Philadelphia, PA (Sports Network) - The other Ivy League schools have changed
head football coaches in an effort to catch Penn, Harvard and, to a lesser
extent, Brown.
In a new twist, Cornell has staked its championship bid to the youngest head
coach in Division I - former Big Red captain David Archer, all of 30.
The Ivy script may not change, however. Penn is gunning for a fourth outright
Ivy title in the last five years, which has never been accomplished in league
history. Harvard and Brown are prepared to keep that from happening.
STORY LINES
With eight returners who earned All-Ivy honors last season, including two
first-team honorees, Penn will try to win a 10th Ivy title during the Al
Bagnoli era.
Harvard is vulnerable after losing a dominant senior class, but the returning
talent is led by junior defensive end Zach Hodges, whose 16 tackles for a loss
led the league.
Princeton had the league's 2012 defensive player of the year in defensive end
Mike Catapano. Defensive tackle Caraun Reid, who could have entered the NFL
Draft, is the favorite to give the Tigers two winners in a row.
Tyler Varga's eligibility was changed from freshman to sophomore during Yale's
season a year ago, but it didn't stop the Canadian import from being one of
the most multi-purpose players around. His 194.3 all-purpose yards per game
led the FCS. At least he has two years of eligibility remaining.
Columbia coach Pete Mangurian had an influential freshman class last season
and is hoping the group has grown up.
OH, YES, THEM AGAIN
The league lost some heavy hitters at quarterback - Harvard's Colton Chapple,
Columbia's Sean Brackett, Penn's Billy Ragone - but Cornell record-setter Jeff
Mathews will be light's out, especially with sophomore running back Luke
Hagy's continued development.
Penn running back Brandon Colavita, who missed all but two games last season,
is returning from injury. He was the team's leading rusher in 2010 and '11.
Columbia senior running back Marcorus Garrett fell just short of a 1,000-yard
season last year and will keep defenses honest against a new Lions
quarterback.
Brown's success rides heavily on quarterback Patrick Donnelly playing like he
did over the final three games, when he was a dual passing and running threat.
Harvard tight end Kyle Juszczyk might be going off to the NFL, but senior-to-
be Cameron Brate was particularly effective, too, last season as the Crimson
offense dominated teams with their tight ends.
BREAKOUT PERFORMERS
Quarterback Alex Park isn't out of the mix at Dartmouth, but Dalyn Williams
showed athleticism and throwing ability after taking over for the final three
starts last season.
Brown has some pieces to form a terrific defense, but the biggest one might be
senior defensive end Michael Yules, who could go from the All-Ivy second team
to an elite level.
Senior defensive end Wells Childress gives Columbia a much-needed veteran
presence on the defensive line. The Lions are replacing five starters in their
front seven.
POSITION BATTLES
Princeton's quarterback competition (Connor Michelsen, Quinn Epperly and
little-used Kedric Bostic) will interest people after the Tigers rebounded
nicely last season.
Can last year's injury-plagued Brown running game be solved by Jordan Reisner
or Cody Taulbee?
Yale quarterback Eric Williams took the majority of the snaps last season, but
his 14 interceptions to six touchdowns reflected he was a freshmen. He will
face competition from Henry Furman, Derek Russell and Logan Scott.
Cornell returns senior wide receiver Grant Gellatly, but it lost a ton of
production at the position and needs the likes of Jesse Heon, Lucas Shapiro,
V.J. Fitzpatrick and Ben Rogers to raise their play.
SPRING PRACTICE DATES
Brown: April 5-27
Columbia: April 8-May 4
Cornell: TBA
Dartmouth: April 10-May 5
Harvard: April 1-27
Penn: March 12-April 6
Princeton: April 5-27
Yale: March 27-April 20
The Sports Network