Dean DeNobile
Home opener opponent Lafayette came into this season ranked prominently in everyone' FCS top 20 lists.
And the Leopards have not disappointed. As of now, they are ranked as high as #14.
Lafayette started the year with a tough 30-13 loss at FBS Buffalo; a game that still misleadingly skews some of the Leopards' overall stats to the downside.
Then Lafayette outlasted Monmouth in New Jersey before dismantling Marist, 56-14 at home last Saturday.
The Leopards big star is still RB Jamar Curtis, who has 187 rushing yards and 4.0 yards per carry average despite being totally shut down in that first misleading game at Buffalo.
QB Dean DeNobile may be an even bigger star. He's thrown four TD passes so far this year and hasn't thrown an interception since he was picked twice at Buffalo. In the week two 40-35 shootout win at Monmouth, DeNobile went 31-45 for 394 yards and two TD passes.
Junior WR Elijah Steward amazingly already has 374 yards receiving, with one TD reception.
On defense, the Leopards don't have a singular standout star so far this year, but this unit is still considered to be the best in the Patriot League. One player to watch out for is sophomore DL Jaylon Joseph, who has three tackles for a loss including two vs. Buffalo.
So, yeah... Lafayette could very well be the toughest opponent Columbia faces all year. It's a pretty tall order for a season opener and Jon Poppe's CU head coaching career debut.
But no one said this would be easy.
42 comments:
another downside is Lafayette has been able to figure out what didn't work and adjust accordingly. I agree that it may be the toughest opponent.
looks like someone told Lafayette who our QB is
The Opponent: Saturday's game is the Lions' season opener and kicks off the Jon Poppe (Williams '07) era of Columbia football. Poppe was hired in December of 2023 as the 22nd coach in the program's history. Poppe previously was a member of Columbia's coaching staff from 2015-2017. After a coaching stint at Harvard from 2017-22, Poppe took over at Union College for the 2023 season, leading the program to a 10-2 record and the second round of the NCAA D-III playoffs.
Returning to lead the Lion offense are senior RB Joey Giorgi (146-638-3) and junior WR Edan Stagg (21-158). Soph. Chase Goodwin,who played in five games while throwing two passes last season, is listed as the starter at quarterback.
On the defensive side of the ball, Columbia returns senior LB Anthony Roussos (93 T, 10.5 TFL) and senior DB Hayden McDonald (62 T, 1 INT, 5 PBU) to a unit that allowed just 15.5 points and 268 yards per game.
Columbia travels to Patriot League opponent Georgetown next week before returning home to kick off Ivy League play against Princeton.
They are in trouble
This isn’t Fabish’s Lions. Poppe will be fine.
This game will be ugly early.
Disagree that the game will be ugly early.
Columbia by 3 TDs
why are you on this page if you are not a fan? Lions will win!
Damn right. I meant Lafayette is in trouble. Going to be a long day for them.
My prediction - Lions 24; Lafayette 14.
I'm a Lion fan but I think Lafayette will win 48-0. It's a tough spot for us.
Come on, now. Buffalo showed how to beat them, and we ain’t gonna lose by 48. It’s a tough match-up to be sure, but let’s not make them out to be an SEC team or something. I think we might win.
Couldnt ask for a better first game. Both offense and defense will be tested. A solid opponent like Laf will expose any weaknesses. Last year defense gave up a lot of yards to rb, lets see how they do on saturday
I will be hoping our TE’s are featured in the pass game
Go lions!
Every year I complain about the Ivy season starting sooooo late. What's done about it? NADA! Week 4 nationally, advantage to teams like Lafayette who have played 3. Can we rise up and demand an an earlier start? Why play earlier in September when the weather is football perfect when you can play deep into November when it's ? Let's shake off the first game jitters, open up the "New Playbook", and shock the I AA world! Go Lions!
No true Columbia fan would predict a blowout loss; whoever predicted that we would lose 48-0 is not one of us. This is a blog for people who love Columbia football.
I agree. Pilling is turning out to be pitiable
Damn right.
Ask Piling about the earlier date. Complaining here doesn't do anything. Report back with your findings please.
While you are at it, find out who Engles has video on!
Boom. I don’t understand how you could say we’ll lose by 48. That would be a Mangurian result! We have a lot of returning talent, we’re at home, we have a great coach, and Lafayette already has a loss. And to say we won’t even score? The 48-0 prognostication was a major prediction biff.
Prediction Lafayette 31, Columbia 14….Lions much better than last yr but going up against a tough opponent that’s playing in mid-season. This is a forum for Columbia fball discussions - good and bad - and not just for homers. Let’s be realists. This team will be ok but it will take a few games to hit its stride.
Lafayette should have lost to Monmouth except that’s Monmouth gave that game away. The Marist blow-out was to be expected. Buffalo was just better. So the real issue for us is to see how Monmouth played them and to avoid Monmouth’s mistakes.
Let's Go! Lions are lock and load!
Also, Buffalo has a new head coach, and the win at home against Lafayette was his first in that role. Buffalo’s been steamrolled in both games since, but that was against really, really tough competition (including Mizzou on the road).
Correction: they rocked UMass last week, so Buffalo is actually 2-1. Bad loss against Mizzou but that’s it. My mistake.
I already miss the mediocre days of Bagnoli, and the forgettable Fabish season! Longing for the Bubble Screen, conservative offenses, and other out moded happenings. NOT! Smith to open the offense this Saturday, complete with trick plays, deep throws DOWN FIELD, and a whole new attitude! Go Lions! 27-24
Is the two deep out yet?
I am uncertain exactly how it works, but have assumed for awhile that Columbia Football ordinarily exchanges its two deep with its weekend opponent on the Thursday prior a Saturday game. So the Lafayette coaching staff may already have the Lions' two-deep for this Saturday's game even though it has not yet been posted on the Columbia Athletics Website. My prediction is that Columbia will defeat Lafayette 42-28 on Saturday and be ranked nationally on Monday. An exciting new era of Columbia Football is about to begin.
Nice Captain’s Corner podcast on Columbia football website. Apparently lots of optimism and a sense of urgency from the two senior captains. Take a listen.
Save all that old stupid talk. Time to focus on today.
it was def posted yesterday by Columbia
https://gocolumbialions.com/documents/2024/9/17/2024_Columbia_FB_Notes_Game_1_Lafayette.pdf
https://gocolumbialions.com/documents/2024/9/17/2024_Columbia_FB_Notes_Game_1_Lafayette.pdf
is this like the starters?
Almost game time! Who is final qb? or are we rotating?
Captains’ Corner podcast was very good. I look forward to seeing all of you on Saturday. Highly optimistic.
Jake- Is Coach Poppe going to have a regular weekly talk show like his predecessors?
The two deep in the game notes is up and it only shows the starters. I wonder why the change. PS, the Captains Corner was very high on our soph QB.
Thank you
Where do we find the game notes
look above someone posted them
The full two deep has been up since late morning.
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