Columbia University's Football Coach Al Bagnoli on Building a Championship Team for the 2019 Season
Transcript
00:00 [MUSIC PLAYING]
00:08 I've often found that the final step of this whole thing
00:11 is trying to win a championship.
00:12 That's what we're all in it for.
00:14 And to me that's going to be the hardest
00:17 thing that we try to do.
00:19 It's within our grasp.
00:20 But we're going to have to play really well,
00:22 because the league is really tough, really balanced.
00:25 And it's going to be really competitive.
00:26 And leading by three here in overtime.
00:29 Two receivers to the left, one to the right,
00:31 out of the pocket.
00:32 [CHEERING]
00:33 Hill over the middle into the end zone for a touchdown!
00:37 We're past the, we want to win some games,
00:40 then we want to go 500, and kind of build it slowly.
00:44 Remember when we got here, we inherited an 0 and 20 team.
00:47 So I think you have to start modest.
00:49 You don't want to publicly state goals that are not achievable.
00:54 This has been, really a class that we've
00:57 become really close to, because it was our first recruiting
00:59 class.
01:00 And so they had to take a leap of faith and go to Columbia.
01:05 Where they had plenty of other opportunities
01:07 to go to other places.
01:09 And so I'm really happy for them,
01:10 because they have been the foundation of our turnaround.
01:14 And so when you fast forward it now,
01:17 if we can get another really successful season
01:20 that'll be three in a row, which has never been
01:22 done at Columbia University.
01:24 It's remarkable for any college.
01:27 So let's start off on the academic side,
01:30 they're taking the exact same courses
01:32 as any student would take here.
01:34 So they're not getting any relief there.
01:37 They had the exact same assignments due.
01:40 And yet, they're also trying to become a legitimate Division 1
01:44 football player, which requires a lot of time, preparation,
01:49 commitment.
01:49 And then, you fast forward on top
01:51 of that, majority of our kids also want to be socially aware,
01:54 so they want to give back.
01:56 And they feel very fortunate.
01:59 And so when you look at everything
02:01 that a Division I student athlete at Columbia
02:05 or in the Ivy League has to do to succeed,
02:07 it's a remarkable story.
02:09 It's the model for today's college football.
02:12 And it's something I'm so proud of what our kids have achieved.
02:14 The most satisfying thing was the Penn homecoming.
02:18 Some of it was because I used to work at Penn.
02:20 But just to win at homecoming in such dynamic fashion
02:24 in front of that crowd.
02:25 And it was great to see how the crowd reacted.
02:27 Their reaction of storming the field
02:29 and embracing our kids, to me--
02:31 and I told the coaches this the next day at our staff meeting--
02:34 really has kind of made all of our of efforts worthwhile.
02:37 I thought it was outstanding for the program, for our players,
02:41 for our alumni, for the entire family.
00:08 I've often found that the final step of this whole thing
00:11 is trying to win a championship.
00:12 That's what we're all in it for.
00:14 And to me that's going to be the hardest
00:17 thing that we try to do.
00:19 It's within our grasp.
00:20 But we're going to have to play really well,
00:22 because the league is really tough, really balanced.
00:25 And it's going to be really competitive.
00:26 And leading by three here in overtime.
00:29 Two receivers to the left, one to the right,
00:31 out of the pocket.
00:32 [CHEERING]
00:33 Hill over the middle into the end zone for a touchdown!
00:37 We're past the, we want to win some games,
00:40 then we want to go 500, and kind of build it slowly.
00:44 Remember when we got here, we inherited an 0 and 20 team.
00:47 So I think you have to start modest.
00:49 You don't want to publicly state goals that are not achievable.
00:54 This has been, really a class that we've
00:57 become really close to, because it was our first recruiting
00:59 class.
01:00 And so they had to take a leap of faith and go to Columbia.
01:05 Where they had plenty of other opportunities
01:07 to go to other places.
01:09 And so I'm really happy for them,
01:10 because they have been the foundation of our turnaround.
01:14 And so when you fast forward it now,
01:17 if we can get another really successful season
01:20 that'll be three in a row, which has never been
01:22 done at Columbia University.
01:24 It's remarkable for any college.
01:27 So let's start off on the academic side,
01:30 they're taking the exact same courses
01:32 as any student would take here.
01:34 So they're not getting any relief there.
01:37 They had the exact same assignments due.
01:40 And yet, they're also trying to become a legitimate Division 1
01:44 football player, which requires a lot of time, preparation,
01:49 commitment.
01:49 And then, you fast forward on top
01:51 of that, majority of our kids also want to be socially aware,
01:54 so they want to give back.
01:56 And they feel very fortunate.
01:59 And so when you look at everything
02:01 that a Division I student athlete at Columbia
02:05 or in the Ivy League has to do to succeed,
02:07 it's a remarkable story.
02:09 It's the model for today's college football.
02:12 And it's something I'm so proud of what our kids have achieved.
02:14 The most satisfying thing was the Penn homecoming.
02:18 Some of it was because I used to work at Penn.
02:20 But just to win at homecoming in such dynamic fashion
02:24 in front of that crowd.
02:25 And it was great to see how the crowd reacted.
02:27 Their reaction of storming the field
02:29 and embracing our kids, to me--
02:31 and I told the coaches this the next day at our staff meeting--
02:34 really has kind of made all of our of efforts worthwhile.
02:37 I thought it was outstanding for the program, for our players,
02:41 for our alumni, for the entire family.