Spreading the Word

The alumni light the way (CREDIT: Columbia College Alumni Assoc.)

I'll get back to my team-by-team Ivy previews later today, but I just wanted to re-publish a new comment from "RS" about what went down at the Columbia Club of Northern New Jersey dinner with Coach Wilson last night:

"Jake, your great blog was mentioned by self and two other people at last night's Columbia Club of Northern NJ dinner with Coach Wilson. And several people afterward, including former players, specifically asked for this web address after they learned about "Roar Lions Roar."

Norries was his usual sly, self-deprecating self. (I suspect he revels in the realization that people might way underrate him at first solely based on his bulk; the man is certainly not the cliched version of a college football coach who woos alums and ESPN alike so successfully with mere flashes of his teeth and glibness.) He didn't reveal much, but as always he took pains to praise his players as people, not just as his players, something that always makes him seem very likable to me, not at all possessed of the emotional distance that Bob Shoop conveyed to some degree. I hate to say he has "warm and fuzzy-type feelings" towards his team, but he seems to genuinely care for them as individuals, that always comes out clearly and indicates why he may prove so very good for Columbia, however long he stays.

He also kidded Matt Bashaw, who was there with his father, that he might find himself challenged by some incoming freshmen. He stressed the seeming offensive depth and the seeming defensive depth, but didn't really go into much detail at all about the running back and QB issues. And he indicated that he might be happier if Rocholl didn't also have to serve as a punter this season, though he also admitted he'd use him there again if he proved better than two incoming kickers.

Lastly, he noted that he's only met you once himself, up in New Haven, when the subject of this blog finally came up towards the end of this evening. "But he seemed like an okay guy to me" was Coach Wilson's summing up."

For those of you who are new to this site, please see the "Roar Lions FAQ Part 1" I published earlier this summer.

The point of this blog is to give Lions fans a virtual meeting place, and thus increase fan support and overall size. We are facing a pivotal time for Ivy football and I encourage all the fans of all the Ivy teams to take matters into their own hands and find and build the support base.

Finally, this blog is the reason why I got the job as the new color commentator for Columbia football online and on AM radio this coming season. It is a dream job for me and I am working hard to make sure I don't disappoint.