Celebrating 150 Years of Cornell Sports
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FALL 2014 SPIRIT!Celebrating 150 Years of Cornell Sports 1915: INAUGURAL CORNELL TOUCHDOWN AT SCHOELLKOPF 2002: HALL OF FAME INDUCTEE RICKY RAHNE SCORES AT SCHOELLKOPF n Football: Continuing to Build n Women’s Cross Country: National Contenders Again MEN’S FOOTBALL REASONS TO BE EXCITED: • The second season will be under the leadership and enthusiasm of Head Coach David Archer ’05, who continues to put his “stamp” on the Big Red eleven. • Vast improvement in the newly renovated weight room, thanks to the support of generous alumni, will make the 2014 team stronger with greater agility. • Looking for future successes built upon a two- game winning streak at the end of the 2013 campaign. A Position-By-Position • Returning to a more balanced offensive scheme Look At The 2014 Team that is expected to feature a relentless running attack QUARTERBACK: Replacing at the wide receiver position. The OFFENSIVE LINE: Junior and a passing game that superstar Jeff Mathews ’14 is a big cupboard isn’t bare. Senior tri- starters Zach Wilk (6-4, 270) and takes advantage of gaps and project, but there are a number of captain Lucas Shapiro (6-5, 208) Daniel Cunningham (6-7, 289) matchups. prospects eager to step in under is a valuable target in the red zone; return, and are joined up front • In year two of both the center and be a leader. Junior James in ‘13 he tallied six touchdowns by Western Michigan transfer defensive and special teams Few (6-2, 194) is the preseason and led the Big Red in yards per Nick Roach (6-4, 305). Wilk was progress, the team will leader due to his arm, athletic catch (15.8). Juniors Chris Lenz an All-American as a freshman, continue to dominate field ability and experience. When (6-3, 199) and Ben Rogers (6-2, and earned All-Ivy honorable position. Mathews missed the Columbia 197) combined for four TDs last mention last fall even though game because of an injury, Few fall and will draw attention from he missed three games with an • A youthful team that is threw for two touchdowns and ran the opposition. Two-year letterman injury. Bolstering the O-line to extremely motivated with for one score. Sophomore Robert VJ Fitzpatrick (6-1, 195) has the show their commitment to the competition at every position Somborn (6-1, 193) also earned size and speed to be a threat, and team are converted defensive as the gridders go through varsity experience. Others in the he will also contribute on special linemen Shane McManamon (6-2, the process of building an competition are freshmen Kyle teams. 282) and Cadell Williams (6-1, identity in all phases of the Gallagher (6-4, 205) and Jake Jatis 286). McManamon looks good game. TIGHT ENDS/H-BACKS: (6-4, 225). Gallagher led Maine- at center, and Williams is playing Two-year letter winner Matt Endwell High School to three guard. Sophomore Alex Emanuels Doneth (6-5, 241) could be set for state crowns and was the NYS (6-2, 264) played in three games a breakout campaign. Sophomores Player of the Year as a senior. with one start in 2013 before Nick Bland (6-5, 231), Mason suffering a season-ending injury. WIDE RECEIVER: Some of Melin (6-3, 231) and Matt He certainly will be in the fight the most productive offensive Sullivan (6-4, 235) should see for playing time, along with seven players in school history have significant playing time both on other classmates. Four good-sized graduated over the past three years offense and on special teams. freshmen will also be in the mix. 2 SPIRIT! MAGAZINE SHOP NOW FOR YOUR CORNELL ATHLETICS APPAREL. OFFENSIVE BACKS: This is a key area in time along the DL. A number of talented, large providing a more balanced attack. It all starts with freshmen will challenge to get on the field as the junior Luke Hagy (6-0, 195), one of the most season progresses. versatile backs in the Ivy League. Through two INSIDE LINEBACKER: Senior Taylor Betros seasons, Hagy has amassed 888 rushing yards and (5-11, 220), and sophomores Miles Norris (6-0, 1,165 receiving markers for 14 touchdowns. If he 220) and Jackson Weber (6-2, 225) are playmakers matches his career average of 106.7 all-purpose with starting experience. Betros is a two-year yards per game in 2014, he’ll jump into the top starter with 43 stops in ’13, while Weber totaled 40. 10 in school history. Senior letterman Ahmad Avery (5-10, 198) and junior Tanner Wrout (6-0, OUTSIDE LINEBACKER: Several playmakers 211) will fight for action in the backfield. Both are will compete for starting roles, including two-year outstanding special teams contributors. Junior letter lettermen Jonathan Ford (6-2, 216) and JJ Fives (6- winner Julian Gallo (6-2, 235) is a hard-blocking 2, 220). Moving from safety to linebacker is junior fullback that adds beef to the backfield. A pair of Bobby Marani (6-2, 220) who was one of the freshmen, Jack Gellatly (5-11, 215) and Josh Sweet leaders on defense a year ago. Juniors Debo Sodeke (5-10, 215), will have plenty of opportunities to (6-2, 241) and James White (5-10, 180) certainly break into the lineup. will be in the fray. Freshman Seth Hope (6-3, 235) is an excellent prospect that will challenge for snaps SPECIAL TEAMS: The Big Red is loaded on with the first unit. special teams, arguably the top unit in the Ivy League. Leading the way is sophomore punter DEFENSIVE SECONDARY: All-Ivy honorable Chris Fraser (6-2, 204), the reigning Ivy League mention Michael Turner, a senior, and junior Jarrod Rookie of the Year. In 2013, Fraser was an all- Watson-Lewis are seasoned starters at cornerback. league first-team pick, leading the Ancient Eight Also in the picture are juniors Del Barnes (6-0, with a 42.9 yards average per kick. He ranked 181), and Matt Smith (5-9, 182), and sophomore 17th nationally and third among freshmen. He is Jaivon Gibbs (5-11, 173). Returning starters at also proficient in pinning opponents inside their safety are senior tri-captain Rush Imhotep (6-2, own 20-yard line. His punting will help the Red 208) and junior Twan Terrell (6-2, 200), who also gain field position. Junior Ardian Sahinovic (6-6, excels on special teams. Freshmen will challenge 216) will be a solid backup to Fraser. The starting the incumbents for playing time. CLICK HERE place-kicker spot is wide open between senior John TO VISIT THE Wells (6-1, 201), sophomores Joe Pierik (5-11, MEN’S FOOTBALL 159) and Michael Hobson (5-10, 171). Wells is one WEBSITE of the better kickoff specialists in the Ivy League, with more than 50 percent of his boots resulting in touchbacks. Pierik saw late-season action in 2013. Hobson arrived at Cornell spring semester after being an Oregon HS first-team pick. Senior long snapper Dylan Chayes (6-3, 222) is a three-year starter who gets down field quickly, recovering three opponents’ fumbles last season. Junior Ben Rogers (6-2, 197) averaged 22.8 yards per kickoff return and 8.0 yards per punt return. Last year’s special teams stats show six total kicks blocked, including three of 33 punt attempts. A blocked PAT was the difference in Cornell’s 42-41 victory at Penn last year. DEFENSIVE LINE: Tri-captain Justin Harris (6-6, 275), a fifth-year end, and junior nose guard Brent Jones (6-0, 293) are returning starters. Harris had 40 total tackles, including three for a loss in 2013. Jones is one of the strongest players in the Ivies, and is a top-notch run-stuffer. Both Harris and Jones should be All-Ivy candidates this season. Sophomores Drew Diedrich (6-3, 263), Jake Haddock (6-1, 286), Jake Lambirth (6-4, 270) and Michael Staples (6-3, 279) will fight for playing 3 SPIRIT! MAGAZINE SHOP NOW FOR YOUR CORNELL ATHLETICS APPAREL. VISIT CORNELLBIGRED.COM WOMEN’S CROSS COUNTRY CLICK HERE TO VISIT THE WOMEN’S CROSS COUNTRY REASONS TO • Top returnees from last year’s squad are Kellner, junior Claire DeVoe and sophomore BE EXCITED Taylor Spillane. Last spring, Kellner, DeVoe and junior Maggi Szpak all competed at the first round of the NCAA championships in • One of the top women’s cross country the distance track events. programs in the nation the past three • The program welcomes an outstanding seasons, the Big Red finished 23rd at the group of 13 newcomers that includes 2013 NCAA championships and 13th in several national caliber runners and five 2012. Four of the top seven runners that state champions. competed in the ’13 nationals return to the lineup. NOTES: Its recent meteoric success • Winner of two of the past three Heps has made Cornell one of the pre-eminent championships (2011-1st, 2012-1st, 2013- women’s non-scholarship programs in the 2nd), the team expects to be in contention country…During its ride to success, it has for the title again in 2014. Defending produced three All-Americans and seven champion Dartmouth is the favorite and All-Region performers…The Class of 2018 Princeton is also nationally competitive this consists of medalists from eight states and year, so the Cornellians will have their hands two different countries…Shying away from no full competing against some of the best in one, the team will compete against some of the country at the Heps. the strongest teams in the nation during the regular season.