By Bob Nuse, Sports Editor
Bob Surace has been around the Princeton University football program long enough to be used to it, but that doesn’t make it any easier that the Tigers start their season two weeks after their opening opponent every year.
“We know, and we have struggled with this, but the team we play has two more games and probably 40 more practices than we have,” said Surace, whose team will open the season on Saturday at 6 p.m. against a Lafayette team that is 0-2 after losses to William & Mary and Delaware.
“It’s just the way it winds up. We have to take advantage of every opportunity and every minute we have. Some teams play in our predicament play a non-quality opponent. Not us. We have played league champions three of the five years I have been here. San Diego went to the playoffs. Lehigh went to the playoffs. Lafayette is a good opponent so we better be ready.”
The Tigers come into the season much more experience on the defensive side of the ball but inexperienced at the quarterback position on offense. Just what that means down the road will make or break the season.
The key for the Tigers could be the defense, which was inexperienced last year but returns 10 starters to what should be a vastly improved unit.
“We have good experience now from being on the field and everything is coming together,” co-defensive coordinator Jim Salgano said. “We’re excited about this defense. The biggest thing is we have a lot of guys back who have played.”
Added co-defensive coordinator Steve Verbit: “All of the guys are developing. If you look back at last year there was a lot of youth. They are all bigger, stronger and faster and should be able to provide a better pass rush for us.”
The defense is fairly young, but the experience the players gained last year should make quite a difference.
“We had lost almost everybody who had played any significant snaps and we were going into it with guys who were totally inexperienced,” Surace said of last year’s defense. “Those guys really grew up last year. By the end of last year Kurt Holuba was playing really good football. Ty Desire was a second team All-Ivy player. Rohan Hylton was playing at a high level. You saw so many guys get better and they all have another year under their belt. The way they work together now is really beautiful to watch.”
On offense the biggest hole will be at quarterback, where a new starter is needed for the first time in three years. The trio of Chad Kanoff, Kedric Bostic and John Lovett were all in the mix for the role through training camp, with Kanoff looking like he might win the battle.
“Having followed Princeton football since I was recruited in 1985, he’s probably as good a pure thrower as anybody we have had,” Surace said. “And that includes Doug Butler, Jason Garrett, Chad Roghair and all the guys who are more recent. He just throws the ball so well. He has gotten stronger and he is a good athlete.”
Added offensive coordinator James Perry: “It will be the first time in a couple years that we have had a new quarterback. Right now the quarterback group is playing very well. Last fall, Chad wasn’t available. Going into the fall he was playing very well. He had a terrific spring and now a terrific camp.”
No matter who the quarterback is, the offensive line will be improved, the receiving corps will be aided by the return of Seth DeValve, and the running attack should be deep led by DiAndere Atwater and Dre Nelson.
“We have two seniors, DiAndre and Dre, who are practicing at a fantastic level,” Perry said. “That running back group is practicing exactly like we want them to practice. We have a lot of guys who have played football at that position, right down the line. Joey Rhattigan and AJ Glass have played a lot of football. That whole group we are very happy with. Hopefully we can use that group’s energy to our benefit.”
Princeton had a chance to come together as a team with a trip to Japan in the spring. That has helped the chemistry, which has been very good.
“When we were asked (about going to Japan), I connected with a few of the guys who went the previous time and they really talked about how it brought the team together and it was a great experience — maybe the best thing they did in their four years at Princeton,” Surace said. “I went to the PFA group and they were fully supportive. It was terrific and I think it helped us come together.
“The attitude has just been tremendous. It really started the day after the season. I meet with every player individually. I get a player like Dre Nelson who says I want to set the tone and have guys in each position group set the tone in the weight room. We as coaches are on the road recruiting so we don’t see that much for two months. Our guys came back in terrific shape and that is a positive.”
The Tigers were 5-5 last year after an 8-2 season in 2013. This year they’ll be looking to make the move back to the upper echelon of the Ivy League.
“When the season ends and you have the banquet we have a team meeting that Sunday and maybe it’s crazy but we didn’t celebrate the championship (in 2013),” Surace said. :The next day we were all 0-0. That’s how we approach it and how we’ll approach it this year.”
