The Ivy League released its annual preseason poll with the Tigers and Crimson tied for first place.
Princeton
Harvard
Penn
Yale
Dartmouth
Brown
Columbia
Cornell
Why the poll is wrong: Princeton lost key components on defense. Harvard melted down at the end of last season and coaching has seemed to deteriorate over the years. Penn lost a potential starting QB and CB in the off-season, but adds a Georgia transfer at QB. Yale has experienced starters coming back at every position group and Rawlings development could shock fans around the league. Dartmouth has talented and young offensive players, yet lost their best defender and had a coaching shakeup with several assistants. Brown returns the core of their offense, but Columbia seems to have out-recruited them the past two years. Cornell has a top RB and seems to play hard when the cards are stacked against them.
Why the poll is correct: Besides the close loss to Harvard last season, Princeton dominated their Ivy League foes and returns several All-Ivy players. Harvard is a perennial favorite and will be looking for vengeance after losing the title. Penn’s defense will keep them near the top of the standings, but they lack the offensive firepower to beat Princeton or Harvard. Yale has the talent in place to make a run, but coaching and injuries could derail the season. Dartmouth will be looking to bounce back, but will not have the defense to limit offenses. Brown should beat Columbia and Cornell and lose tight games to teams in the upper half of the league. Columbia is starting to put the pieces in place, but will need another year or two to change the culture. Cornell has limited support from administration and has not had fabulous recruiting classes to stock the shelves for future seasons.
4 replies on “Ivy Preseason Poll”
Guys i wish everyone would think outside the box for once about yale football. There is talent on this team up and down the roster it about time we use it.I have no faith in the off coordinator play calling or off line coaching. Same off plays every year same results every year. Yale has had the number 1 or 2 recruiting classes in the league the last 3or 4 years what do we have to show for it zero.Is it coaching you tell me. If i were the coach of this team this year i would be throwing the kitchen sink at the other teams this season. open the playbook use some imaginenation in your play calling. Remember this is a important season for all of your coaches and you. This team will go as far as the play of the offensive line and the play of our young QB RAWLINGS. The defense now is in good hands with sean mcgowan in charge. One more through if rawlings goes down where in trouble not much talent after him . Get jimmy check ready we will need him.
Both analyses of the pre-season poll make sense to me, but what doesn’t make sense is the pattern of Yale football over the past few years. Every year, it seems, Yale has a couple of sensational games where the team looked totally prepared and has excellent execution, but then they would get blown out in other games and look totally unprepared and unable to execute anything. And it is not a matter of gradually improving. Last year’s Harvard game was almost perfection, yet the week before Princeton, which lost to Harvard, wiped up the Bowl with us.
I think the oline will SURPRISE many this year….
I believe we will see a much improved team that will contend for a league title this season. Next season, we will win the damn thing outright.