Football Supplement | Ivy League Outlook

Brown

Coach (years): Phil Estes (17)

Record last year (Ivy finish): 6-4, 3-4 (tied for 4th)

Player to watch: Senior linebacker Dan Giovacchini

The Skinny: The media predict the Bears to fall to sixth place in the Ivy League this year, likely because last year’s lineup was senior-heavy. This year, senior quarterback and captain Marcus Fuller has been handed the reins to the offense that averaged the second most yards per game in the Ivy League in 2013, and leading tackler Giovacchini returns to captain the defense that allowed the fewest yards per game among the Ivies.

Ivy Media Poll predicted finish: 6th

Columbia

Coach (years): Pete Mangurian (3)

Record last year (Ivy finish): 0-10, 0-7 (8th)

Player to watch: Junior Niko Padilla

The Skinny: After another year of poor play, the Lions are predicted to finish eighth in the Ivy League. After succumbing to injury in the 2013 season opener, junior quarterback Brett Nottingham hopes to lead the Lions’offense past the 204.3 yards per game it managed in 2013, the worst in the Ivy League. On defense, senior linebacker Ray Pesanello and Padilla make up a front seven that should improve from last season.

Ivy Media Poll predicted finish: 8th

Cornell

Coach (years): David Archer (2)

Record last year (Ivy finish): 3-7, 2-5 (7th)

Player to watch: Senior receiver Lucas Shapiro

The Skinny: After losing four-year starting quarterback Jeff Mathews and receiver Grant Gellatly to graduation, Cornell’s pass-happy attack is in transition, and the Big Red are predicted to place seventh this season. Senior receiver Lucas Shapiro, who caught 10 passes for 164 yards and a touchdown in Cornell’s win vs. Penn, is expected to carry the load on offense while fifth-year senior defensive lineman Justin Harris, senior safety Rush Imhotep, and junior defensive back Michael Turner.

Ivy Media Poll predicted finish: 7th

Dartmouth

Coach (years): Buddy Teevens (15)

Record last year (Ivy finish): 6-4, 5-2 (3rd)

Player to watch: Junior quarterback Dalyn Williams

The Skinny: After a third place finish, the Big Green are expected to place third again in 2014. The key to the offense is the dual-threat quarterback Williams, who ran for 726 yards in 2013. Returning on defense are second-team All-Ivy starters senior defensive lineman Evan Chrustic, junior defensive lineman Cody Fulleton, senior defensive back Stephen Dazzo and junior defensive back Vernon Harris.

Ivy Media Poll predicted finish: 3rd

Harvard

Coach (years): Tim Murphy (21)

Record last year (Ivy finish): 9-1, 6-1 (tied for 1st)

Player to watch: Senior defensive end Zach Hodges

The Skinny: After tying with Princteon for first place in the Ivy League in 2013, the Crimson are projected a close second in the Ivy Media poll. Senior quarterback Connor Hempel leads a competent offense that averaged 37.1 points per game in 2013, second-best in the Ivy League. The real story is on defense, where Hodges is on watch lists for many individual awards across the FCS.

Ivy Media Poll predicted finish: 2nd

Princeton

Coach (years): Bob Surace (5)

Record last year (Ivy finish): 8-2, 6-1 (tied for 1st)

Player to watch: Senior quarterback Quinn Epperly

The Skinny: After finishing third in 2012, the Tigers improved to a first-place tie in 2013, and are projected by the Ivy Media Poll to finish first again. At the helm is Epperly, who in 2013 became the first player in Ivy League history to account for more than 40 touchdowns (25 passing, 18 rushing) in one season. On the other side of the ball, first-team All-Ivy defensive back Anthony Gaffney and junior All-Ivy Honorable Mention Matt Arends make up part of a strong secondary that will give offenses fits this season.

Ivy Media Poll predicted finish: 1st

Yale

Coach (years): Tony Reno (3)

Record last year (Ivy finish): 5-5, 3-4 (tied for 4th)

Player to watch: Senior wide receiver Deon Randall

The Skinny: After a fourth place finish in 2013, the Bulldogs are leaning on offensive playmakers Randall and senior running back Tyler Varga to make up for a mediocre defense. Randall was first-team All-Ivy after registering 85 catches for over 1,000 all-purpose yards and looks to make a connection with junior quarterback Morgan Roberts. Varga, who missed parts of last season, has made two All-Ivy teams and can be a reliable bell cow running back for the Bulldogs.

Ivy Media Poll predicted finish: 5th

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