Day 57: The Spirit of '94

Columbia will be back on YES



I've written a lot on this blog over the years about how the 1994 Columbia season was the result of fantastic play by QB's Mike Cavanaugh '96 and Jamie Schwalbe '95, and defensive standouts Marcellus Wiley '97 and Rory Wilfork '97.

But 1994 could not have happened without a player I and too many others don't mention enough: Tight End Brian Bassett '95.

Bassett came to Columbia in 1991 from Acton, Mass. where he attended Acton-Boxboro Regional High before doing a postgrad year at New Hampton Prep. During his high school career at both schools, he played QB and never caught a pass in his life before then Head Coach Ray Tellier switched the growing Bassett to tight end.

As a sophomore, he showed he could make the transition with 9 catches for 128 yards in his backup role.

In 1993, Bassett did double duty as starting tight end and punter and did a solid job in both roles, leading the team with 34 receptions for 398 yards and two TD's. He averaged 33.2 yards per punt.

By 1994, it was clear Bassett needed to focus on his tight end job, and week after week he posted the big numbers that proved he was on his game.

It started with his first 100-yard game in the 39-32 heartbreaker loss to Harvard at Wien Stadium in week one. It reached a personal high point three weeks later when he had 158 receiving yards in a 24-13 win over Fordham in The Bronx. He had another 100-yard game with 104 receiving yards against Yale two weeks later in a 30-9 Lion win at the Bowl.

Bassett finished the '94 season with 62 grabs for 793 yards and three touchdowns. He was 1st Team All Ivy and an Honorable Mention All-American.

Bassett was also an academic All-American in multiple years for the Lions.


Columbia on YES

The YES Network has now announced that it will broadcast the October 31st Yale at Columbia game. It's been awhile since the Lions were on YES at home, (I think 2005 was the last time), so this is nice.


Rough News

And there is some sad news to report today about former Columbia football and baseball hero Ed Backus. I will refrain from any further editorial comment, but I am disheartened by these developments.