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Princeton University Athletics
Players Mentioned
Finally, Football Ready To Lace It Up For Real
September 14, 2006 | Football
The Princeton football players might have enjoyed watching some of the college games of the last two weekends, but they're more than ready to get into the action themselves. The 2006 Tiger football season, one that seems to be filled with both optimism and questions, will begin Saturday at Lehigh. Kickoff is scheduled for 1:07 p.m., and the game can be heard live on WBUD 1260 AM and GoPrincetonTigers.com. The game will also be shown on FCS-Atlantic (DirecTV channel 628) on Sept. 19 at 8 p.m.
The Tigers return several skill players on offense, including senior quarterback Jeff Terrell and junior running back Rob Toresco. A full cast of experienced receivers also return, including seniors Brian Brigham and Brian Shields and junior Brendan Circle. The biggest question surrounding the Tiger offense is in the trenches, where Princeton will start five new offensive linemen and a new tight end.
The defensive trenches are much less of a question for Princeton, as the likes of Jake Marshall, Pete Buchignani, Tom Methvin and Mike Meehan form one of the deepest groups at this position in the Ivy League. There is also plenty of experience in the defensive backfield, which will be led by seniors Tim Strickland and J.J. Artis. The linebacking corps will be the most inexperienced group on the defensive side of the ball, but the coaches have been pleased with the progress made by the likes of Brig Walker, Doori Song and co-captain Luke Steckel.
Much like both the offense and the defense, special teams will have a mix of experience and youth. Senior punter Colin McDonough has been All-Ivy in each of his first three years and led the league in punting last season. Sophomore placekicker Conner Louden brings a big foot to the field, but he will have to replace the accuracy of Derek Javarone, the Ivy League's all-time leader in field goals.
Lehigh enters Saturday's contest 1-1 and is coming off an exciting 31-28 win over Villanova. New head coach Andy Coen is quite familiar with the Princeton squad, having spent his recent years as the offensive coordinator at Penn.
Game notes can be found below, and the full packet can be downloaded by clicking the link above the story.
The 2006 season is here. Finally.
GAME NOTES • Week 1
The First Shall Be Last • Princeton, which competed in the first college football game ever played, will be one of the last teams to open its the 2006 season. Ivy League rules prohibit teams from playing prior to this coming weekend, when most teams, including Lehigh, will have already played twice.
That Winning Feeling • Princeton is coming off its first 7-win season since the 1995 campaign, which was also the Tigers' last Ivy championship season. The Tigers are looking for their first back-to-back winning seasons since 1994 and 1995.
Sixth Sense • Princeton was picked to finish sixth in the Ivy League preseason poll for the second straight season. Last season, the Tigers finished second in the standings; it marked the highest jump for any Ivy team in 2005 from preseason projection to final standing.
Remember Us? • Princeton and Lehigh met six straight years between 1998-2003, with Lehigh winning all six games. The series was put on hold for two years while Princeton played a home-and-home set with San Diego. The Tigers won both games against the Toreros.
Seven Deadly Sins • Princeton has lost its last seven games against Lehigh, dating back to a 20-14 loss at Palmer Stadium in 1996. The Tigers' last win against Lehigh came in 1993, when Princeton earned a 31-23 home win. Keith Elias ran for 160 yards and a touchdown in the win.
No Good(man) Feeling • Princeton's last visit to Goodman Stadium, the 2002 season opener, ended in crushing fashion for the Tigers. After jumping out to a 24-7 halftime lead, Princeton watched Lehigh score 24 unanswered fourth-quarter points to win 31-24.
Opening Act • Princeton has won its last two season openers, both against Lafayette. After losing its six previous season openers on the road, Princeton went to Lafayette last season and earned a 23-21 win; the game was highlighted by a 75-yard interception return for a touchdown by Jay McCareins and a 16-play scoring drive in the fourth quarter that took 9:25 off the clock.
Road Warriors • Princeton's last win at Goodman Stadium was a 38-28 win during the Tigers' 1992 Ivy championship season.
Offensive Notes • Week 1
Armed And Dangerous • Senior Jeff Terrell, who started all 10 games last season and finished third in the Ivy League in total yards, returns as the No. 1 quarterback for Princeton as well as the offensive captain. Terrell threw for 1721 yards last season, 12th best all-time at Princeton, and he threw for 10 touchdowns and rushed for five additional scores.
A Perfect 10 • Jeff Terrell needs 829 yards passing to break into the Top 10 all-time passing yards at Princeton. If he averages the same 172.1 yards he recorded last season, he would finish his career seventh on the list, four yards behind David Splithoff '04.
Rob-bed • Princeton returns its top rusher from last season in junior Rob Toresco. The Hunterdon Central graduate averaged 4.3 yards per carry and scored four touchdowns on the ground during his first season as a starter in 2005.
Young Guns • Rob Toresco will be the veteran in the starting backfield, as Princeton's top two tailbacks are both sophomores. Both Pete Ploszek and R.C. Lagomarsino are listed as starters for the Lehigh game. Ploszek carried the ball 16 times for 58 yards last season, while Lagomarsino fought off a preseason injury to get his only career carry in the 30-0 win at Dartmouth.
Experience Aplenty • Jeff Terrell will have plenty of experienced options at wide receiver. Starters Brian Brigham (senior) and Brendan Circle (junior) combined for 35 catches last season and played in all but one game [Brigham was injured for the Brown game]. Top reserve Brian Shields caught 13 passes last season, and Will Thanheiser made his collegiate debut with a catch in the season finale at Dartmouth. Eleven players caught passes from Terrell last season, and eight are part of the 2006 team.
Inexperience Aplenty • Princeton will start an entirely new offensive line against Lehigh. The Tigers started five seniors on the line in 2005, including one All-Ivy pick who signed with the Cleveland Browns in the summer (Ben Brielmaier) and two others who earned All-Ivy honors (Paul Lyons and Dave Szelingowski).
Fresh Face • Freshman Mark Paski is listed as the starter at right tackle against Lehigh. If he does start, Paski would become the first freshman offensive lineman in Princeton football history to start his first game.
Defensive Notes • Week 1
Front And Center • With Jake Marshall's status in question against Lehigh, Princeton could start three sophomores on the defensive line. The ends, Pete Buchignani and Tom Methvin, both saw plenty of action in 2005, although sophomore tackle Matt Koch would be making his first start. This will mark Princeton's third straight season in the 3-4 defensive alignment.
For Pete's Sake • Defensive end Pete Buchignani earned Princeton's top defensive freshman award in 2005 after breaking into the starting lineup and recording 27 tackles and two sacks.
Building Blocks • Sophomore Tom Methvin, a likely starter at defensive end, spent time over his holiday break rebuilding houses in the New Orleans area after the Katrina devastation.
Oh Captain, Our Co-Captain • Senior linebacker Luke Steckel will join senior quarterback Jeff Terrell as the 2006 Princeton football captains. Steckel,the son of former NFL head coach Les Steckel, will make his first career Princeton start at Lehigh.
Song And Dance • Junior Doori Song will be Princeton's primary run-stopping linebacker this season. He replaces Justin Stull, who signed with the Washington Redskins in the offseason.
Tim-ber • Senior Tim Strickland will be making his 31st consecutive start for Princeton this weekend. He and Colin McDonough are the only Tiger seniors to have started every game in their careers. Strickland earned All-Ivy honors after recording 43 tackles and four interceptions last season.
Pure Artis-try • Senior J.J. Artis missed the preseason but will start as Princeton's most experienced cornerback this weekend. Artis is the current Princeton active leader in pass breakups with 21 and also started during his freshman season.
Quarter To Corner • Freshman Dan Kopolovich won a Pennsylvania state championship as a quarterback at McKeesport last year, but was moved to defensive back midway through the preseason. His quick progress has moved him to a potential starting role Saturday.
Miscellaneous Notes • Week 1
Just For Kicks • Senior Colin McDonough returns for his fourth season as Princeton's punter. McDonough is a three-time All-Ivy pick (first team in 2003, 2005; second team in 2004) and earned All-America honors by one publication last year. He led the Ivy League last year with a 40.1 yard-per-punt average.
Louder And Louden • While Colin McDonough returns, another familiar special teams face has graduated. The departure of Derek Javarone '06, the Ivy League's all-time leader in field goals, opened the placekicker job in the preseason. Sophomore Conner Louden, who booted a 42-yard field goal against Yale in a preseason scrimmage, will start vs. Lehigh.
Sunday Bloody Sunday • Four 2006 Princeton graduates signed with NFL teams in the offseason: Jay McCareins (Arizona), Jon Dekker (Pittsburgh), Justin Stull (Washington) and Ben Brielmaier (Cleveland). None made the final 52-man roster, although Dekker made the Steelers practice squad. 2004 standout Zak Keasey also made the San Francisco 49ers practice squad as a fullback.
Summer Star • Freshman cornerback Cart Kelly was featured on the ESPNU show “Summer House,” where six incoming freshmen football players stayed in a house and competed in various activities, both football and non-football related. Former All-Pro linebacker Chris Spielman was part of the show as the “house dad.” Kelly is listed as the No. 2 cornerback behind J.J. Artis this weekend.
Friday Night Lights • Princeton will play its first Friday night game in recent memory on Oct. 13 against defending Ivy League champion Brown.
Lights, Camera, Action • Princeton will play three home games on major television stations this season. Besides the Oct. 13 Brown game on ESPNU, Princeton will play Harvard Oct. 21 on the YES Network and will play Nov. 4 against Penn on CN8.
An Even Playing Field(turf) • Princeton installed FieldTurf following the 2005 season and will make its debut on the new surface next weekend against Lafayette. The surface allows the Tigers to practice inside Princeton Stadium full-time.
The Crystal Ball • Princeton's home opener will be played at 6 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 23 against defending Patriot League champion Lafayette. The Tigers have won two straight against the Leopards, including a 23-21 win on the road last season. No. 25 Lafayette is 2-0 this season and hosts Penn Saturday at 1 p.m.
Home Sweet Home Opener • Princeton has won its last two home openers and four of its last five.