The 2000 Princeton Tigers football team represented
Princeton University
Princeton University is a private university, private research university in Princeton, New Jersey. Founded in 1746 in Elizabeth, New Jersey, Elizabeth as the College of New Jersey, Princeton is the List of Colonial Colleges, fourth-oldest ins ...
in the
2000 NCAA Division I-AA football season. In their first year under head coach
Roger Hughes
Roger A. Hughes (born September 4, 1960) is an American football coach and former player. He served as the head coach at Princeton University from 2000 to 2009, and amassed a 47–52 record. He was the head coach at Stetson University, which re ...
, the team compiled a 3–7 record (3–4 against
Ivy League
The Ivy League is an American collegiate athletic conference comprising eight private research universities in the Northeastern United States. The term ''Ivy League'' is typically used beyond the sports context to refer to the eight schools ...
opponents) and finished in fifth place in the Ivy League. The team played its home games at
Princeton Stadium
Powers Field at Princeton Stadium is a stadium in Princeton, New Jersey, United States. It is primarily used for American football, and has been the home field of the Princeton Tigers since 1998. The stadium seats 27,773. Since 2007, the playing ...
in
Princeton, New Jersey
Princeton is a municipality with a borough form of government in Mercer County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey. It was established on January 1, 2013, through the consolidation of the Borough of Princeton and Princeton Township, both of whi ...
.
The John P. Poe - Richard W. Kazmaier, Jr. Football Trophy, given annually to "a member of the Princeton football team of good moral character, who, during the season in addition to proving himself a player of ability, has best
exemplified
pecifiedtraits and characteristics," was awarded to seniors Michael F. Higgins and Dennis M. Norman. Higgins was also the 2000 team captain.
[Princeton Football Record Book, p. 32.]
Schedule
Game summaries
Lafayette
*Sources:
On September 16, 2000, Princeton opened its season in its first game under head coach
Roger Hughes
Roger A. Hughes (born September 4, 1960) is an American football coach and former player. He served as the head coach at Princeton University from 2000 to 2009, and amassed a 47–52 record. He was the head coach at Stetson University, which re ...
. The Tigers lost to Lafayette, 24-17. The game was tied at 17 with nine seconds left, and Lafayette faced second down at the Princeton one-yard line. Lafayette went for the touchdown and scored for the win.
Lehigh
On September 23, 2000, Princeton lost to #19 Lehigh, 20-18, at Princeton Stadium. Lehigh scored 20 points in the first half and was held scoreless in the second half as the Tigers mounted a comeback effort. The effort fell short, as Princeton was unable to score a touchdown and settled for six Taylor Northrop field goals, including a 50-yarder. After the game, head coach Roger Hughes said, "I don't believe in moral victories, although, I'm very proud of how our kids played. Our kids played every snap of every quarter. I told them afterwards in the locker room that they have nothing to hang their heads about.
told them'You became men today.'"
Columbia
On September 30, 2000, Princeton defeated
Columbia, 27-24, with a field goal in overtime. The game was the
Ivy League
The Ivy League is an American collegiate athletic conference comprising eight private research universities in the Northeastern United States. The term ''Ivy League'' is typically used beyond the sports context to refer to the eight schools ...
opener for both teams.
Colgate
On October 7, 2000, Princeton lost to
Colgate, 34-6. Princeton's Kyle Brandt rushed for 80 yards on 11 carries.
Brown
On October 14, 2000, Princeton defeated
Brown
Brown is a color. It can be considered a composite color, but it is mainly a darker shade of orange. In the CMYK color model used in printing or painting, brown is usually made by combining the colors orange and black. In the RGB color model used ...
, 55-28, in front of a crowd of 18,113 spectators. David Splithoff became the first freshman to start at quarterback in Princeton football history. In his first start, Splithoff completed 13 of 17 passes for 289 yards and three touchdowns and led the Tigers to 514 yards of offense and 55 points.
Harvard
On October 21, 2000, Princeton lost to
Harvard
Harvard University is a private Ivy League research university in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Founded in 1636 as Harvard College and named for its first benefactor, the Puritan clergyman John Harvard, it is the oldest institution of higher le ...
, 35-21, at Princeton Stadium. Harvard outgained Princeton 492 total yards to 294. Princeton was also charged with 12 penalties. The loss to Harvard was the fifth in a row, representing Princeton's longest losing streak in the long history of the
Harvard–Princeton football rivalry
The Harvard–Princeton football rivalry is an American college football rivalry between the Harvard Crimson football team of Harvard University and the Princeton Tigers football team of Princeton University. Princeton leads the series 59–48†...
.
Cornell
On October 28, 2000, Princeton lost a close game to
Cornell
Cornell University is a private statutory land-grant research university based in Ithaca, New York. It is a member of the Ivy League. Founded in 1865 by Ezra Cornell and Andrew Dickson White, Cornell was founded with the intention to teach an ...
, 25-24. Princeton scored a potential tying touchdown late with 11 seconds remaining, but kicker Taylor Northrop slipped on wet turf and missed the kick for point after touchdown.
Penn
On November 4, 2000, Princeton took an early lead, but
Penn then scored 34 unanswered points and defeated the Tigers, 40-24.
[
]
Yale
On November 11, 2000, Princeton defeated Yale
Yale University is a private research university in New Haven, Connecticut. Established in 1701 as the Collegiate School, it is the third-oldest institution of higher education in the United States and among the most prestigious in the wor ...
, 19-14. Yale took a 14-3 lead at halftime, but Princeton scored 16 unanswered points in the second half. With 16 second remaining, Princeton scored the winning touchdown on a 32-yard pass from quarterback Jon Blevins to wide receiver Chisom Opara.
Dartmouth
On November 18, 2000, Princeton ended its season with a 42-37 loss against Dartmouth. Dartmouth quarterback Greg Smith completed 20 of 27 passes for 308 yards and four touchdowns. After the game, head coach Roger Hughes said the following about his team's seniors: "While I'm very saddened by losing them, I'm also excited about the future in that these seniors have given us a great foundation to build on."
Players
The following players won varsity letter
A varsity letter (or monogram) is an award earned in the United States for excellence in school activities. A varsity letter signifies that its recipient was a qualified varsity team member, awarded after a certain standard was met.
Description ...
s for their participation in the 2000 Princeton football team:
References
{{Princeton Tigers football navbox
Princeton
Princeton University is a private research university in Princeton, New Jersey. Founded in 1746 in Elizabeth as the College of New Jersey, Princeton is the fourth-oldest institution of higher education in the United States and one of the nine ...
Princeton Tigers football seasons
Princeton Tigers football
The Princeton Tigers football program represents Princeton University and competes at the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) NCAA Division I Football Championship, Division I Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) level as a member ...