The Hofstra Shuffle
So the dust has settled on the shocking discontinuation of football at Hofstra and we now know where just about every one of the football players has ended up.
I am shocked to say that none of the former Pride players has landed with an Ivy.
I say "shocked" because Hofstra played at a pretty high level of FCS football, and the Hofstra campus is not that far from any of the Ivy schools in the Northeast.
I am also shocked because a good number of Hofstra players were excellent high school students, presumably with good enough grades to fit into an Ivy school's A.I.
Looking at where some of the ex-Pride players did end up shows who was aggressively recruiting and who wasn't. And on that score, I am NOT shocked.
Aggressive FCS newcomer Old Dominion grabbed two Hofstra stars, including linebacker Deron Mayo.
Fordham, with its new athletic scholarships now in effect, took two Hofstra transfers as well, including RB Carlton Koonce.
And another frequent Columbia opponent, Lafayette, took DB Tyler McFarlane.
Two Hofstra transfers went to big time FBS programs, OL Matt McBride is now at Rutgers and WR Aaron Weaver shifted to Syracuse.
I still don't know the fate of ex-Columbia assistant coach Dave Patenaude, who had been the offensive coordinator for Hofstra the last few seasons.
posted by Jake @ 11:41:00 PM
12 comments
12 Comments:
Jake: it would have been shocking to me if any Hofstra players had transferred to an Ivy. Transfer admissions at most of the Ivies is a late spring process for fall admission. The Ivies typically don't admit transfers for the spring semester. If all these players have found a home they are way ahead of the Ivy schedule. Of course the system could be preempted but that's highly unusual. Then you have the question of their academic preparedness; these kids did not go to Ivies in the first place so it would be most unusual to find one who could now qualify after a year or two at Hofstra, and would that one be enough of an impact player to make the coaches and the admissions office jump through hoops. Very unlikely. Finally the coaches presumably would have to give up an incoming first year. Compare that to the speed with which most non-Ivies can admit a kid. So it's not surprising.
Leonidas
Jake, I think you have a blind spot for Hofstra. I have never thought much of Hofstra as a school, and regrettably I have to dismiss as pure hyperbole your assertion that a number of Hofstra players were fine students as well. I just don't buy it. However, I'd be delighted to accept the next Colston as a transfer, if you can find him, or a Chrebet for that matter.
Jake is not without a dollop of wholesome naivete.
I do have a soft spot for Hofstra, especially since I live so close to the campus. But in all fairness, the school has improved by leaps and bounds academically over the last 20 years. I was shocked that at least one or two of their top kickers weren't grabbed by Brown for one example.
If Hofstra decided to close its academic program altogether, their students would transfer to the likes of LIU or SUNY or Adelphi and no one on any academic blog would be shocked that none of their kids came to Columbia. Hofstra is at best a third tier school, so let's move on from this topic
Late Hit Penalty to me for piling on: Hofstra is just a step above community college. If they have moved up it is from a low base. Personally, I am much more keen to hear about good scholar athletes coming to MOrningside than I am about some Hofstra refugees.
Hey Anonymous! What's your problem with Hofstra? Ease up or Brando from On the Waterfront will come and get ya.
Let's cut Jake some slack here; he has a blind spot for Hofstra. It's not a very good school, but it has turned out a few good football players. Stony Brook, also a Long Island school, is quite a bit better academically and managed to beat Brown last Fall in a squeaker, as I recall. But I'd rather talk about last night's gutty win over the hated Quakers at the Palestra.
Responding to Brando...perhaps I have stumbled upon the lone Hofstra transfer? I have nothing against this school and would never have spoken up but for the coverage given to them. Just havin some fun on this blog.
BTW, I absolutely love this blog. As a long suffering 32 year fan of Lions football, it seems the program is headed to a league championship within 2 years. Perhaps in 2011 and we can assemble Campbell, Dennehy et al to witness.
Keep it up, Jake!!!
Why 2011? I think we are going to make a run this Fall. PS, Jake, can we please move off the Hofstra story?
I was only thinking that 2011 would be the 50th anniversary of the last Columbia Ivy Champs. But I am happy to celebrate a year early! Realistically, though, it will take another year to get there. I am hoping or a 7-3 (5-2) record this coming year and a 9-1 (6-1) record in 2011 for the championship.
With the players we already have on board plus this incoming class, a championship in two years is possible, but with all the Ivys looking like they're having excellent recruitings years (even and especially the bottom two finishers, Dartmouth and Cornell), the league should be more competitive than ever. It will come down to coaching and injuries...Brackett, for instance, must stay healthy.
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