IVY FOOTBALL PREVIEW

The 'Prince' Picks

Team Ivy record

1. Penn 7-0 2. Harvard 5-2 3. Brown 4-3 4. Princeton 4-3 5. Dartmouth 3-4 6. Yale 2-5 7. Cornell 2-5 8. Columbia 1-6

Teams ranked in order of Preseason Ivy League Media Poll

1. Penn

2000 RECORD: 7-3 overall, 6-1 Ivy 2000 IVY FINISH: 1st KEY RETURNING STARTERS: QB Gavin Hoffman (Ivy Most Outstanding Player, 3,427 yds., 24 TD), WR Rob Milanese (76 rec., 936 yds.), DT Ed Galan (49 tackles, 8 sacks) KEY PLAYERS LOST: TE Ben Zagorski (484 yds., 7 TD), K Jason Feinberg (41 FG, Ivy-record 218 career points) 2000 VS. P'TON: 40-24 Penn — Princeton was dominating the more-talented Quakers, 24-6, until a run of 34 straight Quaker points. Hoffman threw for 313 yards and 4 TDs. OUTLOOK: Opening-week 37-0 win over Lafayette gave us more than a slight hint that this team could be scary. Defense returns five All-Ivy performers, and the offense still has Gavin Hoffman, the Ivy League Player of the Year. Luckily for Tiger fans, this is an away game.

2. Harvard

2000 RECORD: 5-5 overall, 4-3 Ivy 2000 IVY FINISH: T-3rd KEY RETURNING STARTERS: QB Neil Rose (2,655 yards, 18 TD), WR Carl Morris (60 rec., 920 yds., 8 TD), LB Dante Balestracci (94 tackles, 3 INT) KEY PLAYERS LOST: DT R.D. Kern (52 tackles, 4 sacks), OT Mike Clare (three-year starter) 2000 VS. P'TON: 35-21 Harvard — Two fouth-quarter TD's broke a 21-21 tie. Splithoff, who had rushed for 3 TD's in the game, had his jaw broken and his season ended on the game's final play. OUTLOOK: All of Harvard's statistical leaders return, and the Crimson would be a legitimate threat to win the league — if Penn did not exist. This is another road game for the Tigers, though, so the outlook remains good for Princeton fans.

3. Brown

2000 RECORD: 7-3 overall, 4-3 Ivy 2000 IVY FINISH: Ineligible for Ivy standings KEY RETURNING STARTERS: TB Michael Malan (school-record 1,213 yds., 13 TD), WR Chas Gessner (52 rec., 500 yds.), S Bobby Parisien (71 tackles) KEY PLAYERS LOST: QB Eric Webber (3,175 yards, 30 TD), WR Stephen Campbell (All-American, 120 rec., 133.2 yds./game). 2000 VS. P'TON: 55-28 Princeton — Splithoff's breakout game — 13 of 17 for 289 yards and 3 TD's. The best offense in the Ivy League — ever — took the opening kickoff and scored. Then Splithoff took control. OUTLOOK: Brown lost Eric Webber, its starting quarterback from last year, who put up some record numbers in his career. On the other hand, he was mediocre when he played Princeton here last year. Offensive numbers are still numerous — defensive ones not so much.

4. Cornell

2000 RECORD: 7-3 overall, 5-2 Ivy 2000 IVY FINISH: 2nd KEY RETURNING STARTERS: QB Ricky Rahne (2,944 yds., 18 TD), WR Keith Ferguson (41 rec., 680 yds.), DL Bryan Sacco (32 tackles, 5 sacks) KEY PLAYERS LOST: WR Joe Splendorio (46 rec., 630 yds., 3 TD), LB Dan Weyandt (90 tackles) 2000 VS. P'TON: 25-24 Cornell — Chisolm Opara caught a 24-yard touchdown pass from fourth-string quarterback Brian Danielewicz with 11 seconds remaining, but Taylor Northrop slipped on the turf and missed the PA. OUTLOOK: Cornell wasn't as good as its Ivy record last year. The Big Red won three games by one point and didn't beat any good team convincingly. They've lost a lot since then, but for some reason the media picked them No. 4. Don't trust the media.

5. Yale

2000 RECORD: 7-3 overall, 4-3 Ivy 2000 IVY FINISH: T-3rd KEY RETURNING STARTERS: QB Peter Lee (135.4 QB rating, 2,179 yds., 19 TD) KEY PLAYERS LOST: WR Eric Johnson (86 rec., 1,007 yds.), TB Rashad Bartholomew (1296 yds., 11 TD) 2000 VS. P'TON: 19-14 Princeton — With 1:18 remaining, the Tigers were down 14-13 on their 20. Then a dump-off screen pass from Blevins to Cheatham turned into 44 sprint to glory. Two plays later, Opara caught the game-winner in the back of the endzone. OUTLOOK: The Elis don't return a single starting wide receiver or running back, and the defense only returns four starters. Yes, the Elis thumped Cornell in week one, but look where we picked Cornell to finish. We do play Yale at home this year.

6. Princeton

2000 RECORD: 3-7 overall, 3-4 Ivy 2000 IVY FINISH: T-5th KEY RETURNING STARTERS: QB David Splithoff (3 GP, 180.23 eff., 543 yards), WR Chisom Opara (51 rec., 689 yds.), TB Cameron Atkinson (94 carries, 413 yds.), LB Chris Roser-Jones (55 tackles, 6 INT), CB Blake Perry (54 tackles, 2 INT). KEY PLAYERS LOST: LT Dennis Norman, RG Ross Tucker, C Brian Wilson, RT John Raveche, TE George Citovic (21 rec., 166 yds.), FB Marty Cheatham (38 rec, 514 yds.), LB Mike Higgins (98 tackles, 54 solo), FS Taylor Smith (49 tackles, 2 INT) OUTLOOK: You've heard it before — the offensive line is young and inexperienced. But Splithoff is mobile, and the Ivy League has some soft defensive fronts that Coach Clayton & Co. will exploit. The real question is how the secondary will stack up against a league full of pass-happy folk.

7. Dartmouth

2000 RECORD: 2-8 overall, 1-6 Ivy 2000 IVY FINISH: T-6th KEY RETURNING STARTERS: TB Michael Gratch (3 GP, 513 yds.), WR Damien Roomets (43 rec., 483 yds.), LB Matt Mercer (Preseason All-America, 117 tackles, 74 solo) KEY PLAYERS LOST: OG Caleb Moore (two-time All-Ivy, Third-Team All America) 2000 VS. P'TON: 42-37 Dartmouth — After the incredible win at Yale, Princeton had a seemingly easy matchup against the only winless team in the Ivy League. QB Greg Smith threw for 308 yds. and 4 TDs. OUTLOOK: Sleeper team in the Ivies. The Big Green started miserably last year, giving up yards as if it were their job. They closed well, though, putting up 477 yards of offense to beat Princeton into the ground in Princeton Stadium. Lost very little from last year.

8. Columbia

2000 RECORD: 2-8 overall, 1-6 Ivy 2000 IVY FINISH: T-6th KEY RETURNING STARTERS: TB Jonathan Reese (1,330 yds., 18 TD), QB Jeff McCall (1,600 yds., 13 TD), CB Philip Murray (7 INTs, 32 solo tackles) KEY PLAYERS LOST: P Ryan Kiernan (unanimous All-Ivy) 2000 VS. P'TON: 27-24 Princeton — In the first half, the Lions outgained the Tigers 340-45, but led only 17-7. Then Tommy Crenshaw hit Schottel for a 49-yard to start the second. Princeton recovered Northrop's onside kick with 2 minutes remaining and scored to force OT, where Northrop ended the game with a FG. OUTLOOK: Columbia has not won in New Jersey since 1945. Don't look for the Lions to reverse the tide of recent history, even with the powerful Reese returning.