Football team lays groundwork for fall success with intense spring practice

Just like China's Ming dynasty, the football coaches want to build a little dynasty of their own, and they think they are taking steps in the right direction.

The Ming dynasty started small, and so will the football dynasty, after having gone through two three-win seasons. They believe that the team is ready for this to be the season that reestablishes the Tigers as one of the league's top teams.

The squad recently finished the spring practices, and the coaches are happy with how the team is playing at this point in the year. They recognize, though, that they still have a distance to go before catching up to the leaders, but are now more aware than ever of what they have to do to get there.

Princeton will be led by captains wide receiver Chisom Opara and linebacker Drew Babinecz. They are at the front of a strong corps of leaders that understands its role and what it needs to do.

If capable leadership is going to be the strong link for next year, then, on paper, the punting and kicking game could prove to be the weak links.

After losing All-Ivy kicker and All-America punter Taylor Northrop '02 to graduation, the team has been scrambling to find replacements. Two kickers were recruited and Northrop has been working with his likely replacement, freshman Joe Nardello.

"Joe could be an adequate kicker and maybe turn into a decent kicker," head coach Roger Hughes said. He punted pretty well in the spring game. We also recruited two freshman kickers, both of which we think are pretty good kickers. Will that be a weak link for us? Probably, based on the standpoint that we don't have a lot of experience."

The remainder of the special-teams unit are mainly intact, although they might by hindered by injuries. Junior Rob Curry, who had 29 tackles last year, may not be able to play this fall after breaking his arm in four places. A couple special-team stars from last year who plan to return include junior Cameron Atkinson and junior Andy Bryant, who led the team in punt returns and kickoff returns.

The strongest part of the team in relation to last year should be the offense. The starting eleven lose just three seniors, and return the three main ball handlers – sophomore David Splithoff, junior Cameron Atkinson and junior Chisom Opara. Opara has missed about half the practices this spring due to a leg injury, but coaches count on him to be the leader of what should be a solid group of receivers.

Last year, Opara caught 36 receptions in eight games for 581 total yards (16.1 yds per catch). The second leading receiver, junior Nate Lindell, will return with his 18 catches for 193 yards. One of the biggest surprises from this last season was watching freshman BJ Szymanski come into the game against Yale and tally four receptions for 120 yards, two of which were touchdowns.

Returning at starting quarterback will be Splithoff. Last year, Splithoff threw for 1680 yards and completed 137 of 231 attempts, while giving up just five interceptions and netting nine touchdowns.

"I do feel comfortable about quarterback, as long as we stay healthy," Hughes said.

Get the best of the ‘Prince’ delivered straight to your inbox. Subscribe now »

Splithoff will be protected by an offensive line that should be much improved from last year. Losing just one player, the line is a little older, and should be significantly better. Hughes says that they are getting better with working together as a unit, are becoming more physical, and are also starting to develop more advanced techniques.

The defense loses a couple of linebackers, but keeps most of the rest of the team and should also shape up to be at least as strong as it was last year.

"It was nice in spring practice when I could look into the secondary and recognize people," Hughes said. "I could make a coverage call, and people would know what to do."

Lost due to graduation are linebackers Bob Farrell and Chris Roser-Jones, who will take with them their 95 combined tackles, four interceptions and two sacks.

The line will be another year older, losing little from last year's team.

"There were times last year when I would look out there and out of our front seven, there would be three sophomores and four freshmen," Hughes said.

Behind the line and linebackers will be a secondary that will probably be improved compared to last year. Some of the players expected to carry a huge load among the backfield will be junior Paul Simbi, sophomore Blake Perry, junior Kevin Kongslie, and sophomore Brandon Mueller.

Last season, the Tigers played well against a couple of the top teams in Div. I-AA football, specifically against Harvard and Penn. Princeton should be an improved team since those two games, and this might be the year in which the Tigers build that dynasty and start a few bonfires on Cannon Green.