GAME 9
BROWN (1-7, 0-5 Ivy League) at COLUMBIA (3-5, 2-3 Ivy League)
Saturday, November 16, 2019 • 1 p.m. ET • Robert K. Kraft Field at Lawrence A. Wien Stadium • New York, N.Y.
 
THE FACTS
 
Television: ESPN+ (Lance Medow and Landon Baty; Producer: Sol Steinberg) | Watch Live on ESPN+
 
Columbia Online Radio Network: simulcast on www.gocolumbialions.com | Listen Live
 
Live Stats: www.gocolumbialions.com | Live Stats
 
Coaches: Columbia- Al Bagnoli, 5th year at Columbia (22-26), 37th year overall (257-124). Brown- James Perry, 1^st year at Brown (1-7), 3^rd year overall (13-17).
 
Series: Columbia and Brown meet for the 84^th time in series history. Brown leads the all-time series 52-29-2 and is 23-19-1 in games played in New York City. Columbia has claimed each of the last three matchups as the Lions have averaged 32.3 points per game and won by a combined average margin of 19.3 points per contest.
 
GAME NOTES
 
NEW YORK—Columbia (3-5, 2-3 Ivy League) plays its final home game of its 149th anniversary year and 129th season of college football when it hosts Brown (1-7, 0-5 Ivy League) for Columbia Football Players Club Senior Day on Saturday, Nov. 16 at Robert K. Kraft Field at Lawrence A. Wien Stadium. Kickoff is scheduled for 1 p.m. ET.
 
The contest will be streamed live on ESPN+ with Lance Medow (play-by-play) and Landon Baty '19CC (color commentary) calling the action. Sol Steinberg will produce. The Columbia Online Radio Network will also provide a free audio-only simulcast broadcast on its website (www.gocolumbialions.com).
 
TODAY'S TOP STORYLINES

• Two games remain in the 2019 season and Columbia has the opportunity to conclude the year with a winning Ivy League record.
• Saturday marks Senior Day for 28 Lions seniors.
• The Lions have played a difficult schedule as the teams they lost to have combined for a 36-7 overall record this year (Dartmouth 8-0, Princeton 7-1, Georgetown 5-4, CCSU 9-1 and Yale 7-1). Three of those teams are currently ranked nationally.
• Columbia is coming off back-to-back winning seasons for the first time since 1961 and 1962. With 14 wins combining the 2017 and 2018 seasons, the Lions have set a program-record for most victories in consecutive seasons since joining the Ivy League in 1956.

 
ABOUT THE LIONS
 
Columbia is 3-5 on the season and 2-3 in Ivy League play after winning a dramatic 17-10 overtime victory over Harvard last Saturday. Ben Mathiasmeier sealed the victory in overtime for Columbia as he intercepted a pass after Mike Roussos scored on a one-yard touchdown run, which was setup by a 25-yard pass from Ty Lenhart to Rory Schlageter. Columbia's defense enjoyed its best performance of the year as it held Harvard to just 200 yards of total offense, 63 rushing yards, and just 10 first downs. The Crimson converted just three of 13 third downs and was 0-2 on fourth down. The Lions outgained Harvard 307-200 in total offense, registered 20 first downs to the Crimson's 10 and outrushed the Crimson 154-63 in yardage. The Lions also converted nine of its 18 third downs and controlled possession for the majority of the game (38:46 to 21:14). Harvard entered the contest leading the nation in sacks (4.50 per game), but the Lions allowed just two sacks on the day. Columbia defeated Harvard for the first time since Nov. 8, 2003.
 
Columbia opened its 2019 season after registering back-to-back winning seasons for the first time since 1961 and 1962. The Lions returned 15 starters (eight on offense and seven on defense) and nine total All-Ivy League selections from a program that won 14 of its 20 games over the previous two seasons (8-2 in 2017 and 6-4 in 2018).
 
Last year, Columbia endured a season that saw it suffer injuries to over 25 of its key players. It started four different quarterbacks and won with all of them, lost its top two running backs and top two receivers to injuries and still registered a winning season.
 
LIONS SCHEDULE PROVES TO BE VERY DIFFICULT
 
Columbia has played an extremely difficult schedule this year. The Lions' five losses have come to teams who have compiled a 36-7 overall record this year: Central Connecticut State 9-1, Dartmouth 8-0, Princeton 7-1, Georgetown 5-4, and Yale 7-1. Three of those teams are currently ranked in national polls: Dartmouth, Princeton and Central Connecticut State. Furthermore, three of those games were played on the road.
 
SENIOR DAY FOR 28 COLUMBIA PLAYERS
 
Saturday's final regular season home game vs. Brown marks Columbia's annual Columbia Football Players Club Senior Day for 28 seniors. The ceremony will begin at 12:43 p.m. (20:00 on game clock). Seniors and their family members will be announced and then proceed through a pathway set up by Columbia alumni players. Seniors and their families will proceed to Head Coach Al Bagnoli at the 50-yard line.
 
This year's senior class includes (by number): Hunter Lunsford, Lynnard Rose, Michael Murphy, Jalen Williams, Josh Wainwright, Christian Everett, Matt Dame, Oren Milstein, Carson Griffis, Benjamin McKeighan, Tanner Thomas, Ronald Smith, Van Neils, Max Mullaney, Ben Hill, Daniel DeLorenzi, Taylor Weldon, John Fischer, Joseph Scowden, Arman Samouk, Parker Coogan, Lamine Nouck-A-Nwal, Drew Schoeberl, Isaac Werkman, Rory Schlageter, Kyle Baskin, Christian Boujaoude, and Alex Robin. Depending on individual circumstances, a few of these players could return for the 2019 season.
 
The group won three games as first-years in 2016, eight games in 2017, six games in 2018 and has three wins and counting in 2019. The class currently has a 20-18 overall record. With a win Saturday, the class will become the first football class at Columbia to graduate with a winning record since the 1963 class (18-17-1).
 
2019 SENIOR CLASS ACCOMPLISHMENTS
 
Columbia Football's 28-member Class of 2018 has achieved numerous records during its time with the program (2016-19). Here are a few of those accomplishments:
 

• Could become the first Columbia football senior class to graduate with a winning record since 1963. The group is currently 20-18 overall with two games to play. The 1963 squad accumulated an 18-17-1 overall record.
• 20 total victories and counting and 12 Ivy League wins from 2016-19. This group is currently 12-15 in Ivy League play.
• The 20 victories currently rank tied for first among all-time winningest senior classes since Columbia joined the Ivy League in 1956. Here is the list: 20 wins, 2016-19, and 1994-97; 19 wins, 2015-18, 1995-98 and 1996-99; 18 wins, 1960-63. With a win Saturday, the class will become the all-time winningest senior class at Columbia since the school joined the Ivy League in 1956.
• Helped Columbia set the record for most wins in back-to-back seasons (since 1956) with 14 total in 2017 (8) and 2018 (6).
• In 2017, helped lead the Lions to an 8-2 overall, 5-2 Ivy League record and second place finish in the league, Columbia's best overall record, best Ivy League season and highest Ivy League finish in 21 years (since 1996). The eight wins rank tied for the third most wins in school history.
• Led the Lions to a seven-game win streak from Nov. 19, 2016 to Oct. 28, 2017, the school's longest win streak since 1935 and third longest win streak in school history.
• In 2018, helped lead the Lions to a 6-0 start to a season for the first time since 1996. The 6-0 start marked just the second time since 1945 that Columbia began a year with six straight victories.
• Defeated all seven Ivy League opponents at least one time.
• The group is Head Coach Al Bagnoli's first full recruiting class at Columbia.
• The group entered Columbia as the nation's No. 3 ranked FCS recruiting class in 2016.

 
LIONS TO HONOR MATT BARSAMIAN ON SATURDAY
 
Columbia will honor the family of former Lion Matt Barsamian, who passed away unexpectedly in March 2019. A First Team All-Ivy League selection in 2006, Barsamian was the anchor on the offensive line as he saw action in 34 games with 23 starts at left tackle. As a senior, he was named team captain, graduated in 2007 with an economics degree.
     The Matthew D. Barsamian Foundation was established in 2019 by the Barsamian and Robinson families. A former Columbia football player and team captain as a senior in 2006, Matthew Barsamian '07CC, more commonly known as "Barso," had an infectious personality and a passion for life. Matt effortlessly spread joy because, for him, living life to the fullest meant doing good things for others. The Matthew D. Barsamian Foundation honors Matt's memory by attempting to match generosity and ensuring that his unwavering happiness always remains.
 
COLUMBIA, LIONS PLAYERS AMONG 2019 NATIONAL STATISTICAL LEADERS
 
After eight games, Columbia is ranked among the nation's top-25 FCS teams in seven different team statistical categories in 2019.
 
According to the NCAA statistics, Columbia ranked:

• No. 3 in punt returns (18.17).
• No. 3 in first downs defense (138).
• No. 10 in fewest penalties (43).
• No. 17 in fewest penalty yards (404).
• No. 20 in blocked kicks (3).
• No. 21 in kickoff returns (22.96).
• No. 22 in time of possession (31:38).

 
Individually, the Lions rank among the top-25 national statistical leaders in six categories:

• Mike Roussos, No. 2 in punt return touchdowns (1).
• Mike Roussos, No. 5 in punt returns (18.20).
• Mike Roussos, No. 6 in combined kick returns (746).
• Will Allen, No. 6 in blocked kicks (2).
• Mike Roussos, No. 13 in all-purpose yards per game (134.13).
• Mike Roussos, No. 26 in kickoff returns (24.0).

 
ABOUT BROWN
 
Brown enters its game at Columbia on a seven-game losing streak. The Bears are 1-7 overall and 0-5 in Ivy League play with two games remaining.
 
Brown is led by quarterback EJ Perry, who has accumulated 2,930 yards of total offense on the season. Perry has completed 196 of 334 passes (58.7) for 2,236 yards and 18 touchdowns. He averages 279.5 yards passing per game and has a pass efficiency rating of 126.11. Perry also leads Brown in rushing with 694 yards on 118 carries and six touchdowns. He averages 5.9 yards per carry. On the year, Perry has been responsible for 24 of Brown's 32 touchdowns.
 
Perry's favorite targets include Jakob Prall (34-444, 3 TD), Demitri Jackson (34-310, 2 TD), Scott Boylan (25-344, 5 TD), Dan Gemmell (24-308, 2 TD) and Emerson Logie (21-229, 1 TD). Allen Smith has also rushed for 409 yards on the year.
 
On defense, the Bears are led by Jason Medeiros (42 tackles, 2 INT), Brendan Pyne (40 tackles) and Cooper DeVeau (35 tackles, 7 breakups).