No Excuses!
Baker Field is not such a handicap after all
Many readers have pointed out this nice piece in the New York Times about the baseball team.
For what seems like a gazillion years, the critics have told us that Columbia sports teams that practice and play at Baker Field can't win because of the annoying commute to practice, etc.
Baseball's championship this season and the championship for women's soccer in 2006 put the lie to that statement, hopefully once and for all.
But it will probably take a football championship to happen before everyone stops talking about the "Baker Field Effect."
Speaking of Baker Field, here's a great picture I haven't seen of the football stadium sometime in the 1950's. Note the great houses on the other side of the river that are no longer there.
posted by Jake @ 8:29:00 PM
7 comments
7 Comments:
Thanks to the new football class, the Columbia football roster is now up to 111 and that's before the walk-ons and possible late transfers. Even with some attrition, the number of players in the football program this fall probably will be the highest since freshman became eligible, and maybe even before. You have to give credit to Coach Wilson and everyone else connected with the football program for instilling a strong feeling of pride about being part of Columbia Football.
The four new running backs are an intriguing group. Nico Papas is an exciting prospect with excellent size (6'0, 233) and athletic ability. Papas was the top-rated fullback in Massachusetts last year. ESPN described him as a devastating blocker. Even though there is a huge difference between high school and college football, Papas appears to have the ability to help improve Columbia's running game, almost immediately, either as a fullback, or possibly at tailback. Donnie Miller is another good-sized running back (6'2", 215) with 4.6 speed. He was a standout running back in Michigan his junior year. Assuming he has recovered from his leg injury, he could see action right away at tailback. David Chao is not as big or celebrated as Papas or Miller, but he was a productive running back in a tough football league in the Chicago suburbs. Finally, there is Peter Holst-Grubbe, a 6'2" 250 pound fullback from Avon Old Farm School. Holst-Grubbe appears to be a big,strong guy with plenty of potential. You need someone with his size in short yardage situations to help you get a first down or TD. One question about the new football class is whether it has any punt/kickoff returners in the group. Wide receiver, James Burrell, may have returned kicks in high school, but I'm not sure. What about A.J. Maddox, Kurt Williams, Christian Daniel or Ryan Haslett? With so many promising new defensive backs, I would suspect there is a punt/kick receiver amongst them
Of the 5 Defensive lineman, it appears that three are ends and 2 are good size tackles. After a spring game where the D-line went both ways, these 5 may see some time early. Four out of five are All State players(first or second team), Ben Popeck and J.D.Tyree are also former basketball players with great height. All these guys look great!
The interior DL, Frzier and Groth, are on paper as promising as any we've had in a long time. Paper obviously doesn't automatically tranfer into performance, but at least it's a start.
Dr.V
I agree with Dr. V and the prior blogger. All five of the incoming defensive linemen certainly have good size and football credentials. My guess is that at least one of them, Owen Fraser, will see immediate action because of his strength and football background at Trinity-Pawling School where the post-graduate competition is fierce. The other four players were indeed, All-State high school selections, in top football states like Ohio, Michigan, Virginia and Tennessee. So we know they have the talent to play at the next level. However, I hope they use the summer to add some more size and muscle as they will be facing much bigger offensive linemen than they played against before.
The Mountain Lion
Correction. I said 4 out of five were All State DL. All five are All State players. Owen was at prep school this past year, but was 1st Team all state in high school.
Defensive Lineman Owen Fraser does come from one of the most competitive leagues in America, he can make a difference. Two other guys from the same league, one from Kent and one from Avon Old Farms. Looks really good for the team.
Post a Comment
<< Home