Around the Ivies: Football

New Jersey’s fall breezes grow crisp and the newly-variegated leaves blow along with them. One-time Cottage member F. Scott Fitzgerald wrote that at this point in the year’s cycle, “Life starts all over again.” Why is that? Simply because it’s time for men, 11-per-side, to retake the gridiron and participate in America’s greatest entertainment: football. The Ivy League may have faded in terms of its relative competitiveness since giving birth to the game so many years ago. Still, the Ancient Eight will nonetheless provide an excellent slate of action, marked by parity and seasoned rivalries. Just don’t ask for a postseason. Here’s how the sides stack up leading into the season’s first week.

(Last year’s results included)

Princeton (8-2 overall, 6-1 Ivy League): Ever-determined, senior quaterback Quinn Epperly will look to pick up where his stellar offense left off. The Tigers far outpaced the rest of the league, outscoring their next most-prolific opponents by more than six points per game. Graduation left a Caraun Reid ’14-sized hole on the defensive front. Look for sophomore lineman Ty Desiré, a player of outstanding physical ability, in his second year to make an big impact. Even if opposing QBs have time to throw, the downfield coverage will likely be among the league’s tightest, featuring a strong junior class of Matt Arends, Khamal Brown, John Hill and Anthony Gaffney.
Harvard (9-1, 6-1): Margins are tight at the top, reflected by the lone point separating the Tigers from the Crimson in the preseason media poll. What’s more, the last two matchups between last year’s co-champions have both been decided by the final play. In last year’s campaign, prolific defensive end Zach Hodges racked up 11.5 tackles for a loss, 6.5 sacks and four forced fumbles. He looks to be this year’s most NFL-ready prospect and a menacing presence against opposing backfields.
Dartmouth (6-4, 4-3): While Princeton’s Epperly stands out as top Ivy quarterback, not all that much separates him from the Big Green’s Dalyn Williams, a dual-threat player looking to make the leap in his third year. A strong offensive line, including CollegeSportsMadness.com’s preseason first-team All-Ivy selection Scotty Whitemore, should give Williams time to find receiver Bo Patterson. The senior wideout is one of the league’s most versatile threats. Remember well, this Hanover team has twice consecutively played spoiler to Princeton’s season with season finale victories.
Pennsylvania (4-6, 3-4): A pair of senior QBs handled the Quakers offense in approximately equal proportions last season. Tailback Kyle Wilcox and tight end Ryan O’Malley will anchor the offense in their third years. O’Malley stands tall and broad at 6-foot-5, 255 pounds, making him one of the league’s biggest mismatches. Head coach of 23 years Al Bagnoli has established somewhat of a dynasty in the City of Brotherly Love, claiming a share of the league title in three out of the past five years. It’s more than likely that his side will rebound from a relatively unimpressive year in Bagnoli’s final season.
Yale (5-5, 3-4): In terms of “Pythagorean expectations” —basically a way of converting point differential into expected wins —the 2013 Bulldogs deserved their just sub-.500 record. They do boast a pair of offensive studs. If you’re looking for scrappy, look no further than tailback Tyler Varga. The utility player spent half of last season injured, but in his previous campaign, he led the FCS with 194.2 all-purpose yards per game. His classmate and captain Deon Randall earned first-team All-Ivy honors last season as a receiver.
Brown (6-4, 3-4): Last season’s Bears allowed the league's fewest yards per game and second fewest points. Three first-team All-Ivy selections lined up for Bruno’s defense last fall, and all three have since graduated. It’s unlikely that this side will be able to repeat the successes of last season with so many gaps to fill and somewhat of a dearth of talent elsewhere. Massachusetts-native speedster Brian Strachan will look to stretch defenses as a go-to wide receiver.
Cornell (3-7, 2-5): Signal-caller Jeff Matthews was very good. But now, he of HBO’s Hard Knocks fame has moved on to the greener pastures of Indianapolis’ Lucas Oil Stadium (practice squad). His former backup James Few will likely take the starting role in his third year. In his lone start against Columbia last season, the Florida-native managed a very efficient win. If, as is entirely possible, the Big Red offense regularly stutters it, they will be able to exchange field position via the powerful foot of 6-foot-2, 208-pound punter Chris Fraser, who set a school record for yards per punt in an All-Ivy, Rookie of the Year effort last season.
Columbia (0-10, 0-7): Robert Kraft, known for his brilliant ownership of the New England Patriots, failed to impart any of that brilliance unto the Lions when he endowed their field with his name in 2007. Columbia managed to score double digits in only three contests. Its offensive total ranked in dead last by more than 100 yards per game. Frankly, most Ivy League teams should consider the Lions a bye week.