Princeton University Athletics
The Name Was Not The Only Change
October 08, 1999 | Sprint Football
First of all, it's no longer considered lightweight football. The correct name of the sport is sprint football.
Second of all, this isn't the same Princeton team that has suffered through winless season after winless season of lightweight football. With a new era of sprint football, these Tigers wanted to open a new era of pride and success.
The return of head coach Bob DiPipi, the opening of the revamped Frelinghuysen Field and the improved play of numerous upperclassmen brought a new sense of hope for the Tigers, who had not won a game since a 39-13 rout of Pennsylvania in the final game of the 1995 season. That was the only win that year, meaning that the seniors entered their final campaign with a 1-17 record.
That was not acceptable. And they made sure that no other senior class would have to deal with that.
Little comes overnight, including long-awaited victories. The Tigers opened their 1998 season with a tough 6-0 loss at Cornell. Princeton turned the ball over three times, but played well enough on defense to keep the game scoreless until Josh Trembley's one-yard dive for the game's only score.
The next two games were against the top two teams in the league, and it was evident that Princeton still had a ways to go before it would compete for a league crown. The Tigers dropped their home opener to Penn 41-20, surrendering 207 yards and four touchdowns to Quaker running back Tim Ortman. Princeton gave its fans a taste of what they would see later with a pair of touchdowns in the fourth quarter, including a 60-yard touchdown pass from Joe Andolina to Geoff Gasperini.
Army pounded Princeton 48-7 in West Point the next weekend. Only a 62-yard touchdown by Ki Moon on a blocked field goal kept the Tigers from being shut out. Princeton was outgained 432-91 and seemed to be in the middle of just another winless season.
At least, that's probably what Navy thought when it traveled to Princeton for the Oct. 30 battle. The Midshipmen took an early 6-0 lead, but they were about to suffer through Jeff Mah Night. The freshman caused the most mischief for Navy, running for 211 yards on 33 attempts. He scored on a three-yard run early in the fourth quarter, tying the score at 14-14 and thrilling the faithful on a frozen Friday night.
Princeton held on until overtime and got the ball first. Joe Andolina scored on a one-yard plunge to help Princeton to a 21-14 lead. Arnold Selvidge scored on a four-yard run for the Midshipmen, and it became decision time. They had the option of going for two and the win or attempting an extra point. Luke Watson's only PAT attempt had been blocked, but the coaching staff decided to give him another opportunity.
His kick never had a chance, floating right of the goalpost and inciting a celebration along the Princeton sidelines.
That 21-20 overtime win could have been enough for other teams, but this was a different Princeton squad. The Tigers prepared for a rematch with Cornell, a team they knew they could have beaten the first time. Mah got Princeton on the board first with a two-yard touchdown run.
Cornell scored touchdowns in the second and third quarters to hold a 14-7 lead entering the final quarter. A five-yard score by Kevin Roberts again tied the score, but Cornell seemed to put the game away with a one-yard score by Cornell's Josh Trembley.
Princeton mustered a final rally and got to the Cornell three-yard line with 48 seconds left. Andolina threw a touchdown pass to Paul Hernandez and it was once again decision time. This time, the staff chose to go for the win. Andolina attempted a quarterback sneak and was stuck in a pile for nearly a minute as the officials tried to separate the players. As both sidelines held their breaths, the referee raised his arms and signaled the score. The Tigers held on for their second consecutive victory, the first time that happened since Princeton won four straight games to end its 1989 season.