Sweet Vindication: Nottingham Confirmed

Well for all of you who may have doubted me, today Scout.com is confirming what I first reported 10 days ago: Stanford QB Brett Nottingham is transferring to Columbia.

2013 is looking very exciting indeed!

HAPPY NEW YEAR LIONS FANS!!!!

Recruiting Lines Open?

Galen Snyder today


One of Columbia's greatest transfers was Galen Snyder '91, a standout linebacker I last wrote about back in 2009.

Since then, Snyder has built a very strong program for that suburban Philly school and sent some players to top college programs.

One of his top-rated rising seniors is a kicker, Mikhail Kniaziewicz.

Last year, Pennsbury produced Pennsylvania's top-rated OL recruit in JJ Denman.

The point is, Pennsbury should be a good pipeline for the Lions.

Does anyone know if Coach Snyder is on board?

Has anyone from the football office contacted Snyder lately?

Love to know.

Happy Guests

You can tell from this photo montage that the Syracuse Orangemen are enjoying their time practicing at our Baker Athletics Complex.

For those of you who are wondering, the last time Syracuse came to Baker Field to actually play a game was 1948 when the Lions beat SU, 34-28.

The game was actually televised live on CBS.

Another Shoop?

John Shoop


One of the top online coaching news sites says John Shoop, brother of former Columbia Head Coach Bob Shoop, is in the lead to get the job opening at Cornell.

Shoop has spent most of his career working hard to climb the coaching ladder in the NFL. But for the last five seasons he was employed, he was the offensive coordinator at North Carolina, (2007-2011). Shoop has been out of work for the last year.

Shoop has an impressive resume, but if I were Cornell A.D. Andy Noel I'd approach with real caution. 

First off, Shoop has never been a head coach before and no matter how small the school they come from former head coaches tend to fare much, much better in the Ivy League. 

Second, Shoop is kind of a journeyman who clearly still has a lot of NFL aspirations. The Big Red is starving for some stability after going through several coaches in the last decade or so. I don't see Shoop as someone who is likely to stick around long if he gets a decent NFL job offer.

On a historical note, I don't think two brothers have ever both reached the position of head coach in Ivy football. Of course, we all know about Joe and James Jones coaching at Columbia and Yale, respectively. 

Incidentally, Bob Shoop has been the defensive coordinator at Vanderbilt for the last two seasons.

Switching Back to Football

Several times over the last few years, I've bemoaned the fact that the best football players from my home area of Long Island are making the move to play only lacrosse in college. 

Well, reports say that at least one Long Island high school football star, Babylon's Steve Loudon is making the switch back to the gridiron and will play WR for Brown this fall. 

Hopefully this will start a trend as I'd like to see Columbia do more recruiting on the Island in the future.

Here Comes the 'Cuse

Even if Columbia went 10-0, there would be no postseason football for the Lions.

The Ivy League has banned postseason play for almost 60 years running.

But at least Columbia can help another New York team prepare for its big game.

The Syracuse Orangemen will begin using Wien Stadium this morning as they prepare for the Pinstripe Bowl against West Virginia this Saturday.

WVU is working out at Fordham's Jack Coffey Field.

With heavy rains and wind coming our way, I'm not sure how much work the teams will get in over the next two days.

Recruiting News Still Scant

We're still waiting for more substantial recruiting news, but this article about all the talent in Mercer County, New Jersey lists a number of players Columbia may be interested in. One specific mention is TE Lewis Hayes from Lawrenceville Academy. Hayes is 6-5 and 220 pounds.