Moment #1: Kept Out

With the score now Brown 22 Columbia 6 at the start of the 4^th quarter, the Lions did not show any signs of giving up.

A Mike Waller interception just before the 3^rd quarter ended got Columbia going on a drive that began at the CU 35.

QB Sean Brackett moved the team mostly by spreading his passes to four different receivers on an 11-play march that set the Lions up with a 1^st and goal at the Bear two.

But a run for two lost yards, a holding penalty, and a sack pushed Columbia into a 4^th down situation at the Brown 17 .

The Lions decided to go for it, but Brackett’s pass to WR Chris Connors fell incomplete.

That ended CU’s best TD threat of the day.

This final moment in the 100 Moment Countdown is fitting, because it embodied the core facts about Columbia football in 2012.

The team had good talent, improved play calling, and a good spirit. But too often when it really counted, it couldn’t cross the goal line.

Thank you for taking this 100 day journey with me as I recounted all the big moments of last season.

Now it’s on to this season and what we hope will be a lot more great memories of 2013.

48 Hours to Go...

Cole Marcoux, when he was a super-hyped QB recruit

Dartmouth’s two deeps have been released and they don’t have too many surprises. But fans will most likely note that the once very highly touted QB Cole Marcoux is getting the start… at tight end. And he’s getting that start over Dean Bakes, who many thought was the definite front runner.

Another highlight is sophomore AJ Zuttah getting the start at nose guard. He’s looking like he could be a very special player.

This means Brown is the only Ivy team yet to release its two deeps. Is there a Phish concert or something in Providence that’s slowing things down up there?

UPDATE: Brown just released its two deeps here. No real surprises that I can see there.

Our Story

As far as our two deeps, I’d say about 70% to 75% of the info there is true. I question the accuracy of some of the secondary players listed, and the WR’s and DL’s also seem a bit iffy.

Whatever advantage the coaches think they’re getting by not listing fully accurate two deeps is beyond me. I sure hope it works.

I am relieved that no funny business was connected to naming Brett Nottingham as the starting QB.

But again, the starting team that actually goes out onto the field Saturday will differ a bit from what we see in the release.

Fordham & Rankings

Fordham’s game notes are out and the only tweak from last week is that star LB Stephen Hodge may not start because of a probable injury. Hodge is listed as the “OR” co-starter with freshman George Dawson.

Fordham is ranked as #21 in the oficials FCS poll, but the Dunkel Index puts them at #37. That’s still 71 spots ahead of Columbia, but we’ll take it.

Incidentally, the only other Ivy ranked below Columbia on the Dunkel Index is Yale.


Josh Martin Update

After being put on the inactive list for the first two games of the season, Josh Martin '13 is on the active list for tonight's Chiefs vs. Eagles game on the NFL Network!

UPDATE: the final inactive list just came out and Martin IS INACTIVE after all... oh well... maybe next week!

How to Donate to Solomon Johnson's Family (RE-POSTED)

Many of you have asked how you can donate money to Solomon Johnson’s family in light of Solo's untimely death earlier this month.

This is the link to the fund that has been established for his children's education.

Moment #2: Conversion Killers

Jonah Fay 

With Columbia leading 6-0 early in the 2^nd quarter of the season finale at Brown, the Lions were probably feeling pretty good about their chances to close out 2012 with a win.

But what the Bears would do on their next two possessions, and what Columbia did on the possession in between, would crush those hopes in just about the cruelest ways possible.

The first drive began at the Brown 24 and didn’t hit a snag until Brian DeVeau tackled WR Telef Lundevall two yards short of a 1^st down on 3^rd and nine play from the CU 36.

Now facing 4^th and two at the Lion 29, the Bears decided not to try to  go for a short gain. Instead, they stunned the Light Blue with a long TD pass along the sideline to WR Jonah Fay and a 7-6 lead.

On Columbia’s ensuing drive, the Lions drove the ball nicely after a good kickoff return by Trevor Bell. But they faced an almost identical situation moments later when the drive stalled at the Brown 30 on a 4^th and two.

Unlike the Bears, CU went for a shorter pass from QB Sean Brackett to Connor Nelligan, but it fell incomplete.

Fast forward a couple minutes, and Brown was driving again but facing a 4^th and eight again right from the Lion 29.

And Bear QB Patrick Donnelly threw the exact same pass as he did for the score before, this time caught by WR Jordan Evans for another 4^th down conversion for a TD.

Two gutsy calls in a row had paid off for Brown and the game was essentially over right there.

BREAKING: COLUMBIA TWO-DEEP RELEASED

And there are some surprises, (click here).

NOT a surprise: Brett Nottingham is the starter at QB, backed up by Trevor McDonagh.

BIG surprise: One of the starting WR's is Ryan Flannery, and two of the backups despite a very deep and experienced WR corps, are freshmen: Cameron Dunn and Denzel Hill. The other starters at WR are Connor Nelligan and Scooter Hollis. 

Four freshmen are listed as backups on the OL, Kendall Pace, Justin Aimonetti, Nathan Gibbs and Anthony Bonadies.

On defense, Niko Padilla and Wells Childress are the starters at DT backed up by Chad Washington and JD Hurt.

Two players who had injury-marred 2012 seasons get the starts at DE: Nick Melka and Seyi Adebayo.

Vinny Pugliese and Brian East get the starting LB spots vacated by the graduated Mike Waller and Ryan Murphy. Of course Zach Olinger is starter at MLB.

The secondary went with experience. Seniors Marquel Carter and Jeremy Mingo got the nods at safety, Travis Reim and Malcom Thaxton are the starters at corner.

While six frosh grabbed backup positions on offense, only two first years cracked the two deep on D. They are safety Brock Kenyon and LB Tyler Kwiatkowski

Some other names/things that popped out at me:

-NO return specialists were named

-DE Toba Akinyele getting the backup slot behind Nick Melka.

-Roy Schwartz backing up Adebayo and JD Hurt backing Childress.

-Bruce Grant, just converted from RB/WR, cracking the two deep at corner.



RADIO SHOW:

Another tidbit from the game notes is this:

"Every Saturday during the Columbia football season, tune in to “The Answer” 970AM for Columbia Football Today at 7:30 a.m. Host Jerry Recco and Pete Mangurian will preview all the action for the Lions upcoming game."