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Bob Surace
1987-90: Legacy Years of Princeton Football
October 14, 2025 | Football
By Charlie Levy
PrincetonTigersFootball.com
1987-1990: The Legacy Years of Princeton Football
The 1987 Princeton football season began under the most difficult circumstances imaginable. Head coach Ron Rogerson died suddenly just prior to the season, and Steve Tosches was thrust into the role of rebuilding a program that was grieving the loss of their leader. What emerged from this tragedy was the beginning of one of Princeton's most memorable eras.
"Ron was awesome with understanding that everybody was going through something really difficult," said Matt Whalen '88. He worked hard to have the team stay together."
In Tosches' first year, the Tigers had to overcome a tremendous amount of adversity after losing their head coach. The Tigers were able to compile a 6-4 record and outscored opponents 230 to 155, with a 4-3 conference record that tied for fourth in the Ivy League standings. This winning season took a lot of guts and was just the start of a legendary era of Princeton Tigers football.
The 1987 team featured Princeton legends in the Garrett brothers, future actor Dean Cain '88, Matt Whalen '88, Tom Criqui '88, and others. "I think we played inspired football," said Jason Garrett '89 about the 1987 squad.
This team represented more than just wins and losses, but it also embodied resilience, character, and the Princeton Toughness that would define the program for years to come. In the 1987 season, Cain would go on to set an NCAA Division I-AA record with 12 interceptions, which was only the beginning of the accolades that this group would put together.
All three Garrett brothers, John '88, Jason '89, and Judd '88 played together for the first and only time in 1987 after transferring to Princeton.
"A lot of people don't get to do that at the next level, said Garret about playing with his brothers. "It was an amazing experience. I don't think we fully realized the uniqueness of it."
In this era, the Tigers coaching staff and roster featured key names that would be stamped in history for years to come which included Steve Verbit, who had joined the coaching staff in 1985 and is now in his 40th year with the program helping to establish Princeton's defensive grit. These teams also included current head coach, Bob Surace '90, who was Princeton's center at the time.
"Coach Rogerson and Tosches had these high standards," said Surace. "If you combine a top education with people that you surround yourself with and this environment of people that are high achievers with people that care about you, it gave us the tools to overcome any challenge."
The 1988 season saw significant progress even though Princeton repeated the same record at 6-4 overall under Tosches' guidance, with quarterback Jason Garrett serving as team captain. Garrett's leadership culminated in winning the Bushnell Cup as the Ivy League Player of the Year.
The Garrett family's influence extended beyond individual accolades. The brothers brought a winning mentality and football intelligence that elevated the entire program. Jason's sharp passing and leadership helped Princeton beat Yale in New Haven for the first time in more than two decades during the 1988 season. The stage was set for even greater achievements to come.
"We had a lot of guys who loved football and worked hard at it and most importantly cared a lot about each other, said Jason Garrett. "The most meaningful stuff is when you win a championship together, football is the ultimate team sport."
The culmination of this remarkable run came in 1989 when Princeton posted a 7-2-1 record and earned a share of the Ivy League championship with a 6-1 conference record. It was the Tigers' first Ivy title in 20 years, ending a championship drought that had defined the program since the late 1960s. The Princeton Tigers football program had finally made its return, and they were ready to regain their spot at the top of the Ivy League for years to come.
Judd Garrett took center stage in that championship season, posting school records with 307 carries, 1,347 rushing yards, and 14 touchdowns while also leading the team in receiving with 34 receptions for 351 yards. His exceptional performance earned him the Bushnell Cup as Ivy League Player of the Year, making the Garrett brothers back-to-back winners of the prestigious honor.
The championship team featured players who would carry Princeton's values into successful careers both on and off the field. The bonds forged during this championship season created relationships that would prove crucial for the program's future success, establishing a culture of excellence that would influence Princeton football for decades to come.
The most remarkable testament to this era's lasting impact came decades later. Surace, who had anchored the offensive line as an All-Ivy center during the 1989 championship season, would return to lead the program as head coach. When Princeton hired Surace in December 2009, he became the first alumnus to lead the team in more than three decades, bringing with him the championship mentality forged during his playing days.
"They have to be people who have great personal character," said Surace describing what he looks for in his coaching staff. "I'm looking for people who have great social awareness and communication skills. You want people that are passionate. We really look for people that have humility and humbleness to them."
Surace's partnership with Verbit represents a unique continuity in college football. Under Surace's leadership, Princeton has won four Ivy League championships including a perfect 10-0 season in 2018, with Verbit serving as his defensive coordinator. The circle had been completed as the player had become the coach, implementing the same values that had made him successful decades earlier.
The championship culture established during the 1987-1990 era propelled Princeton to sustained excellence, as the Tigers posted eight winning seasons and earned three Ivy titles from 1987 through 1995. The early 1990s featured three consecutive winning seasons (1991-1993) that produced 24 wins and only six losses. This is a feat that had only been accomplished once since the Class of 1966.
In 1991, Michael Lerch '93 set Division I-AA records with 370 receiving yards and 463 all-purpose yards in a single game against Brown. The following year, Keith Elias '94 broke the school rushing record with 1,575 yards as Princeton earned a share of the 1992 Ivy championship. Elias capped his legendary career in 1993 by rushing for a school-record 1,731 yards while earning All-America honors and winning the Bushnell Cup. This tremendous season by Elias would make it three Bushnell Cup winners for the Tigers from 1988-1993, an impressive feat and a testament to what the program was building.
Despite freshman ineligibility rules during his era, Elias finished with 4,208 career rushing yards, a Princeton record that still stands by 1,099 yards. The decade's crowning achievement came in 1995 when Princeton captured its first outright Ivy League championship in 31 years, defeating Dartmouth on a dramatic final-play field goal by Alex Sierk, a player who also received the Pyne Prize, Princeton's highest academic and leadership honor.
The sustained excellence of the 1990s proved that the championship breakthrough of 1989 wasn't an isolated achievement but rather the beginning of a golden era. The foundation built during 1987-1990 had created a program culture that would define Princeton football for nearly a decade and establish the blueprint for future success.
"We won the championship in my last game. Princeton hadn't won an Ivy League title in 20 years since 1969," said Surace. "When Coach Rogerson was recruiting me, the opportunity to do something that hadn't been done at a place like Princeton that has more national titles than any other school in the country, that had this great tradition, was an incredible journey."
This legendary four-year period transformed Princeton football from a program in transition to a championship contender, establishing traditions and relationships that continue to define Tiger football today. The ultimate validation came when one of its own players returned as head coach, proving that the greatest victories often come from the most challenging beginnings and that the lessons learned during this era continue to guide Princeton football to championship success today.
PrincetonTigersFootball.com
1987-1990: The Legacy Years of Princeton Football
The 1987 Princeton football season began under the most difficult circumstances imaginable. Head coach Ron Rogerson died suddenly just prior to the season, and Steve Tosches was thrust into the role of rebuilding a program that was grieving the loss of their leader. What emerged from this tragedy was the beginning of one of Princeton's most memorable eras.
"Ron was awesome with understanding that everybody was going through something really difficult," said Matt Whalen '88. He worked hard to have the team stay together."
In Tosches' first year, the Tigers had to overcome a tremendous amount of adversity after losing their head coach. The Tigers were able to compile a 6-4 record and outscored opponents 230 to 155, with a 4-3 conference record that tied for fourth in the Ivy League standings. This winning season took a lot of guts and was just the start of a legendary era of Princeton Tigers football.
The 1987 team featured Princeton legends in the Garrett brothers, future actor Dean Cain '88, Matt Whalen '88, Tom Criqui '88, and others. "I think we played inspired football," said Jason Garrett '89 about the 1987 squad.
This team represented more than just wins and losses, but it also embodied resilience, character, and the Princeton Toughness that would define the program for years to come. In the 1987 season, Cain would go on to set an NCAA Division I-AA record with 12 interceptions, which was only the beginning of the accolades that this group would put together.
All three Garrett brothers, John '88, Jason '89, and Judd '88 played together for the first and only time in 1987 after transferring to Princeton.
"A lot of people don't get to do that at the next level, said Garret about playing with his brothers. "It was an amazing experience. I don't think we fully realized the uniqueness of it."
In this era, the Tigers coaching staff and roster featured key names that would be stamped in history for years to come which included Steve Verbit, who had joined the coaching staff in 1985 and is now in his 40th year with the program helping to establish Princeton's defensive grit. These teams also included current head coach, Bob Surace '90, who was Princeton's center at the time.
"Coach Rogerson and Tosches had these high standards," said Surace. "If you combine a top education with people that you surround yourself with and this environment of people that are high achievers with people that care about you, it gave us the tools to overcome any challenge."
The 1988 season saw significant progress even though Princeton repeated the same record at 6-4 overall under Tosches' guidance, with quarterback Jason Garrett serving as team captain. Garrett's leadership culminated in winning the Bushnell Cup as the Ivy League Player of the Year.
The Garrett family's influence extended beyond individual accolades. The brothers brought a winning mentality and football intelligence that elevated the entire program. Jason's sharp passing and leadership helped Princeton beat Yale in New Haven for the first time in more than two decades during the 1988 season. The stage was set for even greater achievements to come.
"We had a lot of guys who loved football and worked hard at it and most importantly cared a lot about each other, said Jason Garrett. "The most meaningful stuff is when you win a championship together, football is the ultimate team sport."
The culmination of this remarkable run came in 1989 when Princeton posted a 7-2-1 record and earned a share of the Ivy League championship with a 6-1 conference record. It was the Tigers' first Ivy title in 20 years, ending a championship drought that had defined the program since the late 1960s. The Princeton Tigers football program had finally made its return, and they were ready to regain their spot at the top of the Ivy League for years to come.
Judd Garrett took center stage in that championship season, posting school records with 307 carries, 1,347 rushing yards, and 14 touchdowns while also leading the team in receiving with 34 receptions for 351 yards. His exceptional performance earned him the Bushnell Cup as Ivy League Player of the Year, making the Garrett brothers back-to-back winners of the prestigious honor.
The championship team featured players who would carry Princeton's values into successful careers both on and off the field. The bonds forged during this championship season created relationships that would prove crucial for the program's future success, establishing a culture of excellence that would influence Princeton football for decades to come.
The most remarkable testament to this era's lasting impact came decades later. Surace, who had anchored the offensive line as an All-Ivy center during the 1989 championship season, would return to lead the program as head coach. When Princeton hired Surace in December 2009, he became the first alumnus to lead the team in more than three decades, bringing with him the championship mentality forged during his playing days.
"They have to be people who have great personal character," said Surace describing what he looks for in his coaching staff. "I'm looking for people who have great social awareness and communication skills. You want people that are passionate. We really look for people that have humility and humbleness to them."
Surace's partnership with Verbit represents a unique continuity in college football. Under Surace's leadership, Princeton has won four Ivy League championships including a perfect 10-0 season in 2018, with Verbit serving as his defensive coordinator. The circle had been completed as the player had become the coach, implementing the same values that had made him successful decades earlier.
The championship culture established during the 1987-1990 era propelled Princeton to sustained excellence, as the Tigers posted eight winning seasons and earned three Ivy titles from 1987 through 1995. The early 1990s featured three consecutive winning seasons (1991-1993) that produced 24 wins and only six losses. This is a feat that had only been accomplished once since the Class of 1966.
In 1991, Michael Lerch '93 set Division I-AA records with 370 receiving yards and 463 all-purpose yards in a single game against Brown. The following year, Keith Elias '94 broke the school rushing record with 1,575 yards as Princeton earned a share of the 1992 Ivy championship. Elias capped his legendary career in 1993 by rushing for a school-record 1,731 yards while earning All-America honors and winning the Bushnell Cup. This tremendous season by Elias would make it three Bushnell Cup winners for the Tigers from 1988-1993, an impressive feat and a testament to what the program was building.
Despite freshman ineligibility rules during his era, Elias finished with 4,208 career rushing yards, a Princeton record that still stands by 1,099 yards. The decade's crowning achievement came in 1995 when Princeton captured its first outright Ivy League championship in 31 years, defeating Dartmouth on a dramatic final-play field goal by Alex Sierk, a player who also received the Pyne Prize, Princeton's highest academic and leadership honor.
The sustained excellence of the 1990s proved that the championship breakthrough of 1989 wasn't an isolated achievement but rather the beginning of a golden era. The foundation built during 1987-1990 had created a program culture that would define Princeton football for nearly a decade and establish the blueprint for future success.
"We won the championship in my last game. Princeton hadn't won an Ivy League title in 20 years since 1969," said Surace. "When Coach Rogerson was recruiting me, the opportunity to do something that hadn't been done at a place like Princeton that has more national titles than any other school in the country, that had this great tradition, was an incredible journey."
This legendary four-year period transformed Princeton football from a program in transition to a championship contender, establishing traditions and relationships that continue to define Tiger football today. The ultimate validation came when one of its own players returned as head coach, proving that the greatest victories often come from the most challenging beginnings and that the lessons learned during this era continue to guide Princeton football to championship success today.
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