A Long-Awaited Victory: Columbia Lions Eye First League Title in 63 Years

Columbia University's football team, the Lions, is famous for all the wrong reasons. They hold the record for the longest losing streak in college football history, a whopping 44 games in the 1980s. But now, they're on the brink of history—a good kind of history. If they win their game against Cornell and Harvard loses to Yale this Saturday, the Lions could share the Ivy League title for the first time in over six decades. This is no ordinary feat in the Ivy League, where ties are accepted as is, with no playoffs or tiebreakers. It's a stark contrast to the complex playoff systems in other leagues. The Lions' journey hasn't been easy. They've had 42 losing seasons since 1974, with only six winning seasons. But this year, they've turned things around. They're ranked in the top ten for points allowed and are in the top half for rushing yards and passer efficiency. A rookie head coach, Jon Poppe, is leading this transformation. It's a far cry from their dismal performance a decade ago when they lost all ten games in a season. This potential victory isn't just about the game. It's about the fans, like the writer's father, who never stopped cheering for the Lions even in their darkest times. It's about the community that has stood by the team through thick and thin. It's about a story that transcends the game, a story of resilience and hope.