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Exclusives: From the Cheap Seats September
12 , 2001: The time is now. Excuses
are no longer acceptable, and moral victories just won't cut it.
It's time for Princeton's football team to start winning. Former coach Steve Tosches
was run out of Tigertown on a rail after a few sub-par seasons that
climaxed with a 3-7 mark in 1999. Even a 70-38-2 career record and
three Ivy titles couldn't save Tosches from the chopping block.
So, after a national search that drew interest from several prominent
NFL assistant coaches, Roger Hughes was lured from Ivy League rival
Dartmouth to rebuild the Princeton football program -- no
easy task considering the lack of talent and depth that existed
when he arrived. Despite another 3-7 campaign
during Hughes's first season at the helm, the Tigers seem to be
headed in the right direction. The aggressive passing game and up-tempo
offense that Hughes imported from New Hampshire have brought excitement
back to Saturday afternoons in Princeton Stadium. Young players like quarterback
David Splithoff '04, wide receiver Chisom Opara '03, and running
back Cameron Atkinson '03 flourished in Hughes's high-octane attack.
Princeton was suddenly a threat to score from anywhere on the field
-- for the first time since Keith Elias '94 lined up at tailback.
And the Tigers were competitive in almost every game last season.
In fact, six of the Tigers' 10 games were decided in the final minute.
Princeton earned dramatic, come-from-behind victories against Yale
and Columbia and came within an eyelash of upsetting nationally
ranked Lehigh. The Tigers also pasted 1999 Ivy champ Brown 55-28
in what amounted to a coming-out party for Splithoff. Making his
first start, the rookie QB passed for 289 yards and three touchdowns. Most important, and true
to Hughes's promises, the Tigers took the field each week with the
belief that they could win. And, while that may not have done much
for their record, it was evident in their play. Hughes has taught the
Tigers how to talk the talk; now it's time for them to walk the
walk. Matt Golden is sports correspondent for PAW. You can reach him a golden2@erols.com.
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