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Nick Gerst
NorthJersey.com is reporting that Bergen Catholic running back Nick Gerst is coming to Columbia.
You can see Gerst's highlight video here.
The PA Football News Web site reports that a good-sized tight end from the Wilmington-area school, Dallas Hartman, is also in his way to Morningside Heights.
Here's a litte more info about Hartman from a local publication.
Another player on our radar, but also a lot of other schools' radars, is Brent Caprio from Mainland High School in South Jersey.
In Case You Missed it...
Former Columbia halfback, and favorite target for Archie Roberts , Roger Dennis, made a comment this weekend on a post I wrote over the summer. To save you some clicking time, here's what he said about his career with Roberts:
Many thanks for the kind comments; I sure enjoyed teaming up with Archie and wish Coach (Buff) Donelli would have allowed me to play receiver in my Senior year, the year following Archie's graduation. Coach felt we were no longer a passing team. In my opinion we would have had a more successful season if I had stayed at receiver.
Archie was from Holyoke, Mass., and attended Deerfield Academy. BTW, he was also an outstanding basketball player, and if I remember correctly he played one season of B-Ball at Columbia too, probably as a frosh.
Enjoyed reading all this; thanks much.
Roger Dennis '66
Hopefully, we'll hear more from Mr. Dennis in the future.
I also just found this link to a great Sports Illustrated article about Roberts where Dennis is also mentioned.
Movie Magic
Erik Greenberg Anjou, the director of 8: Ivy League Football and America, was a guest at Chez Novak this Friday night. He was kind enough to drop off my copy of the just-released movie DVD.
In the bonus section, there's a great speech given by Brian Dennehy, who also narrates the film, that at first brings laughs and then some tears. It's a great, great speech and should be required viewing for all Columbia fans.
I also have to say that watching the film again in the comfort of my own home, as opposed to the uncomfortable grand ballroom of the Yale Club where the film premiered was much, much better. I think documentaries shown in traditional movie theaters may also be a bad mix, and showing them in non-theater settings is tougher.
I'm grateful the folks at the Yale Club were nice enough to host the event last spring, but for those of you who were there, I suggest buying the DVD and watching it in your living room.
Click here to order your copy of 8.
posted by Jake @ 8:18:00 PM
14 comments
14 Comments:
The Gerst highlight film is excellent. 4.45 speed is unusual in the Ivies. He can also catch passes out of the backfield. As for Roger Dennis, my recollection is that Roger was originally Class of 1965 and was out of sschool for a year. He was a phenomenal athlete. I remember a game against Rutgers in which Archie hit him for a long pass which was calle dback for holding. Archie went back to the exact same play and Roger pulled it in again. In the fall on 1965 the tema won a few games, including the Yale game, but it was the end of the Donelli era and the wheels came off toward the end of the season. W enever found the right QB that year; I seem to recall that Rick Ballantine, who was recruited by Ohio State, etc. was playing out of position at QB. but Roger could have beaten anybody, no matter who was at QB. Nice piece, Jake.
"4.45 speed is unusual in the Ivies."
Your 4.45 is somebody else's 4.65, but even that would be pretty quick. Don't put too much stock in the former.
I saw those highlights; Gerst looked like he has legitimate breakaway speed.
Gerst could be an excellent scatback, kick returner, etc., but we still need to find a big tough runner with speed and moves who can wear down the defense. Any thoughts?
From the video, he reminds me of Travis Chmelka. If he's nearly as good, he'd be quite a player!
Some of the great tailbacks in college ball in recent years are around the same size as Gerst and perhaps a little heavier. Ray Rice comes to mind.
The Ore State mighty mite,
Jacquizz Rodgers RB
Height: 5-7 Weight: 193, treated USC's highly-touted D like Swiss cheese.
Great article on Roberts-what an impressive student/athlete in his day. Jake, just curious is the Dennehy speech from the Ivy Football dinner 2 years ago? Mostly talking about taking the bus to practice and their game against a highly favored Brown team? I heard that speech live and made the same comment on this blog hoping CU would release it as it was outstanding.
Yes, the Dennehy bit is that same speech. Really, really great stuff.
Gerst looks good but I might rather have his offensive line. You could drive a Mayflower truck through those holes!!!
I don't recall Archie Roberts playing basketball. But he was a pretty good baseball player and, I believe, was on the team for more than one year.
Roberts was a reserve point guard on a pretty good team. He was a decent player, and played a few years as I recall. As a football player and a baseball player is was tremendous. I remember one incredible moment during his senior year, when we played Princeton at Palmer Stadium. Archie's portrait was on the cover of the Princeton program.
Gerst has tremendous acceleration which allows him to hit the hole the moment it opens. His open field running shows
great instincts and field vision. The truly great running backs learn to change lanes when the hole isnt there. Hopefully Gerst will develop into one of those.
Nick Gerst reminds me of Darren Sproles with his great speed and quickness with not much size
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