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Princeton University Athletics
Princeton Hosts Cornell In Football Opener
September 13, 1999 | Football
Sept. 13, 1999
CORNELL (0-0) at PRINCETON (0-0)
The Date Sept. 18, 1999
The Kickoff 1:07 p.m.
The Site Princeton Stadium o Princeton, N.J.
The Series Princeton leads 51-28-2
Last Year Princeton defeated Cornell 6-0
The Coaches Princeton: Steve Tosches (13th season, 75-43-2)
Cornell: Peter Mangurian (second season, 4-6)
TV/Radio The game can be heard live on the Princeton Radio Network, which includes flagship station WHWH AM 1350 in Princeton and WHTG AM 1410 in Eatontown. The game can also be seen live on RCN, which will also televise the game Tuesday at 8 p.m.
The Storyline Princeton opens its season against an Ivy opponent for the final time before the schedule changes
This Week's Note of the Week
Into the fire — Princeton and Cornell have split their last four opening-day matchups, and all four of those games have been decided by a touchdown or less with one overtime game. Cornell has outscored Princeton 69-67 in those four games. Five more notes no media person should be without
For openers — This marks the 10th straight year that Princeton and Cornell open the season against each other. Princeton and Cornell do not open the season against each other next year.
A league of their own — Princeton has opened its season against an Ivy League foe (either Dartmouth or Cornell) every year since 1976. Beginning next year and lasting through at least the next two decades, Princeton will open its season against either Lehigh or Lafayette.
More league — No team has ever lost its Ivy opener and won an outright championship.
Two for one — Princeton will use a two-quarterback rotation of junior Jon Blevins and sophomore Tommy Crenshaw.
Air mail — The only quarterback on either Princeton or Cornell who has ever taken a varsity snap is Jon Blevins, who played one series against Lehigh last year. Blevins went 2 for 3 for 42 yards in that series.
Others receiving votes
Line 'em up— Princeton returns two first-team All-Ivy League offensive linemen (Hamin Abdullah, Dennis Norman) for the first time ever.
Bernie's back — Bernie Marczyk, who has started 25 straight games at center, was No. 2 on the depth chart for the entire spring and summer before moving back to No. 1 at the end of last week's double sessions. Marczyk had been backing up Hamin Abdullah until Abdullah was moved back to guard, where he has started since his freshman year as well.
No offense — In Princeton's last two games against Cornell, the Tigers have scored one touchdown, on a drive of nine yards after a Rocky Fittizzi blocked punt in the game two years ago.
Ready when the bell rings — Princeton is 104-21-4 all-time in season-openers.
History lesson — Princeton won 65 straight opening-day games between 1878 and 1943.
Close shaves — Of Princeton's last 17 losses, 13 have come been by a touchdown or less, with four in overtime.
In a rush — Kyle Brandt rushed for 119 yards on 26 carries in last year's win over Cornell.
2.1 yards and a cloud of dust — Princeton allowed 2.1 yards per rushing attempt a year ago.
Starting over — Princeton has 15 different starters from its opening game a year ago (* = 1998 All-Ivy) Position 1998 1999 QB John Burnham Blevins/Crenshaw TB Kyle Brandt Derek Theisen H-B Jason Glotzbach Bruce Erb TE Tom Stanley George Citovic OT Justin Bennett* Dennis Norman OT Steve Lamberton John Raveche WR Ryan Crowley* Danny Brian WR Ray Canole Phil Wendler DL Tu Webster Douglas Silverman DL Dan Swingos* Jason Rotman LB Jim Salters* Drew Babinecz LB Mike Veronesi* Michael Higgins CB Gerry Giurato Brian Beem PK Alex Sierk* Taylor Northrup P Matt Evans* Taylor Northrup
Injury update — Princeton will be without three players who figured to be on the depth chart but suffered training camp injuries: DT Preston Tims (broken leg), SS Taylor Smith (ruptured spleen), CB Clark Webb (broken collarbone). All three may miss the entire season.
Welcome back — Gerry Wilson, who had three interceptions before breaking his wrist in Week 4 last year, returns to the starting lineup. Wilson sealed the win over Cornell with an interception in the final minute.
Crowd control — Princeton was third in Division I-AA in average attendance last year (22,221). Season ticket sales for this year are up almost 500 from a year ago (7,300).
Go long — Tight end George Citovic averaged 22.4 yards per reception a year ago.
Getting his kicks — Sophomore Taylor Northrup will be Princeton's punter and placekicker. He replaces Alex Sierk, a four-year starter who holds school records for consecutive field goals made, most points by kicking and field goals made in a career, and Matt Evans, who holds nine school punting records. Together Sierk and Evans were All-Ivy League five times and All-America three times.
Air it out — Jon Blevins' passing efficiency rating on his three attempts in 184.27.
Phil it up — Phil Wendler, who was slowed by a minor back injury in training camp, had three 100-yard receiving days in 1998. No other Princeton wide receiver has had even one since 1993.
Size matters — Cornell All-Ivy League wide receiver Joe Splendorio is 6' 6", the average height of the eight players listed on Princeton's two-deep in the secondary is 5' 9-7/8".
Sack master — David Ferrara holds the Princeton career record with 23.5 sacks.
Young guns — Princeton lists six freshmen on the two-deep. Princeton has had one Ivy League Rookie of the Year (1983, Doug Butler) in the history of the award.
We're honored — Due to a change in Ivy League rules, there will be no Ivy League Rookie of the Week each week, but there will be an Ivy League Special Teams Player of the Week each week.
In case you forgot — The last time Princeton used a two-quarterback rotation, it won its only outright Ivy League championship in the last 34 years (1995, Brock Harvey and Harry Nakielny).
Princeton Offense WR 19 Phil Wendler (Sr., 6-3, 195 o Kent. Wash.) 27 Tim Ligue (Jr., 6-0, 175 o Chicago, Ill.) LT 76 DENNIS NORMAN (Jr., 6-4, 280 o Marlton, N.J.) 74 David Czehut (So., 6-5, 280 o Crosswicks, N.J.) LG 57 HAMIN ABDULLAH (Sr., 6-3, 280 o Jacksonville, Fla.) 62 Brian Wilson (Jr., 6-2, 275 o Springfield, Pa.) C 61 BERNIE MARCYK (Sr., 6-2, 270 o Absecon, N.J.) 73 Chris Havener (Fr., 6-4, 280 o New Britain, Pa.) RG 65 Ross Tucker (Jr., 6-5, 290 o Wyomissing, Pa.) 52 John Amburgy (Jr., 6-4, 275 o Clearwater, Fla.) RT 66 John Raveche (Jr., 6-4, 295 o Hoboken, N.J.) 79 Matt Peluse (So., 6-5, 290 o Glen Rock, N.J.) or 78 John Holownia (Fr., 6-5, 290 o East Setauket, N.Y.) TE 84 GEORGE Citovic (Jr., 6-5, 230 o Middleburg Hts., Ohio) 48 David Camarillo (Jr., 6-2, 190 o Aptos, Calif.) or 87 Owen Stockdale (Sr., 6-3, 210 o Spirit Lake, Iowa) WR 3 DANNY BRIAN (Sr., 5-9, 170 o Escondido, Calif.) 80 Jeff Roemer (Sr., 6-3, 200 o Springfield, Va.) or 83 Gozie Onyema (Sr., 6-2, 185 o South Holland, Ill.) H-B 24 Bruce Erb (Jr., 6-0, 210 o Pequannock, N.J.) 9 Marty Cheatham (Jr., 6-1, 195 o Palos Verdes, Calif.) QB 12 TOMMY CRENSHAW (So., 6-2, 205 o Pompano Beach, Fla.) and 16 JON BLEVINS (Jr., 6-3, 205 o Westlake, Ohio) 14 Brian Danielewicz (So., 6-3, 195 o Beverly Hills, Mich.) TB 29 Derek Theisen (Sr., 5-11, 200 o Avon Lake, Ohio) 34 Kyle Brandt (Jr., 6-0, 200 o Lincolnshire, Ill.)
Princeton Defense DE 95 DAVID FERRARA (Sr., 6-3, 250 o Ramsey, N.J.) 53 Aron Tremble (Jr., 6-2, 235 o San Diego, Calif.) DT 58 Douglas Silverman (Sr., 6-2, 235 o Potomac, Md.) and 94 NICK FREITAG (Jr., 6-1, 230 o Michigan City, Ind.) DT 96 Jason Rotman (Jr., 6-4, 240 o Deerfield, Ill.) 97 Michael Long (So., 6-3, 169 o Los Angeles, Calif.) DE 59 NATHAN PODSAKOFF (Jr., 6-2, 240 o Bloomington, Ind.) 92 Brian Foley (So., 6-4, 225 o Mento, Ohio) LB 41 Drew Babinecz (So., 6-0, 210 o West Chester, Pa.) 55 Steven Koopman (Jr., 6-1, 200 o Indian Springs, Ala.) LB 51 MICHAEL HIGGINS (Jr., 6-0, 205 o Ho-Ho-Kus, N.J.) 46 Bob Farrell (So., 6-0, 205 o Tulsa, Okla.) LB 50 CHUCK HASTINGS (Jr., 6-1, 230 o Trenton, Mich.) 98 Chris Roser-Jones (So., 6-0, 210 o State College, Pa.) CB 43 Brian Beem (So., 5-9, 175 o Atlanta, Ga.) 1 Paul Simbi (Fr., 5-8, 185 o Roseville, Minn.) SS 22 RYAN DEMLER (Sr., 6-2, 195 o Escondido, Calif.) 15 Shane Stevenson (Fr., 5-9, 185 o Franklinville, N.J.) FS 33 Dave Richie (Sr., 5-10, 180 o Coal Township, Pa.) 39 Garrett Fittizzi (Sr., 5-9, 165 o Voorheesville, N.Y.) CB 2 GERRY WILSON (Sr., 5-10, 175 o Piscataway, N.J.) 8 Gerry Giurato (Sr., 5-10, 175 o Jacksonville, Fla.)
Princeton Specialists PK 6 TAYLOR NORTHRUP (So., 5-11, 175 o Jupiter, Fla.) KO 6 TAYLOR NORTHRUP (So., 5-11, 175 o Jupiter, Fla.) P 6 TAYLOR NORTHRUP (So., 5-11, 175 o Jupiter, Fla.) LS 91 TODD HELFRICH (Sr., 6-3, 230 o Northbrook, Ill.) H 3 DANNY BRIAN (Sr., 5-9, 170 o Escondido, Calif.) PR 3 DANNY BRIAN (Sr., 5-9, 170 o Escondido, Calif.) and 37 ANDY BRYANT (Fr., 5-9, 180 o Laramie, Wyo.) KR 35 CAMERON ATKINSON (Fr., 5-7, 170 o Mantua, N.J.) and 37 ANDY BRYANT (Fr., 5-9, 180 o Laramie, Wyo.)