Yale Shocker

Copache Tyler 


Yale's premier player, DL Copache Tyler, is off the team for an undisclosed reason.

So in less than three weeks, Yale has lost it's top returning senior and it's most heralded incoming freshman in RB Andrew Grinde.

Could it get any worse for Head Coach Tony Reno?

Apparently, the answer is "yes" because Yale fans are publicly grumbling about reduced access to information about the team, closed scrimmages, and a public information department that's angry at a fan blog. (Gee that sounds familiar).

Unless Yale pulls off what's looking to be the impossible and beats Harvard at Harvard Stadium this year, I suspect Mr. Reno will be looking for a new job in December.

St. Francis Two Deeps Released

Week one opponent St. Francis has finally released its game notes and two-deeps for its season opener at FCS powerhouse Montana tomorrow night.

It looks like all of the Red Flash's much-feared offensive line is ready to go. So is talented RB Marcus Bagley. There's a lot of talent on defense too.

As I first said many months ago, St. Francis is a good team. But I don't think they will last long against Montana. It will be interesting to see how well their big offensive line hold up, however.

Wagner Gets a Scare

St. Anslem's Zach Bartak caught 13 passes for 122 yards


Week four opponent Wagner got a scare in its season opener at home against D-II St. Anselm College last night before winning 38-16.

St. Anselm led 10-3 late in the first half, and Wagner did not pull away until the fourth quarter. The home standing Seahawks gave up 396 total yards and did not get a sack against a team with a 250-pound starting left tackle. They also lost the time of possession battle by almost 10 minutes.

Philly DB

Tyson Hugee

6-0 170 pound DB Tyson Hugee from Philadelphia's Springside Chestnut Hill High School has committed to Columbia.

Hugee would amazingly be the first Chestnut Hill grad to come to Columbia football.

Our current list of unofficial commits now stands at 12:

1) Josh Bean QB 6-2 200 lbs. Hinsdale HS Hinsdale, IL

2) Seth DeVary OL 6-4 275 lbs. Larue County HS Hodgenville, KY

3) Tyson Hugee DB 6-0 170 lbs. Springside Chestnut Hill Academy Philadelphia, PA
4) Josh Kaminsky DL 6-4 280 lbs. Seton Hall Prep West Orange, NJ

5) Cameron Lipton-Martinez TE/DE 6-5 225 lbs. Montclair HS Montclair, NJ

6) Jake McCurry WR/DB 6-0 180 lbs. Solon HS Solon, OH

7) Carson Powell DB 6-0 190 lbs. Cardinal Newman HS Palm Beach, FL

8) Bailey Rotsky DB/WR Mayfield Heights HS Mayfield Heights, OH

9) Drew Schmid P 6-0 205 lbs. La Jolla Country Day La Jolla, CA  

10) Hank White OL 6-6 250 lbs. Buford HS Buford, GA

11) Ashton Cooper Wilson DE/LB 6-3 230 lbs. Merritt Island HS Merritt Island, FL

12) Peter Wise OL 6-5 290 lbs. Brunswick School Greenwich, CT

Al Bagnoli for President

I visited training camp practice yesterday afternoon. I don't really have any "scoops" from the experience since it was the second of a two-practice day and lots of players simply weren't there... OH, and I wouldn't give away any really sensitive info anyway.

But I do want to pass on two key impressions, one short, one a bit longer.

The first impression was seeing a team that really looked like a football team. They were big. They were working together. They looked like they could be playing this game at any level.

But then I started to focus on Head Coach Al Bagnoli. It's really amazing to see how he conducts himself in practice, because I've seen it a few times now and it's the same every time.

Columbia football has had yeller head coaches. We've had quieter head coaches. We've had guys who were overexcited. We've had guys who made silly jokes in a funny, but also slightly teasing/psycho way.

But the impression you get when you see and hear Bagnoli in practice is that you're in the presence of a true teacher. He's teaching out there. You can see he loves it, but not in an outwardly exuberant way.

And then you remember that this even-tempered teacher reserves his excitement and emotions for game days. That's the Bagnoli Columbia fans came to know, but it wasn't the full picture by a long shot.

I don't think Columbia has ever had this kind of properly behaved teacher with great accomplishments to back him up.

Hell, I don't this country has had a truly accomplished and appropriately behaved leader in my lifetime.

Al Bagnoli for President.