Upon reflection of my four years of college that have just about cruised through the finish line tape, I will leave Columbia a changed man.
As I have grown, so too has Columbia Athletics.
Columbia sports, that moody, whimsical Loch Ness monster of Morningside, has taken the student body for a bumpier ride than a Schwinn in the woods. Like the Loch Ness, Columbia Athletics seems to show up only when nobody is watching. And even when it does make a meaningful appearance, it disappears into a sea of mediocrity within the blink of an eye.
What has Columbia done to fight its losing tradition over the past four years? Well, more than most people probably realize. But there is still a long way to go.
Over the past four years, Dr. John Reeves's Athletic Department has taken steps to improve how Columbia sports are viewed on campus, which is a big step in combating the "expect-to-lose" sentiment that exists within most students.
Hiring Al Langer to run the public relations arm of the Athletic Department was a stellar move. One way to improve the winning ways of the college is to put forth the image of a winning, confident program. Redesigned, shiny programs, media guides, and logos help the Athletic Department see itself as a program with a purpose. And winning is contagious. Unfortunately, Al is leaving, hanging up the spikes as far as athletics are concerned, but his PR campaign has left a solid mark.
In a "let's look like a cool program" move, Columbia remodeled its mascot. Gone is the shabby, worn lion of old. It has been replaced by a stylish looking lion that actually looks like it could take the Brown Bear more than a few rounds. On a similar note, the cheerleading team has done a complete 180. No longer a 100 on the unintentional comedy scale, the squad can solidly perform stunts and looks good doing it. Fans no longer cringe in anticipation of a flailing, falling girl.
The "Levien Loony" promotion filled Levien Gymnasium with a sea of light blue and finally gave Columbia the home floor advantage it so desperately covets. I didn't feel like I was sitting in the Palestra when Penn came to town.
With a new initiative of looking good, the department sought to get fans to show up to the games. The black-encased, bright red-lettered game announcement sign was born. Each time I walk to the gym, that most friendly of scrolling signs informs me of which games I should be attending. I even got my girlfriend Elisabeth to come to a Columbia sporting event--amazing. Plus, the idea of targeting students who go to the gym, as opposed to just any student who wouldn't be the least bit interested, is clever. Knowing one's audience is a big part of advertising.
The Lion Pride promotion has taken off as well. Columbia introduced four years ago the one-time, five-dollar ticket that at the very least gives students discounts on tickets. And the student body has responded by actually going to some games. Allowing athletes free admission into basketball and football games has also increased the attendance and the spirit of games. Even if just athletes supported other athletes, attendance and campus spirit would spike.
As fan support has increased, the Athletic Department has attempted to increase campus spirit. Finally ready to embrace light blue, teams are no longer allowed to base their uniforms in navy blue. And it's about time. It helps give Columbia a singular identity. Similarly, each team's alternate apparel (jackets, fleeces, shirts, etc.) is now only light blue. It must make even the most non-sports-oriented student feel warm and toasty to see so many athletes sporting the light blue jacket around campus. It's as though we actually have pride in the school we go to.
The Athletic Department has taken some serious steps to improve the image of athletics at Columbia. But with all the positive energy floating around, most teams still lose more games than they win. And I'm not delusional. Columbia isn't Stanford. But why can't we be more like Princeton (who won Ivy Championships in almost half of their sports last year)? To start winning, Columbia has to continue the journey to the wonderful land of a successful program.
An example: Princeton's Assistant Baseball Coach Lloyd Brewer is a full-time coach with head coaching experience at Lafayette College. Columbia baseball does not have a full-time assistant. Many teams, in fact, do not have full-time assistants. It's like Columbia is running uphill.
How can we even hope to recruit decent players if there is no assistant coach to get out on the road and bring players to Morningside?
At other schools around the country, coaches are hired to win. But at Columbia, this doesn't always seem to be the case. Too many coaches enjoy an extended stay with little success. See what happens when you infuse a program with new blood? Baseball Coach Mik Aoki came onboard four years ago and has the team fighting for an Ivy title. Hoops Coach Armand Hill has been here longer but was hired under the same, hot young coach philosophy. And though the basketball team didn't win this year, they competed for the title last year. Even competing for a title is a big step for Columbia. There are some programs that haven't even won an Ivy League game. What other school would let this happen?
And so, after four years of following, analyzing, enjoying, and participating in Columbia Athletics, I can graduate knowing that Columbia has taken steps to improve. The feeling about sports on campus has improved. But there is still a long way to go.
I look forward to coming back as an alumnus to evaluate the progress. Ian R. Rapoport was 123rd Associate Sports Editor and a Spectator columnist.
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