Media Day Messages

I have to admit that I am not a fan of American Idol. Is it because of the performers? Not really. Ryan Seacrest? Yeah, he's annoying but he doesn't bother me that much. The product placement? Hey, you have to pay the rent.

What I can't stand is having to listen to three people critique something that I just heard for myself. Do I really need three people, one of whom is definitely stoned or dealing with the worst middle ear infection in history, to tell me how to think?!?

So, if you saw the excellent web stream of Ivy Football media day via the Ivy Web site, you may be annoyed by having to read through my impressions of what you saw for yourself. But either way, I will keep it brief.

There were a few apparent, (and I mean APPARENT... nothing official was announced), revelations about the upcoming season from Coach Wilson during his one-on-one interview:

1) We're going to have five JV games this season. That's up from three last year and zero in 2006. With all this young talent on the team, this is a definite positive. Hopefully we'll see a schedule up pretty soon.

2) When discussing the defensive line Coach Wilson mentioned Phil Mitchell of course, but we also heard Lou Miller and Conor Joyce's names. Does that mean they have the inside track to starting this season? Discuss.

3) When talking about the offensive line, Coach Wilson made special mention of Brandon Veldman. Does that mean he has the inside track to one of the starting slots this season? Discuss.

4) Coach Wilson did not tip his hand on who will be the starting QB this season. He only mentioned Shane Kelly, Millicent Olawale, and Paul Havas by name. What does that mean? I'm not sure either.


As far as the other coaches go, some gave better interviews than others. Brown's Phil Estes, Princeton's Roger Hughes, and Dartmouth's Buddy Teevens were good, and Harvard's Tim Murphy was very direct and forthcoming, especially about his QB situation.

Since none of this really means anything officially, I would simply reserve my best wishes and thanks for the people who arranged the event and I hope the Webcast got a lot of hits.


Game of the Day (Day 39)

October 8, 1967

Princeton 28 Columbia 14


Austin Knowlin enters his last two seasons with a chance to shatter a great deal of Columbia's receiving records. A good deal of them are the single-season and career records held by Columbia QB John Witkowski's main receivers Bill Reggio and Don Lewis.

But one record stands out, Bill Wazevich's 1967 single game receiving record of 214 yards against Princeton in 1967. The funny thing about that game was that Princeton still won it, as the Tigers more than matched the Lion aerial attack with an old fashioned running game.

But things started well for Columbia as the QB Marty Domres hit Wazevich for a 76-yard touchdown four minutes into the first quarter for a 7-0 lead. The 16,382 Lions fans in attendance went wild.

But Columbia's special teams betrayed the offense's efforts. Princeton returner Bruce Wayne had a career day and his first punt return later in the first quarter gave the Tigers the ball at the Lion 18. A few plays later Princeton had a one yard TD run to tie it at 7-7.

Just a few minutes later, Wayne had another strong punt return, a 26-yarder to the Columbia 33. That set up the second Tiger TD four plays later.

Later in the second quarter, Columbia struck for some special teams magic of its own. Bill Carey, (uncle of future Lion Captain Chris Carey), returned a punt for an 86-yard TD to tie it at 14-14.

But the Tigers used a trick play to take the lead before the half. Tailback Bob Weber threw an option pass to Mike Garton and it was 21-14.

But Columbia kept fighting back with the pass and the Tigers never had the luxury of coasting. When it was all over, Wazevich had caught 12 of Domres' 15 passes for that 214 yard mark that still stands today.

Wazevich tragically died at the too young age of 54 in 2002. We miss him.