For a man six months removed from what must have been the most heartbreaking season of his career, head football coach Roger Hughes appears surprisingly upbeat. Sitting comfortably in his spacious office, he jokes about his graying hair. But he does so with the confidence of a winner, not the resignation of a loser, seemingly certain last season was an aberration.
Perhaps it was. After all, if just three crucial plays had gone the Tigers' way, they would have finished a respectable 5-5 (5-2 Ivy League) with a Harvard-Yale bonfire to boot. But, alas, lady luck was not on the side of the Orange and Black, and Princeton lurched to a demoralizing 2-8 (2-5) record.
Yet, as painful as last year was, Hughes says none of the bad karma of the fall lingers into the spring. Rather, he argues just the opposite — that the Tigers are poised to feed from their past failure.
"Frankly, our kids are pissed off," he said. "I think there's a hardened resolve. They don't want to ever feel the way they felt again."
In Hughes' mind — and on paper — there's no reason to expect another debacle. The 2004 team will be far deeper and more experienced then the 2003 version.
Still, there are pronounced holes, none more glaring than the lack of a proven playmaker. One All-Ivy wide receiver, senior Blair Morrison, graduates; another, junior B.J. Szymanski, will likely forgo his final year of eligibility for the riches offered by pro baseball.
Without them, the Tigers' claws were shaky all spring, dropping 24.9 percent of passes, according to Hughes. Junior receiver Clint Wu, the most experienced returnee, endured an "inconsistent spring."
"[Wu] has the tools and at times shows flashes of brilliance," Hughes said. "He can make plays, he just hasn't done it consistently."
Other possible replacements Hughes mentioned included speedy sophomore Greg Fields, a converted running back, along with junior Clay Wolford, sophomore Monte McNair, and freshman Eric Walz.
At the other end of the passing game, however, there are no questions to be asked. Quarterback Matt Verbit will enter his senior season with a year and a half as a starter under his belt. Hughes praised his spring performance, noting his decision-making prowess.
Somewhere between the absolute certainty of the quarterback position and the great unknown of the receiving corps is the running back platoon of juniors Jon Veach and Branden Benson. The pair alternated every two snaps all spring.
"I look at them as one running back," Hughes said. "The starting role is overrated — the one that produces is going to play."
Both will have a luxury of an experienced offensive line that returns four starters. Meanwhile, sophomore tight end Jon Dekker emerged last season as a strong blocker and a reliable target.
On the other side of the ball, the Tigers also lose their top two playmakers, graduating all-Ivy bookends Tim Kirby and Joe Weiss. Of the possible replacements, sophomore James Williams and junior Chris Browne had the best springs, according to Hughes. He also praised junior nose guard Pete Kelly as an "inspirational leader."
The uncertainty up front doesn't mean the Tigers will be weak on defense. Princeton will start three All-Ivy caliber linebackers. Star junior Zak Keasey returns to anchor the middle after a year off for academic ineligibility. On either side of him will be Justin Stull and Abi Fadeyi, sophomores who stepped to the forefront in his absence. Stull, who led the team in tackles, will be the first junior captain since 1943.
Perhaps the most improved position will be the defensive backfield. After watching a pair of freshman cornerbacks get picked on last season, Hughes will be glad to welcome back sophomore Jay McCareins and junior Brandon Mueller, both returning after a year off for academic reasons.
"McCareins is like an eraser on defense," Hughes said. "He's shown a maturity and confidence level that was lacking last year."
Of course, as Hughes admitted, spring practice can lead to a "false sense of security." Whether spring success carries into the regular season depends on the Tigers fixing fundamental weaknesses, especially their turnover and penalty ratios.
"We were making similar mistakes in the first game as we were in the 10th," Hughes said. "That can't happen again."
Overall, Hughes says he sees "unprovens," not holes. With a strong start, anything is possible, he argues, again recalling last season's devastating close calls.
"Two plays different and we're lighting something up [last fall]," he said. "If you can get on a little bit of a role and the kids start believing . . ."
His voice trails off. Six more months, and redemption will — or won't — be his. For now, all he can do is sit and talk.
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