Football Team Picked To Finish Second In Preseason Media Poll

Aug. 5, 2002

Through much of the 2001 season, the Princeton football team proved it could compete with anybody, losing a number of close contests. Optimism was ignited by a pair of big season-ending victories, and also the prospect of returning 19 starters. That optimism is shared by members of the media, who Monday announced Princeton as the second-place team on their annual preseason poll. Defending champion Harvard was picked to repeat, while Brown and Penn stand just behind the Tigers.

Princeton received two of the 16 first-place votes, and ended with a total of 99 points in the poll. Harvard is the clear favorite, garnering 124 points and 13 first-place votes. Brown earned 97 votes while 2000 champion Penn earned 91 votes and the final first-place vote.

Third-year head coach Roger Hughes will have his most experienced team to date this season, which begins Sept. 21 at Lehigh. Among the standout offensive players are returning starters David Splithoff (quarterback), Chisom Opara (receiver) and Cameron Atkinson (tailback). The Tigers also return a bevy of offensive linemen. On the defensive side, first-team all-Ivy selection Kevin Kongslie joins the likes of leading tackler Zak Keasey to bolster an experienced unit.

As the season nears, www.goprincetontigers.com will provide a detailed outlook on the 2002 squad.

2002 Preseason Ivy Poll

1) Harvard (13) 124
2) Princeton (2) 99
3) Brown 97
4) Penn (1) 91
5) Dartmouth 56
6) Yale 55
7) Cornell 29
8) Columbia 25

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