Bowl Genes
Miami players celebrate their upset win in the 1984 Orange Bowl
Incoming freshman defensive lineman Bruce Fleming's name might be familiar to some big-time college football fans. That's because Fleming's dad, Bruce Sr., was an outstanding linebacker for the Miami Hurricanes from 1983-86. Fleming put up some good numbers through the 1985 season and was a member of the 1984 national champions playing in that 31-30 thriller over Nebraska in the Orange Bowl. The following season, Fleming led the 'Canes in tackles with 111. He was named one of the top 100 Hurricanes all-time by Scout.com
Of course, let's hope Fleming Jr. doesn't imitate his dad's tendency to get into a little trouble. Bruce Sr. was suspended twice, first in 1982 by Coach Schnellenberger and then in 1985 by Coach Jimmy Johnson. Both punishments were for being late, something that sounds tame when you think about today's Hurricanes.
Fleming joins outstanding rising sophomore Justin Masorti as the two current members of the Lions with football national champion dads. In fact, Masorti's dad, defensive tackle Jonathan Masorti, won the championship exactly one year before Fleming's, as Penn State defeated Herschel Walker and the Georgia Bulldogs 27-23 in the 1983 Sugar Bowl.
And Fleming and Masorti share something else in common. They're both from that football rich part of the world known as Western Pennsylvania. If Fleming turns out to be a player like Masorti, there's another big reason to get excited about Columbia football.
posted by Jake @ 11:20:00 PM
10 comments
10 Comments:
Is everything ok with Masorti?
Masorti is fine... he was never injured. He'll be in camp on 8/19.
Interesting story on the Flemming family. Every Ivy League football coach has his heart set on getting at least a few kids from Western Pennsylvania and Ohio each year. They're usually smart, dedicated football players. What position is Bruce Flemming expected to play this year at Coilumbia?
Right now, Fleming is listed as a defensive lineman, but that could obviously change many times in the coming months and years. Since his dad was such a great linebacker, he may be a natural in the 3-5-3 set.
This is our sweet spot; HS DLs who don't have D1 size but can play basically any of the front 8 positions. With the 3 5 3 we can play somebody like Flemming either on the edge or inside.
My thoughts exactly. This 3-5-3 defense turns what used to be a major defect, that is the lack of big natural d-linemen, into a surplus of fast linebackers who can still pack a wallop. It's brilliant and why every other Ivy team doesn't try the 3-5-3 is beyond me.
With a swarming defense and team speed the 3 5 3 plays to our strengths. But it puts a premium on conditioning; this year Penn and Cornell will be running the no huddle; the 3 5 3 can handle that offense better than a defense which is dependent upon 3 or 4 big DLs who tend not to have the same sort of stamina. Witness the brilliant decapitation of Cornell's no-huddle last Fall. PS, kudos and a hearty mazel tov to JJ for bringing in Ben Grimes.
Yes, the Columbia defense was conditioned last season to a very impressive degree. There wasn't even one game where they looked physically tired in the 4th quarter, even with all that moving around before each play.
Jake, do you now see MA moving to running back or flanker? With CH expected back, and Shane Kelly in camp this year, plus Pyles and our incoming recruit from St. Paul's, how do we get a talent like MA on the field? Vinnie, if you are reading this, Columbia Nation is clamoring for an answer.
I fully expect Olawale to be somewhere on the field this coming season. But I don't expect to have much of an inkling about where or how much until training camp. This is the way of Ivy League football during our very, very, very long offseason. Of course, that long offseason worked in our favor this year regarding Hormann's recovery.
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