Two-a-day practices underway
By: Justin Feil
Normally, cramming at Princeton University doesn’t take place until the later weeks of a semester.
But for the Tiger football team, it’s been a lot of hard work in the first couple days of preseason practices as it prepares for the season opener that is three weeks away.
"We’re working very hard," said Princeton head coach Roger Hughes. "One of the things we’re fighting is we’re fighting through adversity. We’re asking them to do more than they’ve been asked, to learn more, to practice more to meet more.
"We’re trying to make practice so hard that games seem easy. It’s been tough for them since I don’t think they knew just what to expect."
And even though Hughes has his worries about how the team reacts to the intense pressure of two practices per day plus one daily meeting, the players like the changes.
"Practices have been going well," said captain Michael Higgins. "It’s been a long summer of workouts and it’s nice to get out and practice again. It’s nice to get the whole team out here.
"There’s an upbeat attitude, it’s a positive atmosphere. It’s a positive feeling. That’s probably the biggest change."
Higgins and the Tiger defense will be one of the constants as Hughes works to revamp Princeton’s offense in hopes of turning around a squad that was 3-7 team. Even though the defense lost six starters compared to the offense’s four graduates, it is the defense that is ahead after the first three days of practice.
"Their senior leadership is more there," Hughes said of the defense. "Our offensive line has experience and Tommy (Crenshaw, the returning quarterback) is there, but really Tommy wasn’t in that total leadership role until halfway through the season. We have all new receivers. If they make a mistake, it makes him look bad so it’s a test. A big test will be Saturday when we try some new things."
Princeton will take on Rowan in a controlled scrimmage that will give Tiger fans a more accurate look at Hughes’ team than they got in the spring intrasquad scrimmage.
"It will be a good test for our offense and our defense. The defense looks good," Higgins said. "The offense is learning. We’ve had the same system here on defense for the freshmen to juniors who returned so there’s not as much to learn. Naturally we’re a little ahead. Mentally we know it’s the same system. We’re trying to get ourselves ready for Lafayette and trying to get into shape. We’re not expecting a drop-off from the defense, and the offense will be better."
Higgins, an All-Ivy honorable mention linebacker last season, stayed at Princeton this summer to make sure he was in shape for Hughes’ camp that is emphasizing conditioning the mind and body as one of the steps to improve the Tigers.
"I’ve tried to take on a little more of a leadership role," Higgins said. "Staying here this summer and working out with the other guys here, that put some guys ahead for the start."
Princeton’s team has had to be on top of things to keep up with Hughes’ motto of a "Commitment to Excellence." The first-year head coach has been pleased with the conditioning level of the first two offensive and defensive teams and he will continue to ask more of the Tigers than he did in the spring.
"We’re trying to push them as hard as we can," Hughes said. "In the spring, we were very conscious of what they could learn in a short time, and it’s a busy time for us in the school year. Now we’re putting in the whole offense and adding a lot of motion and shifts.
"I didn’t think we’d have to review as much, but we’ve had to go over some things again for them to get them. We’ve had to re-introduce them to the level of hard work we’re asking for. We’re getting there. The attitude is good."
It begins with seniors like Higgins and extends all the way to the freshmen. Higgins believes the transition from former coach Steve Tosches to Hughes has gone well for the players, and hopes the changes pay off in the season.
"The biggest change is the positive attitude everyone has," said Higgins, who led the team with 85 tackles last year, 57 that were solo. "The defense is doing well, the offense is taking risks. Change is good. We needed a little change."