Yale pulled off a big win over the weekend in Liberty D1AA, beating previously undefeated Columbia 34-14 to move to 4-1.
While UMass sits 4-0, and have won a close one over Yale, the Bulldogs moved into first while the Minutemen were idle. And that's a good signal about where we are in this conference. Yale has played a bunch of tough teams, and has beaten almost all of them.
"It was a good win against a tricky opposition," said Yale Head Coach Craig Wilson. "We know Columbia well and we always have close games with them. Ivy games always have a little more intensity."
Yale edged ahead 10-7 in the first half and that was the score at halftime. But, said Wilson, the Bulldogs were confident they could extend the lead. They needed to improve their accuracy.
"We got a little too excited in the first half and rushed when we got into good positions," said Wilson. "Some calm words at the half and then the men executed really well in the second half."
This has been a long stretch of games for Yale, with preseason games against the Coast Guard Academy and UConn, and then conference games against BC, Northeastern, UMass, Rhode Island, and Columbia.
"We've played seven games in a row, and we've been on the go for nine weeks now," said Wilson. "I am really happy with how we've been through that. It's a pretty big stretch for a non-recruited roster, so I have been really happy with the conditioning and fitness the guys have shown."
The way the fall-centric season works for most college teams is that they have to get ready rather quickly for a conference schedule, but at the same time they have to take in new players throughout the fall, especially early on. The trick, said Wilson, is to have coaches in place to handle the newer players.
"We have new guys who have added a lot of value," added Wilson. "We've been really happy with our depth and that's a testament to the boys and also the Blue Dogs coaches." The Blue Dogs are the Yale 2nd side.
"We spend a lot of time coaching everyone and that's allowed us to sustain some good performances," continued the coach. "I've got coaches around my and they came to me and said 'we're playing August 31st.' But the new guys are trickling in, so we needed coaches in place so anyone who comes in at any point get a touch point and are able to learn and play."
