PU senior has chance to take over for Terrell
By Justin Feil, Assistant Sports Editor
In past seasons, the Princeton University football team and head coach Roger Hughes tried to figure ways to get Bill Foran’s athleticism on the field.
Last fall, Foran spent time on the Tigers’ punt coverage, kickoff, kick return and punt block teams. At times, he played wide receiver. This year, there is no such talk of putting Foran back there.
”There’s not,” Foran said. “It’s nice.”
Instead, the talk is about Foran as the frontrunner to replace Ivy League Player of the Year Jeff Terrell at quarterback. Replacing the Bushnell Cup winner, the player who was credited with leading Princeton to its first Ivy crown since 1995, could be a high-pressure post, but Foran isn’t feeling the weight of outside expectations.
”I really don’t,” said the Tiger senior. “I’ll probably put more pressure on myself. You know what you want to accomplish. You know what you want the team to accomplish.”
Foran shares the same goal as his Princeton teammates — to win the Ivy League title, this time outright, after sharing it with Yale in 2006. The Tigers, however, won the head-to-head matchup in a 9-1 campaign that saw their only defeat on the road at soggy Cornell.
”The expectations are the same,” Foran said. “We expect to win the league. From that standpoint, they’re not different from ever.”
But there is a big difference in how Foran factors into the winning formula. He took the lead to replace Terrell in spring practices and held it when preseason practices began Wednesday night in Princeton Stadium.
”It’s more fun,” Foran said. “I get more reps during practice. There’s less standing around.”
Watching Foran play gives the impression that nothing could be worse for the Dallas, Texas native than standing around. Foran brought whirlwind energy to the special teams with speed that made him among the top sprinters on the indoor track and field team before a hamstring injury slowed him last winter along with the jitterbug moves that made him tough to tackle as a backup wide receiver and fill-in quarterback.
”No one really likes to stand around,” Foran said. “You play football to play football, so the alternative to not playing football is a lot more fun.
”There’s not really a lot different in my mindset,” he added. “It’s probably different in other people’s mindset. You have to always be prepared and ready to play. It’s just better now. I get more reps. I’m more engaged.”
Nothing, in Foran’s mind, is more fun on the football field than playing quarterback. He hasn’t played quarterback for any lengthy period since starring at Highland Park, the same high school attended by current San Diego Padres pitcher and former PU two-sport standout Chris Young. Foran was named MVP of his district after passing for more than 1,800 yards and rushing for over 1,000 yards to lead Highland Park to a 12-1 record and the district and area championships. Only one of his 172 passes attempted was intercepted.
”I’ll probably look forward to practice more than I used to,” Foran said. “I used to have to stand around a lot. But quarterbacks look forward to practice more than some guys anyway. We get to throw and do 7-on-7. I think a lot some positions look forward to games more. For quarterbacks, most everything football-related is fun.”
Foran seemed to have a ball in his limited action last season. He filled in for one series at quarterback when Terrell had his bell rung last year. It resulted in a 10-play touchdown drive against Harvard, something he thinks he can build on this season.
”It’s helpful,” he said. “It’s probably more helpful to other people. They’ve seen what you can do. They know what I can do. It helps other people’s confidence more than mine.”
What the Tigers, and the Ivy League knows, is that Foran can improvise with the best of them and that he enjoyed enough success in a limited role that he ha to be considered a threat in an increased role. Princeton is anticipating using his talents in much the same way they did with Terrell, though they could try to use Foran’s foot speed a little more than they did with Terrell, who could also be elusive on runs.
”I just have to make sure that I’m on the same page with Coach Hughes and doing what he wants me to do,” Foran said. “There’s some built-in room to improvise. It depends on what play they call. When it comes down to it, the base offense there and you run that. They might call some more run plays. I was kind of a change of pace from Jeff.”
Foran began taking over the signal-calling duties in the spring. It was his first extended look at running the team.
”I think the spring went well,” he said. “There were a lot of guys playing well and there’s a lot of returning players. Every spring, there are holes to fill but things usually work out.”
Foran carried over the spring momentum to the summer, which he spent on campus while working out with his teammates.
”It’s nice. You work with the strength coach. He knows how hard you work. He doesn’t have to guess when you get back,” Foran said. “It’s good to see your teammates and develop confidence with each other. Throwing-wise, it’s good to see them all in the same place since we’re all spread out geographically. A pretty good amount stuck around.”
As the preseason begins, Foran is focused on solidifying his position as the starter. He has a clear idea of just how he can help the Tigers be successful at quarterback, and he knows he will have plenty of help.
”We have a lot of talent at the skill positions with R.C. (Lagomarsino) and Rob (Toresco) and (Brendan) Circle and (Adam) Berry,” he said. “The key is getting the ball in those guys’ hands and letting them make plays. Those guys are pretty good.”
The Tigers will have their first look at their 2007 team in competition when they scrimmage at Yale on Thursday. Foran is looking forward to the chance.
”It’ll be fun to play someone other than yourself,” he said. “People come to watch, and anytime people come to watch, it’s a little more fun. It’s a little more exciting.”
Spectators will see plenty of Bill Foran, but they won’t have to search all over the field to find No. 11. He figures to be lining up at quarterback for every play for the Tigers this fall. It’s what he has wanted since being the jack-of-all-trades the past three seasons.
”Between playing quarterback and that,” Foran said, “quarterback is more fun.”

