Photo by: Mike McLaughlin
Great Teams: 2017 Columbia Lions
10/11/2020 8:25:00 PM | Football
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Columbia Football changes program culture with hard work, resiliency and toughness, Lions enjoy best season in 21 years in 2017.
NEW YORK—The Columbia Football program experienced its best season in 21 years. An 8-2 regular season, a second place finish in the Ivy League and a 5-2 Ivy League record highlighted the 2017 campaign. Along the way, it was the Lions' resiliency, toughness, and work ethic that captured the attention of their fans, the New York City media, and national media members alike.
Leading the way was Columbia's 31-member senior class led by captains Landon Baty, Anders Hill, Lord Hyeamang, and Bewley Wales, which experienced both ups and downs over a four-year span. The group started out with an 0-10 season as first-years and progressed from a 2-8 year as sophomores to 3-7 as juniors and then to 8-2 as seniors.
Over a four-year process and little-by-little, Head Coach Al Bagnoli, who began at Columbia in 2015, transformed the program's culture. Most importantly, the Lions' goal of playing meaningful games was achieved, right up until the final hours of the season.
If there was an Ivy League Most Improved Player Award, Hill undoubtedly would be a unanimous selection for that accolade. Hill completed a school-record 63.4 percent (206 of 325) of his passes for 16 touchdowns and only 10 interceptions. He was responsible for 19 of Columbia's 31 touchdowns and ranked among FCS national top-25 leaders in four different statistical categories.
Columbia jumped out a 6-0 record for just the second time since 1945. A game-winning Oren Milstein field goal as time expired gave the Lions a 17-14 win over Wagner in the season opener, Columbia went up 28-0 en route to a 35-14 win over Georgetown, then the Lions won a 28-24 Ivy League opener at Princeton as Ronald Smith caught a 63-yard pass for the game-winning touchdown and set the school-record with a 236-yard receiving day. The win over the Tigers gave the Lions national respect.
Following a dominant 41-17 win at Marist, Columbia moved to 5-0 after a thrilling 34-31 overtime win over Penn before 13,081 Homecoming fans. Hill found Josh Wainwright for the game-winning touchdown pass and chaos ensued as fans rushed the field in celebration.
The Lions moved to 6-0 following a dramatic, hard-fought 22-17 win at Dartmouth.
Following back-to-back losses at eventual Ivy League champion Yale (23-6) and to Harvard (21-14), Columbia claimed its last two matchups at Cornell (18-8) and vs. Brown (24-6).
The Lions were in the Ivy League title hunt up until the last quarter of play against Brown.
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TEAM NOTES
•With an 8-2 overall, 5-2 Ivy League record and second place finish in the league, Columbia enjoyed its best overall record, best Ivy League season and highest finish in the league in 21 years and since 1996.
•Columbia was in the Ivy League Championship race all season long. The Lions entered the final weekend of the season needing a Yale loss coupled with a win over Brown to capture a share of the school's first Ivy League title since 1961.
•Columbia began a season with six straight wins 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.
•Columbia's seven-game win streak from November 19, 2016 to October 28, 2017 marked the school's longest win streak since 1935 and third longest win streak in school history.
•Columbia's eight victories rank tied for the third-most wins in school history following nine-win seasons in 1903 and 1899 and tying eight-win seasons in 1901, 1933, 1945, and 1996.
•Columbia showed its resilience and toughness with two comeback wins against Penn and Princeton, two walk-off wins over Penn (34-31 in OT on walk-off TD) and Wagner (17-14 on walk-off field goal) and four victories that were secured in the last two minutes of regulation: Dartmouth, Penn, Princeton, and Wagner.
•With victories over Dartmouth, Penn and Princeton, Columbia swept all three opponents in a season for the first time since 1971.
•Columbia's five-win turnaround ranked among the top five best yearly comebacks in the FCS. The Lions went from 3-7 overall and 2-5 Ivy League record in 2016 and an 8-2 overall and 5-2 Ivy League record in 2017.
•With its five Ivy League wins, Columbia tied for second-best win total in conference play. The Lions won six games in 1961 and five games each in 1992 and 2017.
•National Coach of the Year candidate Head Coach Al Bagnoli garnered three Coach of the Year awards including awards presented by the Ivy League, AFCA Region 1, and ECAC. He becomes Columbia's third all-time Region Coach of the Year, following Aldo Donelli (1961) and Ray Tellier (1996). Bagnoli was also one of 18 finalists for the STATS FCS Eddie Robinson National Coach of the Year Award and one of six finalists for the AFCA National Coach of the Year honor.
•Wide receiver Josh Wainwright set a school-record for season receiving yards (1,001 yards).
2017 LETTERMEN
23-Acohido, Darion '21CC
22-Allen, Will '21CC
83-Alleyne, Chris '19CC
78-Anglin, Brock '19CC
6-Baty, Landon '18CC (Captain)
17-Bean, Josh '21CC
97-Breckenridge, Collin '18CC
7-Briscoe, Marcus '18CC
46-Carter, Cameren '21CC
3-Castner, Kyle '19CC
55-Coogan, Parker '20CC
88-Dansby, Zach '18SEAS
8-Davis, Dillon '21CC
84-Davis, Myles '21CC
47-DeLorenzi, Daniel '20CC
39-DeMuth, Turner '18CC
52-DeVary, Seth '21CC
63-Eby, Patrick '19CC
10-Everett, Christian '20CC
54-Falkenhayn, Cal '19CC
50-Fischer II, John '20CC
27-Flinn, Graham '21CC
79-Flores, Charlie '19CC
18-Gabriel, Tre '19CC
31-Gilbert, Ryan '19CC
99-Harris, LinDon '20CC
92-Heeb, Connor '18CC
12-Hill, Anders '18CC (Captain)
43-Hill, Ben '20CC
11-Hill, Denzel '18CC
16-Hill, Justin '20CC
58-Hinton, Mike '19CC
91-Holme, Alexander '18CC
33/35-Holmes, Tyler '18CC
15-Hong, Daniel '19CC
95-Hyeamang, Lord '18CC (Captain)
15-Kabus, Emerson '21CC
80-Krcilek, Brandon '19CC
4-Lunsford, Hunter '20CC
25-Mathiasmeier, Ben '21CC
66-McGrath, Mike '18CC
19-McKeighan, Ben '20CC
56-Melka, Charles '18CC
17-Milstein, Oren '20CC
26-Moore, Marquavious'21CC
38-Mullaney, Max '20CC
8-Murphy, Michael '20CC
30-Neils, Van '20CC
73-Nouck-A-Nwal, L. '20CC
60-Paukune, Markham '18CC
89-Perkovic, Dominic '18CC
85-Pitts, Kaleb '20CC
40-Powell, Carson '21CC
2-Roane, Cameron '18CC
70-Robbins, Benjamin '18CC
94-Robin, Alex '20CC
5-Rose, Lynnard '20CC
53-Samouk, Arman '20CC
81-Schlageter, Rory '20CC
74-Schoeberl, Drew '20CC
59-Schonewolf, Tyler '19CC
21-Schroer, Chris '18CC
51-Scowden, Joseph '20CC
24-Smith II, Ronald '20SEAS
62-Stables, Reid '18CC
2-Suitt, Ryan '19CC
98-Talty, Liam '18CC
20-Thomas, Tanner '20CC
9-Thome, Parker '18CC
27-VanDenBerg, Ian '20CC
55-Vravick, Jason '19SEAS
13-Wainwright, Josh '20CC
65-Wales, Bewley '18CC (Captain)
93-Washington, Greg '18CC
28-Webster, Jonathan '20CC
10-Weldon, Dylan '18CC
49-Weldon, Taylor '20CC
75-Werkman, Isaac '20CC
48-White, Sean '19CC
37-Williams, Jalen '20CC
33-Wilson, Cooper '21CC
29-Wooden, Blake '21CC
41-Woodley, Justin '21CC
14-Young, Jacob '19CC
96-Zgrablich, Noah '18CC
COACHING STAFF
Head Coach: Al Bagnoli
Offensive Coordinator/Tight Ends: Mark Fabish
Defensive Coordinator: Paul Ferraro
Associate Head Coach/Offensive Line: Jon McLaughlin
Running Backs: John Audino
Wide Receivers: Todd Gilcrist
Llinebackers/Special Teams Coordinator: Justin Stovall
Defensive Backs/Recruiting Coordinator: Jon Poppe
Defensive Line: Darin Edwards
Quarterbacks: Ricky Santos
Offensive Assistant: Kevin Callahan
Defensive Assistant: Andrae Murphy
Director of Football Administration: Greg Lamb
Director of Player Personnel: Eric Hahn
Social Media Coordinator/Assistant Director of Player Personnel: Joe Sibley
Video Coordinator: Jay Fitch
Leading the way was Columbia's 31-member senior class led by captains Landon Baty, Anders Hill, Lord Hyeamang, and Bewley Wales, which experienced both ups and downs over a four-year span. The group started out with an 0-10 season as first-years and progressed from a 2-8 year as sophomores to 3-7 as juniors and then to 8-2 as seniors.
Over a four-year process and little-by-little, Head Coach Al Bagnoli, who began at Columbia in 2015, transformed the program's culture. Most importantly, the Lions' goal of playing meaningful games was achieved, right up until the final hours of the season.
If there was an Ivy League Most Improved Player Award, Hill undoubtedly would be a unanimous selection for that accolade. Hill completed a school-record 63.4 percent (206 of 325) of his passes for 16 touchdowns and only 10 interceptions. He was responsible for 19 of Columbia's 31 touchdowns and ranked among FCS national top-25 leaders in four different statistical categories.
Columbia jumped out a 6-0 record for just the second time since 1945. A game-winning Oren Milstein field goal as time expired gave the Lions a 17-14 win over Wagner in the season opener, Columbia went up 28-0 en route to a 35-14 win over Georgetown, then the Lions won a 28-24 Ivy League opener at Princeton as Ronald Smith caught a 63-yard pass for the game-winning touchdown and set the school-record with a 236-yard receiving day. The win over the Tigers gave the Lions national respect.Following a dominant 41-17 win at Marist, Columbia moved to 5-0 after a thrilling 34-31 overtime win over Penn before 13,081 Homecoming fans. Hill found Josh Wainwright for the game-winning touchdown pass and chaos ensued as fans rushed the field in celebration.
The Lions moved to 6-0 following a dramatic, hard-fought 22-17 win at Dartmouth.
Following back-to-back losses at eventual Ivy League champion Yale (23-6) and to Harvard (21-14), Columbia claimed its last two matchups at Cornell (18-8) and vs. Brown (24-6).
The Lions were in the Ivy League title hunt up until the last quarter of play against Brown.
Follow Columbia Football: TWITTER | FACEBOOK | INSTAGRAM
TEAM NOTES
•With an 8-2 overall, 5-2 Ivy League record and second place finish in the league, Columbia enjoyed its best overall record, best Ivy League season and highest finish in the league in 21 years and since 1996.
•Columbia was in the Ivy League Championship race all season long. The Lions entered the final weekend of the season needing a Yale loss coupled with a win over Brown to capture a share of the school's first Ivy League title since 1961.
•Columbia began a season with six straight wins 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.
•Columbia's seven-game win streak from November 19, 2016 to October 28, 2017 marked the school's longest win streak since 1935 and third longest win streak in school history.
•Columbia's eight victories rank tied for the third-most wins in school history following nine-win seasons in 1903 and 1899 and tying eight-win seasons in 1901, 1933, 1945, and 1996.
•Columbia showed its resilience and toughness with two comeback wins against Penn and Princeton, two walk-off wins over Penn (34-31 in OT on walk-off TD) and Wagner (17-14 on walk-off field goal) and four victories that were secured in the last two minutes of regulation: Dartmouth, Penn, Princeton, and Wagner.
•With victories over Dartmouth, Penn and Princeton, Columbia swept all three opponents in a season for the first time since 1971.
•Columbia's five-win turnaround ranked among the top five best yearly comebacks in the FCS. The Lions went from 3-7 overall and 2-5 Ivy League record in 2016 and an 8-2 overall and 5-2 Ivy League record in 2017.
•With its five Ivy League wins, Columbia tied for second-best win total in conference play. The Lions won six games in 1961 and five games each in 1992 and 2017.
•National Coach of the Year candidate Head Coach Al Bagnoli garnered three Coach of the Year awards including awards presented by the Ivy League, AFCA Region 1, and ECAC. He becomes Columbia's third all-time Region Coach of the Year, following Aldo Donelli (1961) and Ray Tellier (1996). Bagnoli was also one of 18 finalists for the STATS FCS Eddie Robinson National Coach of the Year Award and one of six finalists for the AFCA National Coach of the Year honor.
•Wide receiver Josh Wainwright set a school-record for season receiving yards (1,001 yards).
2017 LETTERMEN
23-Acohido, Darion '21CC
22-Allen, Will '21CC
83-Alleyne, Chris '19CC
78-Anglin, Brock '19CC
6-Baty, Landon '18CC (Captain)
17-Bean, Josh '21CC
97-Breckenridge, Collin '18CC
7-Briscoe, Marcus '18CC
46-Carter, Cameren '21CC
3-Castner, Kyle '19CC
55-Coogan, Parker '20CC
88-Dansby, Zach '18SEAS
8-Davis, Dillon '21CC
84-Davis, Myles '21CC
47-DeLorenzi, Daniel '20CC
39-DeMuth, Turner '18CC
52-DeVary, Seth '21CC
63-Eby, Patrick '19CC
10-Everett, Christian '20CC
54-Falkenhayn, Cal '19CC
50-Fischer II, John '20CC
27-Flinn, Graham '21CC
79-Flores, Charlie '19CC
18-Gabriel, Tre '19CC
31-Gilbert, Ryan '19CC
99-Harris, LinDon '20CC
92-Heeb, Connor '18CC
12-Hill, Anders '18CC (Captain)
43-Hill, Ben '20CC
11-Hill, Denzel '18CC
16-Hill, Justin '20CC
58-Hinton, Mike '19CC
91-Holme, Alexander '18CC
33/35-Holmes, Tyler '18CC
15-Hong, Daniel '19CC
95-Hyeamang, Lord '18CC (Captain)
15-Kabus, Emerson '21CC
80-Krcilek, Brandon '19CC
4-Lunsford, Hunter '20CC
25-Mathiasmeier, Ben '21CC
66-McGrath, Mike '18CC
19-McKeighan, Ben '20CC
56-Melka, Charles '18CC
17-Milstein, Oren '20CC
26-Moore, Marquavious'21CC
38-Mullaney, Max '20CC
8-Murphy, Michael '20CC
30-Neils, Van '20CC
73-Nouck-A-Nwal, L. '20CC
60-Paukune, Markham '18CC
89-Perkovic, Dominic '18CC
85-Pitts, Kaleb '20CC
40-Powell, Carson '21CC
2-Roane, Cameron '18CC
70-Robbins, Benjamin '18CC
94-Robin, Alex '20CC
5-Rose, Lynnard '20CC
53-Samouk, Arman '20CC
81-Schlageter, Rory '20CC
74-Schoeberl, Drew '20CC
59-Schonewolf, Tyler '19CC
21-Schroer, Chris '18CC
51-Scowden, Joseph '20CC
24-Smith II, Ronald '20SEAS
62-Stables, Reid '18CC
2-Suitt, Ryan '19CC
98-Talty, Liam '18CC
20-Thomas, Tanner '20CC
9-Thome, Parker '18CC
27-VanDenBerg, Ian '20CC
55-Vravick, Jason '19SEAS
13-Wainwright, Josh '20CC
65-Wales, Bewley '18CC (Captain)
93-Washington, Greg '18CC
28-Webster, Jonathan '20CC
10-Weldon, Dylan '18CC
49-Weldon, Taylor '20CC
75-Werkman, Isaac '20CC
48-White, Sean '19CC
37-Williams, Jalen '20CC
33-Wilson, Cooper '21CC
29-Wooden, Blake '21CC
41-Woodley, Justin '21CC
14-Young, Jacob '19CC
96-Zgrablich, Noah '18CC
COACHING STAFF
Head Coach: Al Bagnoli
Offensive Coordinator/Tight Ends: Mark Fabish
Defensive Coordinator: Paul Ferraro
Associate Head Coach/Offensive Line: Jon McLaughlin
Running Backs: John Audino
Wide Receivers: Todd Gilcrist
Llinebackers/Special Teams Coordinator: Justin Stovall
Defensive Backs/Recruiting Coordinator: Jon Poppe
Defensive Line: Darin Edwards
Quarterbacks: Ricky Santos
Offensive Assistant: Kevin Callahan
Defensive Assistant: Andrae Murphy
Director of Football Administration: Greg Lamb
Director of Player Personnel: Eric Hahn
Social Media Coordinator/Assistant Director of Player Personnel: Joe Sibley
Video Coordinator: Jay Fitch
Players Mentioned
DB
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PK
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WR
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WR
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