FOOTBALL 06: The Ivy League

Harvard may have been tabbed as the preseason favorite by the paid Ivy football writers, but three other teams got first-place votes in a murky preseason. No less than six teams have the talent to make a run, but every squad has huge questions as well.

The league hemorrhaged talent and experience after last season, with stalwarts like Brown’s Nick Hartigan, Yale’s Jeff Mroz, and Princeton’s Jay McCareins all graduating. As a result, the picture is muddied by untested starters at key positions. The quarterback situation is especially murky, with five starters making their debuts last weekend.

Columbia and Dartmouth are on the outside looking in, although Big Green coach Buddy Teevens is in year two of his second stint in Hanover after his first tenure produced Ivy titles in 1990 and 1991.



BROWN
The Bears return six starters on defense, but the five lost were each All-Ivy players last season. Senior linebacker and first team All-Ivy pick Zak DeOssie returns to anchor the rebuilding unit. The team also lost Ivy Player of the Year Nick Hartigan, a running back later cut by the Jets, so Brown will look to the air more with senior quarterback Joe DiGiacomo and senior wideout Lonnie Hill, both honorable mention All-Ivy picks last season.

Player to Watch: Zak DeOssie. All-Ivy pick looks to be second straight Bear to nab Player of the Year honor.

COLUMBIA
An offensive line featuring four seniors and some experience at receiver are just a few of the things that first-year head coach Norries Wilson hopes will help Columbia avoid another last place finish in the Ivy League. Though the Lions’ 3-4 defense still has holes, depth at linebacker should help Columbia improve on its 0-7 Ivy campaign in 2005. The quick secondary should also keep teams from putting up 33.7 points per game, last in the league a year ago.

Player to Watch: Tad Crawford. League’s leading tackler in ‘05 returns as one of few bright spots in 2-8 season.

CORNELL
With the graduation of quarterback Ryan Kuhn, who rushed for over 1000 yards last year, new sophomore starter Nathan Ford will focus on airing the ball out for a change. He’ll be throwing to some youthful wide receivers. First Team All-Ivy junior Luke Siwula will lead the running game. The defensive line and the defensive backfield each return three talented starters, but the linebackers have no returners. The squad expects a lot from special teams, an area of emphasis for coach Jim Knowles.

Player to Watch: Luke Siwula. Big Red’s best back looks to continue rejuvination of Cornell’s running game.

DARTMOUTH
The offensive line must improve after allowing 54 sacks last season. Four starters return from that unit, and the team is deep at the wide receiver and tight end positions. Sophomore quarterback Josh Cohen is academically ineligible, so Tom Bennewitz, who had never taken a snap prior to last week’s loss against Colgate, is the new starter. The defense gave up the second-most points in the league, but has a pair of returning fifth-year seniors at defensive tackle in Mike Rabil and Brian Osimiri.

Player to Watch: Ryan Fuselier. Fifth-year senior hopes to improve an inconsistent passing attack from ‘05.

HARVARD
The revolving door at quarterback shouldn’t phase Harvard, considering the Crimson’s dependence on senior tailback Clifton Dawson, who proved quite capable of shouldering the load against Holy Cross. The defensive line is possibly the best in the league, and coach Tim Murphy and captain Ryan Tully have raved about a young defensive secondary. Depth at wideout will also ease the early-season burden on sophomore newcomer Jeff Witt under center.

Player to Watch: Mike Berg. Crimson's most heralded player not named Dawson leads a polished D-line.

PENN
The Quakers have offensive experience in senior running back Joe Sandberg but may face problems with sophomore quarterback Robert Irvin, who played in just his first game last weekend. The line will see three new faces, but returning seniors Dan McDonald and Matt Carre will lead the receiving core. The defense returns four All-Ivy honorees, including Ivy Rookie of the Year linebacker Andrew Allen, but the secondary misses seven major players.

Player to Watch: Joe Sandberg. Quakers’ second-leading rusher in ‘05 must take a starring role for ‘06 squad.

PRINCETON
The Tigers lost a ton of talent from last year’s team, including all five starting offensive linemen. Princeton does return senior quarterback Jeff Terrell and a pair of athletic running backs in junior Rob Toresco and senior Cleo Kirkland. Someone must step up to replace tight end Jon Dekker, who was Terrell’s go-to receiver in 2005. Senior co-captain Luke Steckel, a linebacker, looks to anchor the Tigers’ 3-4 defense after it lost three of last season’s starting linebackers.

Player to Watch: Jeff Terrell. In his final year, Tiger signal-caller will be hugely responsible for any success.

YALE
Last season’s Ivy Rookie of the Year, Mike McLeod, is half of the Bulldogs’ two-headed rushing attack with senior Jordan Spence. The offense returns nine starters, but not battle-tested quarterback Jeff Mroz. His replacement, junior Matt Polhemus, attempted just one pass last year. The defense returns seven starters from a unit that was No. 6 in total defense last season. Coach Jack Siedlecki may find himself on the hot seat after losing five straight to Harvard.

Player to Watch: Mike McLeod. Former Ivy Rookie of the Year will be focal point of an experienced offense.