The premise of this column isn’t revolutionary or original, but it’s something that few could have imagined for a team with three wins in the past two years.
This is the year for Columbia football to make its presence felt in the Ivy League and compete for a conference crown.
On the other hand, if the Lions struggle in Ivy play, as they have been known to do, or stumble down the stretch, which their basketball counterparts have made a regular occurrence, then this is the year for a major change at the top of the program.
Most of my colleagues at Spectator and WKCR would say I tend to be pessimistic about Columbia athletics—especially when it comes to football. Some would even say I’ve taken pleasure in predicting two- and three-win seasons (completely false, of course).
With that said, my first column of the year is the perfect opportunity for a new attitude.
There is no waiting until next year—Millicent Olawale and Austin Knowlin are now seniors. And there certainly isn’t any recent glory to tide fans over.
This is the year when Columbia has its most talented offense, most experienced defense, and easiest schedule of the Norries Wilson era.
Offensively, the team has balance. Ray Rangel has given the running game an actual pulse by averaging more than four yards a carry for the first time in Columbia history (or something like that…).
The receiving corps, led of course by the multi-talented Knowlin, also has two other players in Mike Stephens and Taylor Joseph, who pulled in more than 350 yards last season. Add emerging tight end Andrew Kennedy and the passing game’s Achilles heel—finding someone to take the pressure off Knowlin—just may be solved.
Then of course, there is Olawale. He may not be able to throw the ball like Sam Bradford or Craig Hormann, but he represents something this team has lacked under center—the ability to change a game. Olawale is the biggest reason this column is possible, but also the source of its possible downfall. He has yet to shred a tough Ivy League defense, but his mobility forces other teams to make a defensive plan devoted to stopping him. He opens up the field for everyone else and he has demonstrated the ability both to throw the ball downfield and avoid making costly mistakes. Sometimes this means he holds the ball and takes a big loss, but I’ll take that over an interception.
The defense is the unit everyone expected to be good. So far, it has impressed when it comes to what matters—keeping the other team off the scoreboard. Still, the scary part is that the Lions have given up 451 yards of total offense per game. Let’s hope that number starts to shrink.
What makes the unit so good is its linebacking corps, a group that may just be the best in the Ancient Eight. Alex Gross, the least talked-about superstar of the last two years, is buttressed by Corey Cameron, reigning Ivy League Player of the Week, and Marc Holloway, who ranks second on the team in tackles.
Questions remain at cornerback and upfront, but this defense is loaded with experience. Wilson was faced with a problem two years ago—his best defensive players were either hurt or were young. As a result, a massive group of talented youngsters, now juniors and seniors, have gotten playing time usually reserved for upperclassmen. Every starter on this defense has already seen time at the collegiate level.
What makes the unit special, reminiscent of Wilson’s first year, is its nose for the ball. It has already forced seven turnovers and had chances for many more.
I must admit, I’ve skipped over special teams. Who wouldn’t? The kicker can’t make PATs and the punter had an 11-yard punt against Princeton. Still, what team in the Ivy League—besides Penn—has good kickers?
Other than talent, one of the biggest things this team has going for it is the fact that the talent level and experience around the Ivy League is down almost everywhere.
Princeton is already reeling.
Dartmouth is the most automatic win in the Ivy League year in and year out, and all you need to know about Penn is that the Quakers only beat Big Green by six.
Yale went 9-1 two years ago and is seemingly a threat every year, but this is Year 1 A.M. (“after McLeod”) and it has already lost twice at home—to Cornell and Lafayette.
Speaking of Cornell, it seems to be a much-improved team with its only loss coming at the hands of Colgate, which has beaten up on every Ivy team it has played. Get back to me after this weekend’s game at home against Harvard to see how good Cornell is without Nathan Ford at quarterback.
Harvard seems to be the clear-cut favorite for the title after edging Brown two weeks ago, but this is not the dominant Crimson team of the past few years. Do I think Columbia will beat them? Maybe not, but they are beatable.
As for Brown, it appears to be the league’s second most talented team, but last year’s Ivy co-champion is also replacing starters at quarterback and running back.
Almost as important as the drop in talent is that nearly every tough game for Columbia is at home: Penn, Yale, Harvard, and Brown. Though home field has never seemed to mean much to the Lions, it does for those other teams.
To be clear, I’m not asking for an Ivy title but contention down to the wire. A few weeks from now, I could end up biting my tongue and regretting such a lofty goal, but in that case I wouldn’t worry for me, I’d worry for Wilson.
I firmly believe coaches deserve time to establish their programs. Too many of them have been dismissed prematurely in programs with high expectations and impatient fan bases. Coaches need to get the players they want and develop their style. This is year four. Wilson’s team is full of his recruits. He’s had his time to instill his philosophy, his work ethic, and his playbook.
Want to wait ’til next year? Fine, but imagine a Light Blue offense without Olawale and Knowlin or a defense without Lou Miller.
The time for Columbia to win is now.
Lucas Shaw is a Columbia College junior majoring in political science.
sports@columbiaspectator.com
Comments
We're looking for comments that are interesting and substantial. If your comments are excessively self-promotional or obnoxious you will be banned from commenting. Consult the comment FAQ and legal terms.