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Princeton University Athletics
Players Mentioned
Football Class Of 2009 Welcomed At Introductory Barbecue
August 23, 2005 | Football
Aug. 23, 2005
PRINCETON - The Princeton Football Class of 2009 was welcomed to campus during the annual Frosh Barbecue Tuesday night at Princeton Stadium. The 28 members of the freshman class were introduced to the coaches and staff at the site they soon hope to introduce themselves to the Princeton Tiger faithful. They will soon get that opportunity, as the end of the barbecue signaled the beginning of preseason camp.
Princeton Director of Athletics Gary Walters and head coach Roger Hughes spoke to both the Class of 2009 and their families following dinner. Following physicals and equipment checks, the first team meeting was scheduled at 9 p.m.
The team will officially begin practice Wednesday, August 24, at 6:30 p.m., following a day filled with positional and team meetings. Princeton will practice 22 times between Wednesday and Sept. 10, which will be the final Saturday until Thanksgiving weekend without a Princeton football game.
This is a critical camp for the Tigers, who were picked sixth in the preseason media poll. Offensively, the key races are at the quarterback and running back positions. The graduations of Matt Verbit, Jon Veach, Branden Benson and Jon Veach have opened each position in the Princeton backfield, and Hughes anticipates a strong competition for each position.
The eventual starters at those positions will play behind the most experienced offensive line during the six-year tenure of Hughes. The Tigers return five former starters, including 2005 co-captain Ben Brielmaier and former All-Ivy selection Paul Lyons. Princeton also returns All-Ivy selections at wide receiver (senior Greg Fields) and tight end (senior Jon Dekker). The other side of the ball should have fewer questions to answer this camp, but with the reality of an inexperienced offense to start the season, the Princeton defense knows it must be sharp immediately. A pair of former First-Team All-Ivy selections, seniors Justin Stull (LB) and Jay McCareins (DB), will lead a defense that also features four other returning starters. Among them are a pair of 2004 All-Ivy selections, Abi Fadeyi (LB) and Tim Strickland (DB).
Many, if not all, of the starting spots will be decided following Princeton's 14th practice of the fall. That practice will take place in the historic Yale Bowl, when the Tigers scrimmage the Yale Bulldogs at 2 p.m. Those two teams will meet for real on Nov. 12 at Princeton Stadium, which will be the final home contest for the Class of 2006.