At Media Day on Aug. 31, head coach Roger Hughes called his team's slate of games a "national playoff schedule." And that was only in reference to Princeton's three out-of-conference matchups. Throw in an Ivy League rife with equally strong opponents and the Tigers are looking at an uphill charge in their quest to repeat as Ancient Eight champions.
Here's a preview of the nine teams Princeton will face following this Saturday's opener against Lehigh.
Lafayette
2006: Princeton 26, Lafayette 14
The Leopards, whom the Tigers will face in Easton, Pa., on Sep. 22, have won three consecutive Patriot League titles. This year's squad, however, must rebound from the crucial loss of graduated running back Jonathan Hurt. The 2006 Patriot League Offensive Player of the Year, Hurt ran for 1,165 yards last season and scored 13 touchdowns — including a two-yard score in his team's game against Princeton.
Even without Hurt, though, the Leopards looked impressive in their first two games this season. Lafayette kicked its year off right with a 49-10 pounding of Marist before cruising to a 28-7 victory over Georgetown this past weekend.
Columbia
2006: Princeton 19, Columbia 6
The Tigers open their conference schedule at home against the Lions, a team predicted to finish sixth in the Ivy League preseason media poll. That's just two spots behind Princeton, which again received lukewarm support from the league media, despite coming off a 9-1 season.
The Columbia offense found a bright spot last season in first-year wide receiver Austin Knowlin, the 2006 Ivy League Rookie of the Year. The Tigers' unproven secondary will have to defend Knowlin well to ensure that he doesn't break free for touchdowns.
The Lions' own defensive backs have their share of questions to answer as they attempt to overcome the loss of free safety Tad Crawford, who was selected 17th overall in this year's Canadian Football League draft. Crawford's 111 tackles last season led all defenders in the Ivy League, with 19 of those stops coming against Princeton for a personal best.
Hampton
The Orange and Black will take a break from its Ivy season on Oct. 6 to wrap-up its non-league schedule against Hampton, a perennially tough team from the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference. The Tigers and Pirates will go head to head for the first time ever.
Hampton, a historically black college located in Virginia, is coached by Joseph Taylor, the MEAC Coach of the Year for three years running. Taylor — in his 16th year as head coach of the Pirates — is also ranked third for toal number of wins in the history of the Football Championship Subdivision (formerly known as Division I-AA).
Like Princeton, Hampton will start a new quarterback this year. Last season's signal-caller, Princeton Shepherd, threw for 17 scores and 1,750 total yards, but the possibility of a Princeton-Princeton matchup was precluded by Shepherd's graduation. This year, sophomore T.J. Mitchell fills Shepherd's spot in the pocket, and he threw for three scores in his team's season-opening win over Howard.
Brown
2006: Princeton 17, Brown 3
The Bears, picked to finish seventh in the Ivy League, have a secret weapon in their kicker, fourth-year starter Steven Morgan. In Brown's game against Princeton last year, Morgan knocked a 45-yard field goal through the uprights. He currently ranks third in Ivy League history with 212 career points.
Kickoff specialist Robert Ranney is another effective part of the Bears' special teams unit. Ranney has the ability to kick deep and record touchbacks, a factor that becomes particularly significant with the new kicking rule imposed by the NCAA this season. In order to limit the number of touchbacks recorded by big boppers like Ranney, the kickoff tee has been moved five yards back, from the 35-yard line to the 30. If Ranney can continue put the ball in or near the endzone, he will create fits for Princeton's suspect return game.
Harvard
2006: Princeton 31, Harvard 28
Continuing their tour of New England, the Tigers travel from Providence, R.I., to Cambridge, Mass., to take on the Crimson — predicted to finish one spot ahead of Princeton in the Ancient Eight.
Last year, the Tigers celebrated a come-from-behind victory against Harvard after being down 28-24 in the fourth quarter. Linebacker Luke Steckel '07 got the comeback going when he intercepted a pass by Crimson quarterback Liam O'Hagan, before fellow co-captain Jeff Terrell '07 threw for the game-winning score.
While the Tigers have lost both of those game-changing players, they can also breathe a sigh of relief that running back Clifton Dawson is no longer a part of the Harvard backfield. Dawson, the only player in Ivy League history to be selected first team All-Ivy four times, got into the end zone thrice against the Tigers last year.
Cornell
2006: Cornell 14, Princeton 7
Last year, the Big Red handed Princeton its only loss, ruining the Tigers' dream of an undefeated season.
After the emotional win against Harvard one week prior, Princeton suffered through a letdown game while battling the rain and Cornell's stingy defense in Ithaca, N.Y. In the losing effort, then-sophomore tailback R.C. Lagomarsino managed to register a breakthrough performance, running for 80 yards.
This season, Cornell's own running game could prove crucial. The Big Red backfield is anchored by two-time All-Ivy selection Luke Siwula, who poses a significant threat in the open field.
Penn
2006: Princeton 31, Penn 30 (2OT)
Princeton summoned some overtime magic against Penn last season with its famous clutch touchdown, a play that was crowned "Top Play" on ESPN's SportsCenter.
With the score tied at 24 after one overtime period, the Tigers faced a fourth and goal at the one-yard line. Terrell handed the ball to senior tailback Rob Toresco, who encountered a pile of Quaker defenders at the goal line. Unable to power through them into the endzone, Toresco pitched the ball back to Terrell, who ran in for the go-ahead score.
On the ensuing possession, Penn grabbed back six points on a 25-yard reception by wideout Matt Carre, but a botched snap on the extra-point attempt prevented the Quakers from sending the game into a third overtime.
Penn's defense this season is anchored by Tom Stone, a talented, 270 lb. lineman who can cripple a running game. This year's contest figures to be a good one, but hardly anything could top the thrill of last season's heroics.
Yale
2006: Princeton 34, Yale 31
A year after Princeton nipped Yale for an epic victory in New Haven, Conn. — earning bragging rights over its Ivy League co-champions — another exciting matchup looms for the two teams on Powers Field at Princeton Stadium.
Yale is once again predicted to finish first in the Ivy League. The main reason is the outstanding play of running back Mike McLeod. His 19 rushing touchdowns last year put him atop the Yale single-season record books, and he is a preseason favorite for the Bushnell Cup, awarded to the Ivy Player of the Year.
On the other side of the ball, the Tigers' offensive line will be tested by Bulldog interior lineman Brandt Hollander, a two-time All-Ivy selection who recorded four sacks last season.
Dartmouth
2006: Princeton 27, Dartmouth 17
The Tigers ended a storybook 2006 season with an exciting win over Dartmouth, clinching the Ancient Eight title in the process.
This year, the Big Green figures to once again be among the bottom-dwellers of the Ivy League, picked to finish dead last. But Dartmouth has a few players that should not be overlooked.
The Big Green's secondary could be its strong suit this year. Chris Blanco, an accomplished sprinter, will match up well against the Tiger wide receivers. Safety Ian Wilson, a senior leader on defense, was an All-Ivy selection last year.
Only time will tell whether this year's season finale will have as much significance as last year's Ivy title-clinching victory.
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