Columbia first on Ivy League slate for football

Ivy League football is famous for many reasons. Over the years the nation's oldest athletic association has been home to Heisman Trophy winners and national champions. Penn's Frankfurt Field in Philadelphia and Harvard Stadium in Cambridge, Mass. are national landmarks. And many a fan can tell you that the first ever college football game, played on Nov. 6, 1869, involved an Ivy League team by the name of Princeton.

In 100-plus years of football, however, one thing that the Ancient Eight has not been known for are thrilling, come-from-behind victories. Most league games are a grind, with the better team gutting it out through tough 'D' and a powerful running game. Predictable football is as much a tradition in the Ivy League as seersucker jackets and school songs.

However, if the past two years are any indication, Princeton and Columbia may be trying to change that tradition. Recent games between the Tigers and Lions have been exciting, seesaw battles that feature porous defense and fireworks in the passing game.

In 2002, a Hail Mary touchdown pass at the end of the first half ignited Princeton's stagnant offense, and the Tigers surged to a 35-32 win at Columbia's Wien Stadium. Last season the Lions returned the favor, beating the Tigers, 33-27, with a 49- yard touchdown pass on the last play of the game. That win was Columbia's first at Princeton since 1945.

The 2004 Tigers (2-0) roll into New York this weekend looking for revenge. With Princeton undefeated, losses by Yale and Harvard last weekend have suddenly opened up a spot at the top of the league, right below defending champion Penn. Princeton has aspirations of filling that spot, but to do so it will need to get a big win on the Lions' home field.

History is certainly on the Tigers' side. In the 130-year history of the series between the teams, Princeton has never lost consecutive games. The Tigers also hold a 59-13-1 all-time advantage over the Lions, and have won five of the last six games between the teams.

All of this means that head coach Roger Hughes' young Princeton squad will enter this weekend's game in an unfamiliar position —that of the favorite. After winning just two games last year, the Tigers were not expected to make much noise in the league this year.

A resurgent, opportunistic defense has led the charge for the team this season, and after just two games the team has already matched its win total from last year.

Now, the team's dreams have changed. The upsets of Harvard and Yale by Brown and Cornell, respectively, mean Princeton already has a leg up in the league standings.

If the Tigers can reel off a string of victories in upcoming games, a top-three finish in the Ivy standings looks achievable.

However, before the team starts thinking championship it has a difficult game to play on Saturday. Columbia promises to play the Tigers very tough. And traveling away from home can sometimes take its toll on a young team.

"Every time we've gone up into New York and played, we certainly got a monumental effort from Columbia's team," Hughes said. "I'm expecting exactly the same thing [this weekend]. We are very concerned going up there."

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However nervous the Tiger coach may be, he does have a few reasons to be optimistic. Last week, his defense scored a pair of defensive touchdowns and completely shut down the high octane offense of San Diego. This week, the 'D' will have to be a bit more physical, but it will still have lots of opportunities to showcase its speed and athleticism. The offense will need to step it up after a mediocre effort last week, but senior quarterback Matt Verbit has shined against the Lions in the past.

In the end, the key for the Tigers on Saturday will be execution. The pieces are in place for a victory, but it remains to be seen whether the team can respond to its first Ivy League test this year.

"We certainly need to play at a more consistent level than we did out in San Diego," Hughes said. "We hope that we can."

A story in Friday's 'Prince' titled "Columbia first on Ivy League slate for football" stated incorrectly that Harvard's football team had lost to Brown. In fact, Harvard beat Brown, 35-34. The article also incorrectly identified Penn's football stadium. Its name is Franklin Field.