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Princeton University Athletics
Tiger Football 1999 - 20 Questions
August 09, 1999 | Football
Aug. 9, 1999
Are we keeping the stadium for another year?
Definitely. The first year at Princeton Stadium turned out to be a boon for fans, as average attendance jumped from just over 10,000 in the final year at Palmer Stadium to 22,221 last year in the inaugural season at Princeton Stadium. The stadium was everything it was advertised to be, and its simplicity while providing an intimate setting created an atmosphere that had been missing in the old facility. Princeton went 3-2 at home in its first season in the building.
How many captains are there?
For the first time in program history, Princeton will have three captains: Hamin Abdullah, David Ferrara and Chuck Hastings.
What figure to be the strengths of this year's team?
Princeton returns four starters on the offensive line, including two players-guard Hamin Abdullah, tackle Dennis Norman-who were first-team All-Ivy League a year ago. The line will be blocking for a deep corps of experienced running backs. The front seven defensively should also be strong, led by All-Ivy defensive end David Ferrara and linebackers Chuck Hastings and Drew Babinecz.
On the other hand, what figure to be the weaknesses?
Princeton will have a new quarterback, regardless of which one emerges. The secondary a year ago struggled due to injuries and inexperience, though that group is healthier and deeper this time around.
If it's another season, does that mean another new quarterback?
Yes it does. For the seventh time in the last eight years, Princeton will have a new starting QB. Last year's starter, John Burnham, graduated after putting together the best season by a Princeton quarterback since Jason Garrett in the late '80s. Whoever takes Burnham's place, it won't be a senior. Instead, it looks like a dual between junior Jon Blevins and sophomores Tommy Crenshaw, Scott Brown and Brian Danielewicz. The only one of those four to take a varsity snap is Blevins, he has thrown three career passes.
Is the starting tailback returning?
Depends on which starter you're talking about. Princeton used a four-tailback rotation last year that saw all four lead the team in rushing at least once. Each week it seemed that a different member of the group emerged. Combined, the four-Nathan McGlothlin, Derek Theisen, Damien Taylor, Kyle Brandt-rushed for nearly 1,400 yards, which would have the highest total for by any Tiger back not named Keith Elias. Theisen (487 yards, team-high) and Brandt (396 yards, second to Theisen) are back this year.
Will the rotation continue?
Princeton used its rotating tailback situation last year because none of the four emerged as the true No. 1. This year, Brandt and Theisen will compete for the No. 1 spot with a talented group of young players, including no less than seven incoming freshman running backs.
Will there be holes to run through?
Princeton improved its offensive output by more than 1,100 yards from 1997 to 1998, and the main reason was the offensive line. The Tigers' struggled up front in 1996 and 1997, but a talented group of players has emerged since. Leading the way are a pair of first-team All-Ivy linemen in guard Hamin Abdullah and tackle Dennis Norman. Abdullah enters his senior year having been a starter since midway through his freshman year Norman is a junior who did not even move into the starting lineup until after last season began.
Can you have five returning starters if you graduated a tackle?
Justin Bennett, who started 30 straight games at tackle, was the lone senior on last year's line. Nevertheless, Princeton returns five linemen who started at least one game last year. Not that those five are automatics to start this year. In fact, the odd man out could be a player who has been a starter since his freshman year as well. John Amburgy and Ross Tucker, who split one guard spot last year, both figure to start this year, which would move Abdullah to the center position. That would displace Bernie Marczyk, who has been the starting center the last 24 games. John Raveche, a highly touted recruit of two years ago, appears ready to step into Bennett's tackle position for his junior year, Norman is etched in stone at the other tackle spot.
Is the tight end going to reemerge?
Princeton's tight end has been more of a third tackle the last few years, with no Tiger at that position having caught at least 10 passes in a season since 1992. Still, Princeton hasn't had a pass-catching threat at the position in that time like it does this year. George Citovic caught seven passes last year, but he averaged 22.7 yards per catch with a long of 43. Citovic was the backup last year, he will be counted on for more this year.
Can you graduate 68 receptions and still call wide receiver a strength?
Sure, Princeton loses Ryan Crowley (43 catches, second-team All-Ivy) and Ray Canole (16.2 yards per catch, three touchdowns) to graduation, but the receiver corps was deeper than just those two a year ago. Phil Wendler, a tall target a 6-4, may have been Princeton's best receiver a year ago. Wendler, who will be a senior, caught 30 passes, averaged 16.8 yards per catch, had three touchdown receptions, was the Ivy League Offensive Player of the Week after Princeton took Lehigh into overtime. He also made arguably Princeton's play of the year with an acrobatic reception against Penn. Danny Brian, who came back from a shoulder injury that wiped out his entire 1997 season, caught 15 passes, of which three went for touchdowns.
How good is David Ferrara?
Princeton has had some pretty good defensive players in the Steve Tosches era, including some outstanding defensive linemen. Put the name David Ferrara up there with all of them. Ferrara finished last year with 12 sacks, giving him 23 for his career, already the school record. He also had 66 tackles, tops among Tiger linemen. At season's end, he was a first-team All-Ivy League selection. This year, he will again be the anchor of the defense.
Is there any depth on the defensive line chart?
Princeton used seven defensive tackles fairly regularly last year. While the pool might not go as deep this year, the Tigers figure to go more than four deep up front. Three of the starters are set, though their positions are still questions. With Ferrara set at one end spot, the other end might be occupied by Nathan Podsakoff, who would move from tackle to replace graduated All-Ivy Leaguer Dan Swingos. Jason Rotman, an end a year ago, could move inside to a tackle spot. There are other experienced players who also will see time in Douglas Silverman and Preston Tims.
Is this linebacker thing getting to be a habit?
Jim Salters and Mike Veronesi were Princeton's top two linebackers a year ago, when they were 1-2 on the team in tackles. They, of course, replaced Tim Greene and Jamie Toddings, who graduated before that after going 1-2 on the team in tackles. Green and Toddings replaced Dave Patterson and Ryan Moore, who went 1-2 in tackles back in 1994 and 1995. Those six linebackers combined were All-Ivy 10 times, with one Bushnell Cup mixed in. Funny thing, though. Princeton has always had new linebackers in reserve, and this year should be no different. The lone holdover is Chuck Hastings, who started the year as the weak link and ended up being a tri-captain for this year. Hastings started every game as the outside linebacker, and he will be back there again this year. Drew Babinecz had a big freshman year as a backup linebacker, playing mostly in passing situations. He seems ready to join the above list as the next outstanding Princeton linebacker. Michael Higgins is the next most experienced 'backer, Steven Koopman, Bob Farrell and Chris Roser-Jones are younger players ready to step up their roles.
Is the secondary a primary concern?
It's no secret that Princeton struggled in the secondary a year ago, when opponents threw for 222 yards per game and completed 53.4% of their passes. Injuries and inexperience hurt the Tigers in a big way last year, this year could be the payoff. Gerry Wilson was off to an All-Ivy League season with three interceptions in four games before he missed the rest of the year with a broken arm, he is again healthy and will be one cornerback. Brian Beem was forced into action as a freshman a year ago, and he figures to join Wilson this time around at the other corner. Princeton also has Gerry Giurato and Garrett Fittizzi, both of whom started at various times a year ago. Ryan Demler, an Academic All-America a year ago, is entrenched at the strong safety position. Taylor Smith moved onto the field late last season as the free safety and showed strong potential. He figures to be the starter this year as a junior.
Can Princeton still get its kicks?
If Princeton was wiped out by graduation in any area, it was the kicking game, where two four-year starters said goodbye. Matt Evans holds every Princeton punting record except number of punts in a game, and his senior year, junior year and sophomore years rank 1-2-3 on Princeton's single-season punting average list. Evans also has nine of the top 10 single-game performances. Alex Sierk is Princeton's career record holder in field goals (36, two off the Ivy record) and is also the school record holder in consecutive field goals made with 15. Sierk also swept every major scholar-athlete award in college football a year ago, totaling postgraduate scholarship money of almost $75,000. Who can take their place? Maybe one player can. Taylor Northrup showed serious promise last year as the kickoff specialist, when 16 of his 22 kickoffs landed inside the five and six were not returned at all. Northrup, who once kicked a 55-yard field goal in a high school game, figures to be at least the placekicker, if not also the punter. Greg Nortman has also been the kickoff man at times.
Is the guy who blocked all the kicks gone?
Rocky Fittizzi blocked seven punts in his Princeton career, carving a "special" place in the Tiger record book (and NCAA record book, with his five blocked punts in 1997 the single-season Division I-AA record). His brother Garrett has also been a fixture on special teams, as has Danny Brian, the wide receiver who can also return kicks and pressure the punter on the punt-block team. Princeton graduated its main punt returner in Ray Canole, but Brian and Kyle Brandt are experienced, quality return men. Princeton has not returned a kickoff for a touchdown since 1992, Princeton has not returned a punt for a touchdown since 1994.
How does the freshman class look?
The Class of 2003 is strong and deep, and immediate contributions are likely, especially on special teams. The strengths look to be at wide receiver and running back, where Princeton looked to address a need for big play makers.
How does the Ivy League shape up?
Penn is the defending champ, but last year's league race was as wide open as its been in years. This year figures to be no different. Penn and Harvard, the last two champions, figure to be strong again, while Brown has been knocking on the door the last few years. Yale took a major step forward last year, while Dartmouth figures to likewise this year after a tough 1998 season. Cornell and Columbia finished closer to last than first a year ago, but all that could change with early-season success. As for the Tigers, they were in the hunt a year ago until Week 9, a break here or there could have changed everything in either direction. The Ivy League favorites, for this year at least, will again be the teams that win their traditional openers (Princeton-Cornell, Harvard-Columbia, Dartmouth-Penn, Yale-Brown). All that will change in 2000, when Ivy teams will no longer open the season with each other.
What is Coach Tosches' take on all this?
"Hopefully 1999 will be a breakthrough year. Both 1997 and 1998 had their shining moments. We had many close ballgames, and a play here or there could have made the outcomes much different. Our goal for 1999 is to achieve consistency week to week. We're looking to take more strides offensively. Obviously the quarterback position will be a big key, and our pass defense should be improved. We have six home games, which is a big plus. In this league, where it figures to be a close race, early success and early momentum should go a long way."