Philadelphia, PA – Philadelphia, PA (SportsNetwork.com) - As everybody outside Georgetown seemed to cheer the addition of football scholarships in the Patriot League in February 2013, applause was reserved at Ivy League schools.
The two leagues had long been looked at as sister leagues, both placing elite academic standards alongside academic performance and yet still playing some pretty good sports against each other and on a national level.
Now that the Patriot League is in its second season of scholarship classes - Fordham actually started three years before the others and Georgetown is the lone holdout - the Ivy League is one of only two FCS conference not to offer them. The Pioneer Football League, whose schools are spread across the country, is the other non-scholarship league and its teams remain below the surprisingly solid Ivy programs from the Northeast.
The Ivy coaches don't appear too thrilled about keeping as many matchups with their friendly Patriot rivals as the scholarship classes mount in that league.
But there aren't enough options, either.
"I think that that's going to be a philosophical question that the whole league is going to be confronted with on exactly who to play," said Penn coach Al Bagnoli, who enters his 23rd and final season with the Quakers before retirement.
"With the Patriot's going to scholarships, with the Wagners (Northeast Conference) and the Albanys (CAA Football) increasing ... scholarships, Monmouth's (Big South Conference) going to 63, it's just really as limited to who you could play. So we're looking toward the Pioneer League, but in doing that, there's an expensive trip involved and you have to kind of weigh chartering a plane for a hundred thousand dollars. You're better off playing Lafayette, Lehigh, in our area, for example - who are hour-and-a-half bus rides. So I think we're going to be in a philosophical dilemma as those teams keep adding scholarships and eventually getting (close) to the full maximum."
Schedules are made years in advance for the most part, but it will be interesting to see if the Ivy and Patriots Leagues continue to play as many times. This season, they have 14 interleague matchups.
Cornell and Harvard will only play Patriot schools in their non-league schedule, and Brown, Columbia, Dartmouth and Yale are only playing scholarship competition as well.
The Ivy-Pioneer matchups have been slowly increasing in recent years. This season, Penn opens its season at Jacksonville, and Princeton, the preseason Ivy favorite, will visit San Diego and host Davidson in its first two games.
"My personal opinion is to get rid of all the out-of-conference opponents, so we don't have to talk about who else we're playing," said Princeton coach Bob Surace in an eye-opening statement, "have an East Division, have a West Division, just play Ivy League football, have a championship at the end and then go to the (FCS) playoffs. That would be beautiful."
Following is a team-by-team breakdown of the 2014 Ivy League race.
The Sports Network's predicted order of finish:
1. Princeton
2. Harvard
3. Dartmouth
4. Yale
5. Penn
6. Brown
7. Cornell
8. Columbia
Team-by-team capsules:
1. PRINCETON TIGERS
LOCATION: Princeton, New Jersey
STADIUM: Princeton Stadium
COACH: Bob Surace (15-25 in three seasons at Princeton; 25-26 overall)
LAST SEASON: 8-2 overall, 6-1 Ivy League (Tie/1st)
STARTERS RETURNING: 13 (7 offense/6 defense)
BIG LOSSES: RB Brian Mills (58 carries, 330 yards, 2 TD); WR Roman Wilson (86 receptions, 919 yards, 11 TD); OL Joe Goss; OL Spenser Huston; OL Max Coale; DE Matt Landry (33 TT, 6 TFL, 3 sacks, 1 FR, 1 FF); DT Caraun Reid (26 TT, 11 TFL, 6.5 sacks, 1 INT, 1 PBU, 5 QBH, 1 BLK); DL Greg Sotereanos; LB Jason Ray (60 TT, 12 TFL, 3.5 sacks, 3 PBU, 2 FR); DB Phillip Bhaya (65 TT, 1.5 TFL, 3 INT, 6 PBU, 1 QBH)
OFFENSIVE STAR: QB Quinn Epperly, Sr. (208-for-306, 2,137 yards, 25 TD, 3 INT; 115 carries, 570 yards, 18 TD)
DEFENSIVE STAR: CB/KR Anthony Gaffney, Jr. (22 TT, 2 INT, 4 PBU)
OTHER KEY PLAYERS: QB Connor Michelsen, Sr.
RB DiAndre Atwater, Jr. (97 carries, 457 yards, 2 TD)
RB Dre Nelson, Jr. (44 carries, 287 yards, 3 TD)
WR Seth DeValve, Sr. (49 receptions, 527 yards, 4 TD)
WR Matt Costello, Sr. (48 receptions, 534 yards, 2)
WR Connor Kelley, Sr. (42 receptions, 444 yards, 6 TD)
OL Spencer Huston, Sr.
C Joe Tull, Sr.
DL Tyler Desire, So.
LB Garrit Leicht, Sr. (61 TT, 4.5 TFL, 2 sacks, 6 PBU, 1 FF)
LB Mike Zeuli, Sr. (72 TT, 5.5 TFL, 4.5 sacks, 1 INT, 1 PBU, 5 QBH, 2 FR)
DB Dorian Williams, So (43 TT, 2.5 TFL, 2 sacks, 1 INT, 3 PBU, 1 QBH, 1 FF)
DB John Hill, Jr. (35 TT, 1.5 TFL, 3 INT, 9 PBU)
DB Matt Arends, Jr. (61 TT, 2 TFL, 1 INT, 6 PBU, 2 QBH, 1 FR)
DB Khamal Brown, Jr.
DB Max Lescano, Jr.
PK Nolan Bieck, Jr. (8-of-12 FG, 69 points)
OUTLOOK: The offense overpowered many opponents last year, but a defeat at Dartmouth in the season finale forced the front-running Tigers to settle for a share of the Ivy title with Harvard. With an easy non-conference schedule and dates with Harvard and Dartmouth at home, the Tigers probably believe they can run the table with a perfect season. That's getting ahead of themselves, of course, but the possibility exists. There are many returning skills position players. Epperly, the 2013 Ivy offensive player of the year, runs the offense to perfection, whether he's rushing the ball or passing it. Despite the loss of trusted WR Wilson, Epperly has three returnees (DeValve, Costello and Kelley) who had over 40 receptions. Up front, a retooled offensive line has to jell with RB Atwater, whose numbers could improve quite a bit as a junior. The biggest loss is on defense is with DL Reid, who drew double-teams and allowed his teammates to be a step ahead. The Tigers are banking on Desire to become a fierce pass rusher and allow the back end to improve against the pass. Leicht and Zeuli provide senior leadership at linebacker. The special teams were up and down last season, so that's an area needing improvement. This appears to be a team on a mission.
SCHEDULE:
Sept. 20 - at San Diego
Sept. 27 - Davidson
Oct. 4 - at Columbia
Oct. 11 - at Colgate
Oct. 18 - Brown
Oct. 25 - Harvard
Nov. 1 - at Cornell
Nov. 8 - Penn
Nov. 15 - at Yale
Nov. 22 - Dartmouth
2. HARVARD CRIMSON
LOCATION: Cambridge, Massachusetts
STADIUM: Harvard Stadium
COACH: Tim Murphy (137-62 in 20 seasons at Harvard; 169-107-1 overall)
LAST SEASON: 9-1 overall, 6-1 Ivy League (Tie/1st)
STARTERS RETURNING: 12 (7 offense/5 defense)
BIG LOSSES: TE Cameron Brate (25 receptions, 403 yards, 5 TD); OL Austin Scheufele; DT Nnamdi Obukwelu (31 TT, 6.5 TFL, 4.5 sacks, 1 FR, 1 FF); MLB Joshua Boyd (50 TT, 3.5 TFL, 2.5 sacks, 1 INT, 5 PBU, 1 QBH, 1 FF); OLB Matt Martindale (41 TT, 6 TFL, 2 sacks, 1 PBU, 1 FF); CB Brian Owusu (47 TT, 4 PBU, 1 FF, 1 BLK); CB D.J. Monroe (64 TT, 2 INT, 16 PBU, 1 FR); S Jaron Wilson (34 TT, 2 INT, 5 PBU, 1 FR)
OFFENSIVE STAR: RB Paul Stanton Jr., Jr. (162 carries, 936 yards, 15 TD)
DEFENSIVE STAR: DE Zach Hodges, Sr. (40 TT, 11.5 TFL, 6.5 sacks, 1 INT, 2 PBU, 7 QBH, 3 FR, 4 FF)
OTHER KEY PLAYERS: QB Conner Hempel, Sr. (157-for-238, 1,866 yards, 15 TD, 5 INT; 98 carries, 259 yards, 5 TD)
RB Andrew Casten, Sr.
WR Seitu Smith II, Sr. (24 receptions, 214 yards)
WR Ricky Zorn, Sr. (50 receptions, 700 yards, 3 TD)
WR/KR Andrew Fischer, Sr. (24 receptions, 285 yards, 3 TD)
TE Tyler Hamblin, Sr.
C Nick Easton, Sr.
OL Anthony Fabiano, Sr.
OL Michael Mancinelli, Sr.
DT Obum Obukwelu, Sr.
LB Eric Medes, Jr. (72 TT, 1.5 sacks, 1 INT, 3 PBU, 1 QBH, 2 FR, 1 FF)
LB Jacob Lindsey, Jr.
LB Connor Sheehan, Sr.
LB Matt Koran, Jr.
DB Norman Hayes, Sr. (55 TT, 4 TFL, 2 INT, 4 PBU, 3 FF, 2 BLK)
DB Raishaun McGhee, So.
DB Sean Aherm, So.
PK Andrew Flesher, Sr. (7-of-10 FG, 37 points)
P David Bicknell, Sr. (45 punts, 40.2 ypp)
OUTLOOK: The 57-year-old Murphy underwent emergency triple coronary bypass surgery in February, but is fully recovered, and he says it re-enforced his love for coaching college football. His team's only loss last season was in triple overtime to Princeton, and the Crimson still came back to earn a share of their 14th league title. They just have to take their superb individual pieces and fit them all together. The offense is stronger than the defense. Hempel is part of a long line of excellent Crimson quarterbacks, and the offensive line will allow him to dissect opponents. RB Stanton is coming off a breakout year and is the league's top returning rusher by far. The key is how well the Crimson replace some pass catchers. Hayes is a tremendous leader in the secondary, but his unit is mainly inexperienced. No ball carriers want to get near All-American DE Hodges, and Medes is the leader at linebacker. The road slate within conference play is difficult with Brown, Princeton, Dartmouth and Penn. Expect another big season.
SCHEDULE:
Sept. 19 - Holy Cross
Sept. 27 - at Brown
Oct. 4 - at Georgetown
Oct. 11 - Cornell
Oct. 18 - Lafayette
Oct. 25 - at Princeton
Nov. 1 - at Dartmouth
Nov. 8 - Columbia
Nov. 15 - at Penn
Nov. 22 - Yale
3. DARTMOUTH BIG GREEN
LOCATION: Hanover, New Hampshire
STADIUM: Memorial Field
COACH: Buddy Teevens (58-80-2 in 14 seasons at Dartmouth; 94-157-2 overall)
LAST SEASON: 6-4 overall, 5-2 Ivy League (3rd)
STARTERS RETURNING: 14 (8 offense/6 defense)
BIG LOSSES: RB Dominick Pierre (214 carries, 1,064 yards, 13 TD; 21 receptions, 219 yards); TE Dean Brakes; OL Cohle Fowler; DT Elliot Kastner (33 TT, 5 TFL); LB Bronson Green (61 TT, 2 PBU, 1 QBH); LB Michael Runger (85 TT, 1.5 TFL, 1 INT, 2 PBU); CB Mike Banaciski (64 TT, 4.5 TFL, 2 PBU, 2 FR, 1 FF); CB Chase Womack (43 TT, 8 PBU, 1 FF); FS Garrett Waggoner (48 TT, 1 INT, 5 PBU)
OFFENSIVE STAR: QB Dalyn Williams, Jr. (147-for-265, 1,773 yards, 11 TD, 5 INT; 153 carries, 563 yards, 5 TD)
DEFENSIVE STAR: DE Cody Fulleton, Jr. (55 TT, 5.5 TFL, 3.5 sacks, 1 QBH, 2 FF)
OTHER KEY PLAYERS: RB Kyle Bramble, Jr. (55 carries, 337 yards, 2 TD)
RB Brian Grove, Jr.
WR Ryan McManus, Sr.
WR/PR Bo Patterson, Sr. (25 receptions, 395 yards, 6 TD)
WR Kirby Schoenthaler, Sr.
WR Victor Williams, Jr. (21 receptions, 316 yards)
WR Jon Marc Carrier, So.
OL Jacob Flores, Jr.
OL Scotty Whitmore, Jr.
OL A.J. Dillione, Sr.
C Sean Ronan, Sr.
DE Evan Chrustic, Sr. (30 TT, 6 TFL, 2 sacks, 6 PBU, 2 QBH)
DT A.J. Zuttah, Jr. (30 TT, 1.5 TFL, 3 PBU, 1 FR)
LB Eric Wickham, Sr.
LB Will McNamara, Jr.
LB Zach Slafsky, Jr.
CB Vernon Harris, Jr. (48 TT, 9 PBU)
CB Chai Reece, Sr. (injured last season)
FS Stephan Dazzo, Sr.
DB Troy Donahue, Sr. (44 TT, 1 INT, 4 PBU, 1 FR, 2 BLK)
OUTLOOK: The Big Green possess a league-record 17 titles, but they haven't won one since 1996. They think they will be contenders this season. Dynamic QB Williams already is among Dartmouth's top-10 career leaders in both passing yards and total offense. With a more seasoned offensive line and pass catchers led by McManus (42 receptions for 664 yards in 2012) and Patterson, Williams get even better as a junior. But the offense will be hard-pressed to replace Pierre, their No. 2 all-time leading rusher. Plus, Bramble, the top returning rusher, is coming off a knee injury. The defense led the league in fewest points allowed (19.5 ppg) and pass defense (210.2 ypg), and brings back nearly the entire line as well as key players in the secondary. DEs Fulleton and Chrustic are formidable bookends. With their special teams, the Big Green need better place-kicking to be at a championship level. Penn has frustrated the Big Green while their program has turned around, so a win over the Quakers to open the Ivy schedule is imperative.
SCHEDULE:
Sept. 20 - Central Connecticut State
Sept. 27 - at New Hampshire
Oct. 4 - Penn
Oct. 11 - at Yale
Oct. 18 - Holy Cross
Oct. 25 - at Columbia
Nov. 1 - Harvard
Nov. 8 - at Cornell
Nov. 15 - Brown
Nov. 22 - at Princeton
4. YALE BULLDOGS
LOCATION: New Haven, Connecticut
STADIUM: Yale Bowl
COACH: Tony Reno (7-13 in two seasons at Yale)
LAST SEASON: 5-5 overall, 3-4 Ivy League (Tie/4th)
STARTERS RETURNING: 18 (8 offense/10 defense)
BIG LOSSES: QB Henry Furman (138-for-212, 1,466 yards, 10 TD, 4 INT; 42 carries, 177 yards, 6 TD); LT Wes Gavin; DE Beau Palin (46 TT, 2.5 TFL, 1 PBU, 2 FR); DE Dylan Drake (33 TT, 5.5 TFL, 2 sacks, 1 FR, 1 FF, 1 BLK)
OFFENSIVE STAR: WR/RS Deon Randall, Sr. (85 receptions, 788 yards, 8 TD; 33 carries, 176 yards, 3 TD)
DEFENSIVE STAR: S Cole Champion, Jr. (78 TT, 1 TFL, 3 INT, 1 PBU, 4 FR, 2 FF)
OTHER KEY PLAYERS: QB Morgan Roberts, Jr. (37-for-71, 339 yards, 4 TD, 4 INT)
QB Logan Scott, Jr. (26-for-47, 264 yards, 3 TD, 1 INT)
QB Stephen Barmore, Fr.
RB/RS Tyler Varga, Sr. (125 carries, 627 yards, 1 TD in six games)
RB Candler Rich, So. (91 carries, 444 yards, 3 TD)
RB Kahil Keys, Sr. (56 carries, 352 yards, 1 TD)
WR Grant Wallace, Sr. (31 receptions, 421 yards, 2 TD)
WR/KR Robert Clemons, So.
TE Sebastian Little, Jr. (20 receptions, 252 yards)
TE Stephen Buric, Jr.
OL Ben Carbery, Sr.
OL Will Chism, Sr.
C Luke Longinotti, Jr.
DT Copache Tyler, So. (33 TT, 2 TFL, 1 FF)
DT Carl Kreitzberg, Jr.
DE Victor Egu, So. (26 TT, 4.5 TFL, 3 sacks, 3 FF)
DE Marty Moesta, So.
ILB William Vaughan, Sr. (82 TT, 6.5 TFL, 2 sacks, 1 FF)
ILB Darius Manora, So. (44 TT, 2.5 TFL)
ILB Andrew Larkin, Jr.
OLB Charles Cook, Sr. (56 TT, 3.5 TFL, 1 sack, 2 PBU)
CB Spencer Rymiszewski, So. (42 TT, 1.5 TFL, 5 PBU, 1 BLK)
S Foyesade Oluokun, So. (59 TT, 4 PBU)
S Robert Ries, So. (42 TT, 2 INT, 4 PBU)
PK/P Kyle Cazzetta, Sr. (11-of-15 FG, 58 points)
OUTLOOK: After consecutive losing records within the league in Reno's first two seasons, the Bulldogs have enough returning veterans to post a turnaround in the 100th anniversary season of the Yale Bowl. The problem with the six- game home schedule is that it's quite tough, including a visit by Army in a rare FBS matchup for the Ivies. The Bulldogs were hurt by injuries last season and need a healthier RB/RS Varga because he is an All-Ivy talent to pair with the dynamic Randall. The duo would be called on heavily, but the offensive line was hurt by graduation and the Bulldogs are hoping to find consistent play at quarterback. The defense will rely on plenty of sophomores and might be a year away from something really big. Among the seniors, ILB Vaughan is the leader. Another .500 season would be respectable, but the Bulldogs want to go over the hump against rival Harvard and with their league record.
SCHEDULE:
Sept. 20 - Lehigh
Sept. 27 - Army
Oct. 4 - at Cornell
Oct. 11 - Dartmouth
Oct. 18 - Colgate
Oct. 25 - Penn
Nov. 1 - at Columbia
Nov. 8 - at Brown
Nov. 15 - Princeton
Nov. 22 - at Harvard
5. PENN QUAKERS
LOCATION: Philadelphia
STADIUM: Franklin Field
COACH: Al Bagnoli (146-72 in 22 seasons at Penn; 232-91 overall)
LAST SEASON: 4-6 overall, 3-4 Ivy League (Tie/4th)
STARTERS RETURNING: 12 (5 offense/7 defense)
BIG LOSSES: QB Billy Ragone (95-for-184, 1,105 yards, 8 TD, 9 INT); WR Ryan Mitchell (35 receptions, 436 yards, 1 TD); C Chris Bush; DE Sam Chwarzysnki (34 TT, 9 TFL, 6 sacks, 4 INT, 2 PBU, 2 FF, 1 BLK); LB David Park (48 TT, 9 TFL, 3 sacks, 1 PBU, 1 FR, 1 FF, 1 BLK); FS/PR Sebastian Jaskowski (56 TT, 3 PBU, 2 FR, 3 FF)
OFFENSIVE STAR: RB Spencer Kulcsar, Sr. (110 carries, 433 yards, 3 TD; 24 receptions, 223 yards, 1 TD)
DEFENSIVE STAR: LB Dan Davis, Sr. (64 TT, 10.5 TFL, 1.5 sacks)
OTHER KEY PLAYERS: QB Alek Torgersen, So.
RB Kyle Wilcox, Sr. (102 carries, 493 yards, 2 TD);
RB Cam Countryman, Jr.
WR Conner Scott, Sr. (38 receptions, 458 yards, 2 TD)
WR Ty Taylor, Sr. (31 receptions, 393 yards, 5 TD)
WR/KR Eric Fiore, Sr, (injured last season)
TE Ryan O'Malley, Sr.
TE Mitchell King, Sr.
RT Matt Kiefer, Sr.
OL Trent Rivera, Sr.
OL Daniil Lysenko, Jr.
OL Tanner Thexton, Jr.
DT Austin Taps, Jr. (26 TT, 8 TFL, 5 sacks, 2 PBU, 1 FR)
DL Feerooz Yacobi, Sr.
NG Jimmy Wagner, Sr.
CB Dan Wilk, Sr. (43 TT, 1 INT, 4 PBU, 1 QBH)
CB Trevor Niemann, Sr.
SS Evan Jackson, Sr. (59 TT, 2 INT, 5 PBU)
SS Mike Laning, Sr. (49 TT, 4 PBU, 1 FF)
DB Kenny Thomas, Jr.
PK Connor Loftus, Sr. (4-of-12 FG, 38 points)
OUTLOOK: In Bagnoli's 23rd and final season on the Penn sideline, the Quakers will try to rebound from a rare losing record. They have won nine Ivy titles under the dean of league coaches, but another one in his swan song appears unlikely. Strong play on both lines is usually a staple for the program, but graduation hit both areas hard. On offense, Bagnoli has big hopes for new QB Torgersen, who won the season finale against Cornell and can get the ball to RBs Kulcsar or Wilcox or a plethora of wide receivers featuring Scott. Still, the offense must improve after averaging 339 yards and 23 points per game last season. LB Davis is among the league's best players and the secondary is full of veterans. Once highly touted, PK Loftus hopes for a better season. The Quakers will play six of their 10 games on the road. Bagnoli is four wins shy of 150 at Penn.
SCHEDULE:
Sept. 20 - at Jacksonville
Sept. 27 - Villanova
Oct. 4 - at Dartmouth
Oct. 11 - at Fordham
Oct. 18 - Columbia
Oct. 25 - at Yale
Nov. 1 - Brown
Nov. 8 - at Princeton
Nov. 15 - Harvard
Nov. 22 - at Cornell
6. BROWN BEARS
LOCATION: Providence, Rhode Island
STADIUM: Brown Stadium
COACH: Phil Estes (98-61 in 16 seasons at Brown)
LAST SEASON: 6-4 overall, 3-4 Ivy League (Tie/4th)
STARTERS RETURNING: 6 (0 offense/6 defense)
BIG LOSSES: QB Patrick Donnelly (219-for-334, 2,364 yards, 19 TD, 5 INT); RB John Spooney (150 carries, 1,170 yards, 10 TD); WR Tellef Lundevall (61 receptions, 745 yards, 4 TD); WR Jordan Evans (51 receptions, 618 yards, 6 TD); DL John Bumpus (29 TT, 9 TFL, 5.5 sacks, 2 PBU, 1 FR, 3 FF); LB Zack Lattrell (60 TT, 6 TFL, 1 INT, 1 PBU, 2 FF); FS Ade Oyalowo (63 TT, 11 TFL, 4 sacks, 2 PBU, 2 FF); DB Emory Polley (36 TT, 1.5 TFL, 6 INT, 4 PBU); PK Alex Norocea (13-for-15 FG, 77 points)
OFFENSIVE STAR: WR/RS Alex Jette, So. (9.2-yard punt return average)
DEFENSIVE STAR: ILB Dan Giovacchini, Sr. (66 TT, 3 TFL, 2 INT, 1 FR)
OTHER KEY PLAYERS: QB Marcus Fuller, Sr.
QB Seth Rosenbauer, Jr.
QB Kyle Moreno, So.
RB Andrew Coke, Jr. (73 carries, 292 yards, 2 TD)
RB Brian Strachan, Sr.
WR/RS Troy Doles, Jr.
WR Stian Romberg, Sr.
TE Alex Viox, Sr.
C John Heile, Jr.
LG Nicholas Codrea, Sr.
DE/PR Chad Berry, Jr. (34 TT, 2.5 TFL, 1 FR)
DT Ludovic Richardson, Jr.
DT Jacob Walther, Jr.
DE Zach Sparber, Sr.
DE Ryan Davenport, Sr.
ILB Xavier Russo, Sr. (46 TT, 3 sacks, 1 INT, 1 PBU, 1 FR)
OLB Eric Armogost, Sr. (53 TT, 2 TFL, 2 INT, 3 PBU)
OLB Mike Walsh, Jr.
FS Will Quigley, Jr.
DB Patrick O'Neill, Sr. (29 TT, 3 PBU, 1 FF)
CB Jacob Supron, Sr.
LS Courtland Clavette, Sr.
OUTLOOK: That the Bears don't return an offensive starter is jaw-dropping. The many new starters will have to grow up quickly because the league opener against Harvard arrives with their second game. Estes will design plays to get QB Fuller outside the pocket on runs. Fuller is backed by Rosenbauer, a drop- back signal caller who can run. Jette will get a bigger role at wide receiver, while RB Coke has the unenviable task of replacing Spooney, who had another season of eligibility remaining had he returned to school. The Bears still like their defense, with a bunch of hard hitters returning from a unit that ranked first in the league in total defense (341.7 ypg) and second in scoring defense (20.5 ppg). ILBs Giovacchini and Russo are a terrific duo who fuel everything. It's a rare year when Brown isn't considered a title contender, but it's a transition season considering the uncertainty on offense.
SCHEDULE:
Sept. 20 - at Georgetown
Sept. 27 - Harvard
Oct. 4 - at Rhode Island
Oct. 11 - Holy Cross
Oct. 18 - at Princeton
Oct. 25 - Cornell
Nov. 1 - at Penn
Nov. 8 - Yale
Nov. 15 - at Dartmouth
Nov. 22 - Columbia
7. CORNELL BIG RED
LOCATION: Ithaca, New York
STADIUM: Schoellkopf Field
COACH: David Archer (3-7 in one season at Cornell)
LAST SEASON: 3-7 overall, 2-5 Ivy League (7th)
STARTERS RETURNING: 13 (6 offense/7 defense)
BIG LOSSES: QB Jeff Mathews (228-for-360, 2,953 yards, 22 TD, 13 INT); WR Grant Gellatly (91 receptions, 1,224 yards, 8 TD); OL Brad Wagner; DT Kevin Marchand (41 TT, 4.5 TFL, 3 sacks, 2 FF); DE Justin Harris (40 TT, 3 TFL, 4 PBU, 1 FR); DL Justin Harris (40 TT, 3 TFL, 1 INT, 4 PBU); LB Tre Minor (46 TT, 7 TFL, 1 INT, 2 PBU, 1 FR, 2 BLK); LB Brett Buehler (103 TT, 4.5 TFL, 2 sacks, 3 PBU, 1 FF); S Brian Gee (50 TT, 1 FR)
OFFENSIVE STAR: RB Luke Hagy, Jr. (108 carries, 360 yards; 55 receptions, 652 yards, 5 TD)
DEFENSIVE STAR: CB Michael Turner, Sr. (32 TT, 2 TFL, 3 INT, 3 PBU, 1 FR, 3 FF)
OTHER KEY PLAYERS: QB James Few, Jr. (15-for-19, 193 yards, 2 TD)
RB Ahmad Avery, Sr.
WR Lucas Shapiro, Sr. (38 receptions, 600 yards, 6 TD)
WR Chris Lenz, Jr.
WR/PR Ben Rogers, Jr. (22.8-yard KO return average)
OL Zach Wilk, Jr.
DL Brett Jones, Jr.
DE Justin Harris, Sr.
ILB Jackson Weber, So. (40 TT, 1.5 sacks, 1 QBH)
ILB Taylor Betros, Sr. (43 TT, 4 TFL)
OLB Bobby Marani, Jr. (45 TT, 1 INT, 1 PBU, 1 FR, 1 FF, 1 BLK)
CB Jarrod Watson-Lewis, Jr. (41 TT, 5 PBU, 2 FR)
S Rush Imhotep, Sr. (injured last season)
PK John Wells, Sr.
P Chris Fraser, So. (49 punts, 42.9 ypp)
OUTLOOK: The Big Red will have a different feel without Mathews, who set the league record by over 2,000 passing yards, directing the offense. Few, who won a start against Columbia last season, will take over as the new starting quarterback. They will still pass the ball regularly, but with a little more running mixed in after they ranked last in the FCS with 49.3 rushing yards per game. RB Hagy had 55 receptions in addition to being the Big Red's chief rushing threat. The defense improved down the stretch last season and will carry the momentum into this season. DE Harris is set for a breakout season and there are plenty of experienced linebackers and defensive backs to keep the defense physical. Fraser, the punter, was the Ivy rookie of the year last season. Still only 31, Archer is starting to put more of his stamp on the program in Year 2.
SCHEDULE:
Sept. 20 - at Colgate
Sept. 27 - at Bucknell
Oct. 4 - Yale
Oct. 11 - at Harvard
Oct 18 - Lehigh
Oct. 25 - at Brown
Nov. 1 - Princeton
Nov. 8 - Dartmouth
Nov. 15 - at Columbia
Nov. 22 - Penn
8. COLUMBIA LIONS
LOCATION: New York
STADIUM: Wien Stadium
COACH: Pete Mangurian (3-17 in two seasons at Columbia; 19-31 overall)
LAST SEASON: 0-10 overall, 0-7 Ivy League
STARTERS RETURNING: 13 (8 offense/5 defense)
BIG LOSSES: QB Kelly Hilinski, So. (36-for-90, 334 yards, 1 TD, 4 INT); RB Marcorus Garrett (93 carries, 463 yards, 4 TD); WR Scooter Hollis (22 receptions, 242 yards, 1 TD); LB Zach Olinger (104 TT, 2.5 TFL, 2 PBU, 1 QBH); LB Brian East (84 TT, 4.5 TFL, 2 INT, 2 PBU, 2 FR, 2 FF); DL Chad Washington (70 TT, 6.5 TFL, 2 sacks, 2 PBU, 2 QBH, 1 FF); DL Nick Melka (40 TT, 3.5 sacks, 2 PBU, 2 FF); DB Marquel Carter (63 TT, 2.5 TFL, 3 PBU); P Paul Delaney (81 punts, 42.4 ypp)
OFFENSIVE STAR: QB Brett Nottingham, Sr. (12-for-23, 144 yards, 2 INT)
DEFENSIVE STAR: DT Niko Padilla, Jr. (41 TT, 9.5 TFL, 1 PBU)
OTHER KEY PLAYERS: QB Trevor McDonagh, Jr.
RB Cam Molina, Jr.
RB/KR Alan Watson, So.
WR Connor Nelligan, Sr. (20 receptions, 163 yards)
WR Denzel Hill, So.
WR Ryan Flannery, Sr.
OL Kendall Pace. So.
OL Marshall Markham, Jr.
OL Ryan Thomas, Sr.
DE Toba Akinleye, Jr. (29 TT, 6 TFL, 2.5 sacks)
DL Dominic Perkovic, Fr.
LB Vinny Pugliese, Sr. (63 TT, 5.5 TFL, 2.5 sacks, 3 PBU)
LB Max Keefe, Jr.
LB Keith Brady, So.
LB Ray Pesanello, Sr.
OLB Kal Prince, Sr.
DB Malcolm Thaxton, Sr. (38 TT, 1 PBU)
S Travis Reim, Jr. (59 TT, 1 INT, 6 PBU, 1 FR)
OUTLOOK: Entering his third season with Columbia's struggling program, Mangurian is seeking improvement all around, but he says there is more depth this season to bring about change. He has 19 seniors to lead the way. The Lions scored only 73 points and lost every game by at least 14 points last season. A healthier Nottingham at quarterback, after he was lost for the season in the first game, will help the Lions decrease their minus-15 turnover ratio. Molina will take over at running back and there's good size at wide receiver. The defense returns only five starters. Fortunately, one is DT Padilla, the Lions' hardened leader. Despite the optimism at this time of the year, the schedule is ridiculously tough and there are few winnable games on paper before November.
SCHEDULE:
Sept. 20 - Fordham
Sept. 27 - at Albany
Oct. 4 - Princeton
Oct. 11 - at Monmouth
Oct. 18 - at Penn
Oct. 25 - Dartmouth
Nov. 1 - Yale
Nov. 8 - at Harvard
Nov. 15 - Cornell
Nov. 22 - at Brown
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