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Columbia Lions at Princeton Tigers


October 1st, 2011

Location: Powers Field at Princeton Stadium

Kickoff Time: 6pm

Gametime Weather Forecast: Rain, 57 degrees


The Spread: Columbia is favored by 3 points.

Columbia Game Notes


PrincetonGame Notes


TV/Radio

You can catch video AND audio of the game on the SideLion Pass on GoColumbiaLions.com with Jerry Recco and Sal Licata. If you're in your car, WKCR student radio is at 89.9 FM, (and you can get its feed over the internet too).


Columbia Alumni Tailgate

There are just a few hours left to register for the cool Columbia tailgate event at Princeton Stadium.

The deadline to RSVP is by the end of the day, TODAY.

Click HERE to register/RSVP for the event online NOW.


HOW TO GET TO THE GAME:


Directions to the Princeton Campus


Directions for GPS users


Columbia Athletics will be providing a fan bus to tomorrow’s Princeton game. It will leave from the Broadway gates at 3:30 pm. Anyone interested should RSVP to Gretchen at gs2317@columbia.edu.


Backstories

Princeton has lost 10 in a row, has a head coach who's 1-11 lifetime with the Tigers and yet it could be Columbia's head coach and program that needs to win this game much more.

Ever since the Lions whipped Princeton 42-14 in New York last year, Columbia has lost seven of nine and started this season at 0-2. There is definitely some pressure on Head Coach Norries Wilson as even the student newspaper, (filled with reporters who are usually deathly frightened of the man), is asking questions about some of his recent moves.

Princeton alums, at least the older ones, have to be besides themselves after two straight blowout losses to Columbia. Another loss and it's not beyong the realm of possibility that Tiger Head Coach Bob Surace will be shown the door in November.

On the field, both teams have been mistake prone and they will both want to get things straightened out in the Ivy opener.

The winner of this game gets relief and a reprieve.

The loser sinks further into the abyss and perhaps goes into crisis mode.



Columbia's Keys to the Game


Get Stronger up Front

Nothing is really going to work for Columbia until the offensive line play improves. QB Sean Brackett has been hurried too often, and the running holes up the middle just haven't been there. Princeton's defense is much better than the first two games would tell you, so this will be a serious challenge.


Get Brackett back on Track

This was job #1 last week, and while Columbia's QB looked a little better than he did in week one, he still wasn't the same guy we saw week in and week out in 2010. This needs to stop... now!


Find the Right Runner

Someone needs to start gaining yards on the ground for the Columbia offense. Nick Gerst did it in limited duty last week but if he can't take more than 10 carries or so, someone else needs to step up. Marcorus Garrett hasn't been able to do the job so far this season, in no small part because he's not 100% healthy. But that could mean freshman Alec Fisher will get touches, and at this point no one should care WHO gets it done as long as SOMEONE gets it done.


Find the Right Receiver


With top wide receiver Mike Stephens out, Brackett needs to find a target he's comfortable with. Big TE Hamilton Garner is a new candidate after making some nice grabs last week. But senior receivers Kurt Williams and Paul Havas seem like they have the inside track to fill the void.


Harass Wornham

Princeton QB Tommy Wornham has had a rough start to 2011 too, and the Lion pass rushers like Josh Martin and Ryan Murphy need to make his life miserable tomorrow night. His mistakes last weekend turned what looked like a potential Princeton victory into a blowout loss. He can't be allowed to get comfortable in the pocket.