Defending Champs Restock Lineup

The Princeton Tigers are hungry for a repeat.

Coming off its first Ivy championship in over 10 years, Princeton has momentum heading into 2007 and returns several key players from last year’s squad.

A return to the top of the standings will not be without its challenges, however, as the Tigers graduated Ivy League player of the year Jeff Terrell and two of the their All-Ivy defensive backs.

Princeton has had three straight .500 or better seasons, and only lost once last season—to Cornell on the road. This year, the team lost its season opener 32-21 to Lehigh, due in large part to five turnovers and an 18-minute discrepancy in time of possession.

The Tigers play at Lafayette this Saturday before going home to take on Columbia and Hampton. After Hampton, the Ivy season kicks into full gear, with the final six games against the rest of the Ancient Eight.

The toughest of these games is likely to be a matchup at home against co-champion Yale. The Bulldogs will be looking to avenge last year’s 34-31 loss in which, after leading by 14 at the half and maintaining a lead for most of the game, Yale lost in the final minutes.

One reason Princeton won nine games last season was its ability to pull out close games, and in order for them to have success in 2007, they will have to find a way to duplicate those last-minute heroics. Last season, the Tigers won two games in overtime and three others by a touchdown or less.
One of the biggest question marks heading into this season is whether senior quarterback Bill Foran, who made only three pass attempts last season, can replace Terrell. Terrell passed for nearly 2,500 yards and 17 touchdowns, and gained over 400 yards on the ground last season alone, accounting for 85 percent of Princeton’s offense.

Another concern for this year’s team is the offensive line. While senior tackle Brendon Swisher should anchor the group, three key starters must be replaced on the interior. The Tigers, however, should find solace in their many returning players at the skill positions. All-Ivy wide receiver Brendan Circle, who led the league in receiving yards last year with 835, is back, as are senior running back Rob Toresco and junior back R.C. Lagomarsino. Toresco and Lagomarsino split time last season, combining for over 900 yards, and although the Princeton offense relied primarily on Terrell’s passing ability, the team averaged over 120 yards per contest on the ground last season.

On the other side of the ball, Princeton returns all three starters on the defensive line. Junior Pete Buchignani, All-Ivy honorable mention, is back on the outside, as is junior Tom Methvin, who led the unit in sacks and tackles for loss last season. Back at nose tackle is junior Matt Koch.

The linebacking corps also returns three starters, including senior captain Jon Stem, who will move from the inside to the outside, as well as last year’s leading tackler, senior Tim Boardman. Boardman will be taking Stem’s place directing defensive sets in the middle.

The one area of the defensive unit that is uncertain is the secondary. Last season, the Princeton air defense was led by two All-Ivy players, J.J. Artis and Tim Strickland, both of whom graduated. In addition, the Tigers must replace an All-American in the kicking game, punter Colin McDonough.