in the PL this year - both run-heavy offenses who would supplement our good defense."
Do you realize how silly the thought they would leave their current schools for Columbia sounds? rofl
Hey guys Poppe is bringing his OC from Union. Not to be our line coach
you kidding!!! not after watching 60 minutes
Great look for Columbia on 60 minutes tonite
:(
Pilling has done a ton for football. A lot more cash and 2 good hires. You should be appreciative and send in some money.
Pilling has enough money.
Will Poppe look to his former fellow assistants at Harvard for a promising assistant as a potential OC? And will our excellent punter Hughes come back for a fifth year?
the Punter is already in the portal. Not sure there is a market at next level for a diminutive statured punter but wish him luck. Guessing there wont be much interest and hopefully he returns.
whether or not the guy is "diminutive" is totally irrelevant. It's what he can do punting that matters, and he did a damn good job.
You should make a generous donation to Columbia football today!
Did you watch the 2022 season? We had tall, athletic punters early in the season and it was a disaster. Will Hughes has been incredible for a season and a half. Led the Ivy in average yards as well as most 50 yard punts. “Dwarfed” the competition so to speak. Kid is a stud and performs under pressure. Any university would be fortunate to get him. Hope he plays his final years at Columbia. Poppe needs to recruit internally as well.
60 Minutes last night has to hurt recruiting; looks like the inmates have taken over the asylum.
"the Punter" lol
Fella, you might want to research D1 punting trends over the last several years. The portal unfortunately is full of Aussies and mostly ones in their mid 20’s. It’s very different than when Nyziliak went to Ga for ex. There are 40 punters in the portal all bigger and better than Hughes. I wish him luck as he has a legit leg and was a true weapon for CU.
You really shouldn't "research D1 punting trends".
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