COLUMBIA AT. NO. 24/RV ALBANY
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 27 • 6 P.M.
BOB FORD FIELD • ALBANY, N.Y.

GAME VITALS

TV	Time Warner Sports (Channel 323 for NYC Time Warner Cable Customers)
Video Stream	(Subscription Fee)
Audio Stream		Jerry Recco - Play-by-Play Sal Licata - Analyst
Live Stats

GAME NOTES

HISTORY LESSON
Today's meeting will be only the second time Columbia and Albany have met on the gridiron. The Great Danes defeated the Lions in 2011, taking a 44-21 victory back upstate in Columbia's home opener. 

FAMILIAR FACES
The senior class of 2014 were first-years the last time Columbia and Albany met. Three members of the class played in that game in Connor Nelligan, Ray Pesanello, and Malcolm Thaxton. Nelligan scored his first career touchdown, while Pesanello wrapped up his first career tackle, and Thaxton saw time on special teams.

COLUMBIA ALL-TIME VS. COLONIAL ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION
The Lions hold a 5-4 all-time record against teams currently in the Colonial Athletic Association. The last time Columbia knocked off a team from the CAA was in 2010, when the Lions beat Towson 24-10. Columbia's most common CAA opponent is Maine, with three matchups, but none since 1942. The Lions have a 3-0 record against the Black Bears. 

TACKLING TOBA 
Toba Akinleye had a career game in the season opener, earning a spot on the Ivy League Honor Roll. Akinleye posted eight solo stops and three assisted tackles to lead the Lions with 11 total tackles. The junior defensive end also got to the quarterback, sacking Fordham's Mike Nebrich twice for a total 10 yards lost. Akinleye sits tied for the conference lead with 2.0 sacks, and has the fifth most tackles in the Ivy League. His per-game average of 2.0 sacks puts him tied for second most in the FCS.

PINNING THEM DEEP
Cameron Nizialek stepped up big time Saturday, with many impressive punts in his collegiate debut. The sophomore punted 11 times for 452 yards, for an average of 41.2 yards per punt. The average puts Nizialek third in the Ivy League, and 31st in the FCS for punting yardage. Nizialek had a long punt of 57 yards, and pinned Fordham inside the 20 four times. The Columbia defense covered Nizialek's punts well, as the Rams totaled five returns for a mere 16 yards. 

ANSWERING THE BELL
Junior Trevor Bell came up with his first career interception in the opener, picking off a pass on Fordham's opening drive of the second half. The interception came off of a blocked field goal, which the kicker scooped up and threw into the hands of Bell. The cornerback, who registered the only turnover of the game, also totaled seven tackles, which tied Max Keefe for second most for the Lions.

THE QUARTERBACK NAMED NOTTINGHAM
Brett Nottingham threw his first touchdown as a Columbia Lion on Saturday, finding sophomore John Hunton in the middle of the field for a 29-yard score in the fourth quarter. This was not the first time the junior threw a collegiate touchdown, as Nottingham also completed a 39-yard pass for a touchdown to Coby Fleener, while playing with Stanford in 2011. 

COLLEGE DEBUTS
14 first-year players saw their first action in Columbia blue on Saturday in various roles. Noah Zgrablich scored his first points, as the kicker put an extra point through the uprights in the fourth quarter. Running back Chris Schroer got his first career carries Saturday, running the ball six times for 15 yards, and leading the team with 34 receiving yards on three catches. Colinn Early made an impact in the return game, bringing back two kicks for 40 yards. On the defensive end, David Donovan wrapped up his first tackle of his career.

ROAD OPENERS
Dating back to 1950, Columbia holds a record of 12-51-2 in the first road contest of the season. Columbia's last win in its first road game of the year came in 2009, when the Lions took the short trip to the Bronx and beat Fordham, 40-28.

#TEAM124
This year marks the 144th anniversary of Columbia's first intercollegiate football game against Princeton in 1870. It is the 124th competitive season of Columbia Football.

OH CAPTAINS, MY CAPTAINS
Patricia and Shepard Alexander Head Coach of Football Pete Mangurian has tabbed senior linebacker Ray Pesanello and junior quarterback Brett Nottingham as co-captains of the 2014 squad.

ADAMS AND MARTIN MAKE THE CUT
Former Lions' standouts Jeff Adams '12CC and Josh Martin '13CC are among 12 Ivy Leaguers on active NFL rosters. Adams joined the Houston Texans off of waivers at the end of training camp, but has yet to suit up this season. Martin has been active in three games in 2014, and has totaled two tackles. The outside linebacker played in five contests in 2013.

COLUMBIA FOOTBALL TODAY
Every Saturday during the Columbia football season, tune in to WMCA 570 AM for Columbia Football Today at 7:30 a.m. Host Jerry Recco and Pete Mangurian will preview all the action for the Lions upcoming game. The show is also simulcast on The Ivy League Digital Network, available at www.ivyleaguedigitalnetwork.com/columbia.

BROTHERLY LOVE
Columbia features three sets of brothers on this year's squad. Senior John Brady is joined by his sophomore brother Keith at linebacker. Senior wideout and long snapper John Keefe and junior linebacker Max Keefe both return to the Lions. Also, senior tight end Garrett DeMuth welcomes his first-year brother, Turner DeMuth, who plays running back.

2014 HALL OF FAMERS
Columbia football will have two more representatives being inducted into the Columbia University Athletics Hall of Fame this October, with Al Barabas '36CC and the 1996 squad taking their rightful places among the Lions' greats. Barabas scored the only touchdown in Columbia's 7-0 Rose Bowl win over Stanford in 1934. The 1996 Lions went 8-2 and finished second in the Ivy League standings.

LIKE FATHER, LIKE SON
Two current Lions' are the second generation of players that have suited up for Patricia and Sheapard Alexander Head Coach Pete Mangurian. Landon Baty and Justin Aimonetti's fathers, Greg Baty and Steve Aimonetti, were both at Stanford while Mangurian was the offensive line coach in the early 1980's.

30^TH ANNIVERSARY OF WIEN STADIUM
This year marks the 30th anniversary of the dedication of Columbia's football stadium to former trustee, philanthropist, lawyer and entrepreneur Lawrence A. Wien ' 25CC. The new stadium opened its doors officially on Sep. 22, 1984 against Harvard.