The annual Ivy League football season media poll ranked Dartmouth’s football team third for the first time since 1997. The team earned 91 points in the poll, but received no first place votes.
Princeton University and Harvard University ranked first and second, with 128 and 127 points, respectively. The poll was one of the areas discussed at Tuesday’s Ivy League Football Media Day Teleconference.
The team’s place in the poll generated excitement, offensive lineman Jacob Flores ’16 said.
“It’s good to get some recognition from the media, and for them to essentially say that Dartmouth is going to be a force to be reckoned with this year,” he said.
Though the team is excited by the media’s positive opinion of the team, players won’t let the poll affect their main focus: physically preparing for the season, Flores said.
The Big Green were ranked in the middle of the Ivy League prior to the 2013-14 season, but they surprised critics by finishing the season ranked third. The ranking can be an indicator of a trend in the positive direction for the program, but everyone understands that the ranking after the conclusion of the season is more important, Flores said.
The teleconference during which head football coaches preview elements of the upcoming season kicks off the 2014-15 football season.
The conference gives the media a one-stop shopping point for talking to Ivy League football coaches and discussing areas of interest in the League, varsity athletics communications director Rick Bender said.
During his segment, Dartmouth football coach Buddy Teevens answered questions ranging from administrative expectations to the development of the game in the Ivy League.
Bruce Wood from the Big Green Alert asked Teevens what the team’s biggest strengths and challenges would be for this year.
Teevens said that the Big Green’s linebackers are the team’s biggest strength and the open tight end position is its biggest challenge.
“With the tight end position, there’s currently not a lot of experience with that position, but we feel that we have some athletes that can add to it,” Teevens said at the conference.
Cornerback Vernon Harris ’16 said that the large number of the team’s returning starters will add depth and experience to the team.
“The amount of returning starters is going to play a huge role this season,” Harris said. “For myself, this will be my third year as a starter, and having a big amount of ’16s who have been starters since freshman year will be huge because they bring a lot of experience to the team.”
A major area of interest at the conference was the career and retirement of University of Pennsylvania head football coach Al Bagnoli (232-91), who will depart the team after the 2014 season.
During his segment, Teevens commended Bagnoli on his consistency and ability to adapt as a coach to various situations.
“Anytime you line up against Al you know what you’re gonna get,” he said Tuesday.
Dartmouth will start off the 2014 season at home on Sept. 20 against Central Connecticut University. The Big Green is slated to play five home games this season and will host College of the Holy Cross for homecoming on Oct. 18th.
