Princeton lost a number of key seniors from its 2006 Ivy League championship team. Bushnell Cup winner Jeff Terrell's projected replacement at quarterback, senior Bill Foran, is the biggest change for the offense. A speedy and versatile athlete, Foran has been a sprinter on the University track team for the past three years.
Though his running resume might outshine his passing prowess, Foran has already shown that he is capable of leading the offense. In last season's 31-28 win over Harvard, Foran replaced an injured Terrell for one possession, driving the Tigers to a touchdown and a 24-14 lead at halftime.
This year, the coaches' biggest worry is on the defensive end, where the team lost two All-Ivy players in the secondary. The majority of the team's linebackers return to this year's team. Senior Tim Boardman led the team with 52 tackles as an outside linebacker last season, while fellow senior Doori Song demonstrated good instincts for stuffing the run on the inside.
The defense's new co-captain, senior Jon Stem, was also a key to the surprising unit. Stem's five tackles for loss and four pass breakups were indicative of his versatility.
Despite the departure of All-Ivy lineman Jake Marshall '07, the defensive line is battle-tested and ready to roll. Three juniors will receive the majority of the playing time: defensive end Pete Buchignani, defensive end Tom Methvin and nose guard Matt Koch. Princeton's line was adept last season at stopping the run. Ranking second in the Ivy League, the team allowed under 125 rushing yards per game.
To repeat last season's success, the team must adapt to Foran's style at quarterback and new Tigers need to step into leadership roles. After winning so many games last season in the final minutes, Princeton must also remember its ability to come through in clutch situations.
