The football team's real season — the Ivy season — kicks off in two days. The Tigers travel to New York City for a 1:30 p.m. showdown with Columbia.
The eve of the eve of the league opener seemed like a good day for me to offer my predictions about Princeton's year.
Saturday, it'll be Princeton 34, Columbia 14. The Tigers had no trouble with the Lions last season at Princeton Stadium as they put 44 points on the scoreboard. Columbia misses running back Jonathan Reese, who graduated in 2002 and carried the offense halfway to respectability.
The Lions edged the Tigers in a preseason scrimmage, but when the starting lineups take the field, it shouldn't be a contest. Columbia has not beaten Princeton since 1997 and was trounced by Colgate last weekend.
Speaking of the Red Raiders, they come to Princeton Stadium Saturday, Oct. 12. But that's all I'll say about Colgate, a Patriot League team that has recently dominated its Ivy opponents.
The week after that, the Tigers stay home to take on Brown. If you like scoring, don't miss this game. The teams have combined for 83, 83 and 59 points (and 802 total yards) in their last three meetings. The Bears can throw the ball, but defense has not been a priority in Providence since Roger Williams came to town.
Tiger quarterback David Splithoff had his breakout game as a freshman against the Bears, going 13 of 17 for 289 yards and three touchdowns through the air. This year? Five through the air, two with his feet. Princeton 49, Brown 48.
If the Tigers do as I write and are 2-0 in the Ivies, the following Saturday's game against hated Harvard looms even larger. The Crimson were unanimously picked by polled members of the media to repeat as league champs and return the lethal offensive duo of quarterback Neil Rose and wide reciever Carl Morris.
Princeton has lost six straight to Harvard — its longest streak in the 126-year history of the rivalry. Look for that run to end at Princeton Stadium. Tiger pass catchers B.J. Syzmanski and Chisom Opara score on long receptions and a few balls bounce the home team's way. Princeton 26, Harvard 20.
After upsetting the Crimson, the Tigers become favorites to win the Ivy League for the first time since 1995. But a long bus trip to Ithaca, N.Y. for a game with sleeper Cornell dampens the hopes of the Princeton faithful. Turnovers doom the Tigers. Cornell 19, Princeton 6.
The team looks to bounce back at Princeton Stadium against 'rival' Penn. The rival's mascot, however, is a Quaker. On the sidelines, the Tiger clobbers William Penn, who pleads for peace. On the field, Penn realizes it graduated its entire offense. Princeton struggles for the second consecutive week, but holds on to an early lead and improves to 4-1 in the Ivies. Princeton 24, Penn 17.
Mark your calendars for the next game. The Tigers brave New Haven, Conn., to take on real rival Yale. Head coach Roger Hughes has saved two seasons by beating the Elis — this time, he has a chance to win the Big Three for the first time since 1994.
Yale has looked good so far in the real season, beating Cornell 50-23 last Saturday in its Ivy opener. Running back Robert Carr rushed for a Eli-record 235 yards, scoring four touchdowns in the process. The previous week, quarterback Alvin Cowan accounted for six touchdowns — three with his arm, three with his feet — in a 49-14 rout of San Diego.
Princeton has the offensive guns to compete with the Elis' new high-scoring attack. Barring White House intervention, Hughes and the Tigers earn a bonfire and the undying love of the Class of 2003. Princeton 35, Yale 21.
Finally, the Tigers end their season with Dartmouth, where Hughes made his name as offensive coordinator. The last time Princeton won the Ivies, it took a last-second field goal to tie Dartmouth (before overtime was introduced to college football). This time, the teams play overtime, but the Big Green return the opening kickoff for a touchdown and give Harvard the Ivy crown. But no one cares at Princeton — we got a bonfire. Dartmouth 16, Princeton 10 (OT).
(Editors' note: This is the third column in a continuing series tracking the football team over the course of the 2002 season.)
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