With each fall comes a renewed hope for the sprint football team — the hope for a win. Over the past six seasons, the team has amassed an improbable 35-game losing streak. The streak, the longest NCAA Division-I losing streak of all time — one longer than Northwestern varsity football's 34-game skid from 1979-1982 — started in October of 1999 against Penn.
This fact, however, did not deter 23 freshman unknowns from joining a squad of 30 sprint football veterans. While this recruitment campaign was one of the best for the Princeton sprint football team in recent memory, it pales in comparison to Army, which had 177 freshmen tryout for 30 spots.
Sophomore quarterback Alex Kandabarow, starting for the first time in his football career, will be expected to fill the void of the departed Dennis Bakke '05. Without the solid ground game that both Bakke and running back Matt Worley '05 provided last season, head coach Bill Hickey and his coaching staff have had to change the offensive scheme to highlight the team's strength — passing.
"The offense is now designed to put the ball in the air," Kandabarow said. "It will be more effective than last year's offense because we will be able to spread the ball around more and let our speed speak for itself."
Sophomore wide receiver Lon Johnson returns as the team's primary deep threat, and will look to build on an excellent rookie season in which he caught eight balls for 175 yards and one touchdown.
Senior Frank Langston, another speedy veteran out of the slot position, will accompany Johnson on the right side of the field. Langston caught nine passes in 2004 for 152 yards.
While the offense has put plenty of points on the board over the past few seasons, the defense has struggled to keep points off the board, allowing an average of more than 30 points per game last season. This season, a new defensive coach with a brand new scheme was brought in to help mend the unit that has struggled to contain its opponents but that returns almost all of its players.
Junior Zach McKinney, the second-leading tackler last season with 21, should fill the void left by Worley at linebacker. His 17 solo tackles led all Tiger players last season.
Anchoring the offensive and defensive lines is junior Alex Thorn, who is coming off an outstanding 2004 season. Thorn recorded 18 total tackles and led the team in sacks with two.
Lastly, and possibly most importantly, is a new rule change for the 2005 season. The old weight limit of 166 pounds will be bumped up six pounds to 172 pounds.
In past years, Princeton's enforcement of the weight limit has been much more stringent than the other schools in the league. Princeton required its sprint football athletes to weigh in at a maximum of 166 on the Wednesday before a game and 169 on that Friday.
This season, athletes will be required to weigh-in at 172 or less during both pre-game weigh-ins. This league-wide consensus on weight will make it much more fair to the Tigers than it has been in the past.
All told, the Collegiate Sprint Football League will be as tough as ever with Navy expected to repeat as league champions. The Midshipmen finished the 2004 campaign with a perfect 6-0 record and were the CSFL champions for the 23rd time.
The Tigers' best chance for a win will once again come against Cornell in Ithaca, N.Y. on Oct. 14. Last season, Princeton stayed within five points of the Big Red until midway through the second half. But the Tigers lost, 32-19, when Cornell established total control after a Princeton fumble and a safety.
"I think that we have the talent and the numbers to [get a win] this season," Kandabarow said. "I think there is more excitement heading into this season than there was last season."
The 74th year of sprint football kicks off against Army on September 24th at the inaugural Adirondack Trust Allegiance Bowl in Sarasota Springs, N.Y. Princeton was held off the scoreboard in the two teams' last meeting, dropping the game 35-0.
Princeton then plays at Penn the following weekend before hosting Army on Oct. 7 in the home opener at Frelinghuysen Field.
Read More
Preview: No. 3 men’s lacrosse plays No. 5 Syracuse in NCAA quarterfinals
Hayk YengibaryanShould the Tigers beat the Orange, they will advance to the Final Four for the first time since 2022 as they look to win their first national championship since 2001.
Should the Tigers beat the Orange, they will advance to the Final Four for the first time since 2022 as they look to win their first national championship since 2001.
Six for six: men’s and women’s track and field both complete triple crown
Luke StocklessMen’s and women’s track and field each won the Ivy League title this past weekend, capping off a dominant season in which both teams won the triple crown — a feat not seen in 14 years.
Men’s and women’s track and field each won the Ivy League title this past weekend, capping off a dominant season in which both teams won the triple crown — a feat not seen in 14 years.
Nation’s No. 2 miler Mena Scatchard ’25 to transfer to Stanford for graduate year
Luke StocklessThe Tigers’ most decorated distance runner ever has decided to use her final year of eligibility at Stanford after graduating from Princeton this May.
The Tigers’ most decorated distance runner ever has decided to use her final year of eligibility at Stanford after graduating from Princeton this May.