Follow the Bouncing Ball

Four onside kicks earned Walsh a trip to Japan with Bo


Game of the Day (Day 51)

November 20, 1983

Brown 42 Columbia 36



I can't remember the last time Columbia recovered one of its one onsides kicks. I know the Lions grabbed one in the 1994 loss at Dartmouth, but after that I'm drawing a blank. I also remember Penn returning one of our onside kicks for a TD in 2005, the first time I've ever seen that happen at any level of football.

But in the 1983 season finale, the special teams had an incredible final push in Providence that almost gave the Lions an stunning comeback win from 35 points down.

The game was the final contest in QB John Witkowski's career, and while he led the comeback with his passes, it was Columbia's sophomore placekicker Larry Walsh who kept giving Witkowski the opportunity to make magic.


Brown took the early lead with an 84-yard drive that ended in a 6-yard TD run by Jamie Potkul. Witkowski and he Lions answered right back with a drive capped off by a 17-yard TD catch by Bill Reggio.

Then the Bears took over, scoring five straight TD's to take a 42-7 lead at the end of the third quarter.

But incredibly, it was not over. The Lions scored four straight touchdowns and then Walsh converted a stunning four straight onside kicks after each score to keep Brown from answering back.

But the fifth onside kick attempt was touched by a Columbia player only nine yards from the tee, and Brown finally got the ball back with just over two minutes left. The Bears ran out the clock from there.

Witkowski finished the game going 30 of 47, with 4 touchdowns and 2 interceptions. It was the seventh time in 1983 that he passed for more than 300 in a game.

After his senior season, Walsh was asked to represent the Ivy League at the 1986 Japan Bowl All Star Game in Yokahama Stadium.

Something tells me Walsh's four straight onside kicks two years before had something to do with his selection.


Larry was nice enough to send along some of these pictures from that amazing week he spent in Japan. Yes that is Bo Jackson in a couple of them. And on Walsh's left in the picture below that is Keith Byers.