.png&width=24&type=webp)
Princeton University Athletics
Players Mentioned
Football Picked Sixth In Annual Ivy League Preseason Media Poll
August 10, 2010 | Football
IVY LEAGUE MEDIA POLL : IVY LEAGUE PRESEASON HONORS : IVY FOOTBALL E-GUIDE
The Princeton football team was picked to finish sixth in the Ivy League, it was announced today when the league office unveiled its annual preseason poll during Media Day. Ironically, that is a spot that has become fairly comfortable to a program that thrives on exceeding expectations.
With so many new faces, both in the coaching staff and on the roster, it is understandable why Princeton would be picked in the bottom half of the league. After a trio of 4-6 seasons, former Princeton captain Bob Surace '90 left the staff of the Cincinnati Bengals and returned to his alma mater with visions of bringing Princeton back to the Ivy elite. He brought in seven new coaches, including coordinators James Perry and Jared Backus, while retaining Steve Verbit and E.J. Henderson.
And while there are several holes to fill from last season's team, there are also plenty of building blocks already in place. Senior co-captain Steven Cody, a preseason honoree on the 2010 CDS Preseason FCS All-American Team, is a two-time All-Ivy selection and the leader of the Tiger defense. He will work behind a veteran line, including returning starters Matt Boyer, Mike Catapano and Caraun Reid.
Several experienced starters return on the offensive side of the ball, including junior quarterback Tommy Wornham, whose progress late last season helped lead the Tigers to three wins in the final four weeks. After completing fewer than 55% of his passes and averaging fewer than 150 yards per game in the first six weeks of 2009, Wornham made a breakthrough to close the season. He completed more than 60% of his passes, averaged more than 181 yards per game and saw his efficiency rating rise by nearly 25 points.
Receivers Trey Peacock and Andrew Kerr should continue to aid the passing attack, while an experienced backfield, including senior captain Matt Zimmerman is ready to build an improved run game.
But questions remain, which have left Princeton closer to the bottom of the poll than the top. Still, the preseason media poll is far from an exact science. Since 1991, 22 teams have either shared or won the Ivy League title outright; of those 22, only four came from the No. 1 position. Just as many teams came from the fourth position or worse to win the title.
As for the sixth spot, only one team has won the Ivy League title from that position. Perhaps you remember that team.
Since 1991, Princeton has actually averaged a better finish from the sixth position (3.28) than it has from the fifth position (5.75), the fourth position (3.33) or the third position (3.50). In 2006, Princeton was picked to finish sixth after losing the majority of its offensive line and linebacking corps; eventual Bushnell Cup winner Jeff Terrell '07 made those points moot by leading the Tigers on a thrill ride to its first nine-win season since 1964.
One year earlier, Princeton was also picked to finish sixth. The Tigers won seven games that season and missed the Ivy League title by one game.
Princeton will open the 2010 season at Lehigh on Sept. 18, and will open the Ivy League season Oct. 2 at Columbia. The Tigers will play four home Ivy games, including one against each of the top three teams in the preseason poll. Fall camp opens Aug. 25.
| School (First Place) | Points | |
| 1 | Harvard (10) | 128 |
| 2 | Penn (6) | 124 |
| 3 | Brown | 95 |
| 4 | Yale (1) | 83 |
| 5 | Columbia | 61 |
| 6 | Princeton | 55 |
| 7 | Dartmouth | 39 |
| 8 | Cornell | 27 |