The Big Red is a team with plenty of fight and potential in 2014. Head coach David Archer came out of the gates swinging last year with a 45-13 win over Bucknell in the season opener. However, his Big Red were stagnant until two back-to-back Ivy wins late in the season. Their 3-7 record in 2013 left them ranked seventh in the Ivy standings, besting only the winless Columbia Lions.
Since the 2011 season (5-5) Cornell has consistently declined in terms of wins (2012- 4-6, 2013 3-7). Archer is currently the youngest coach in Division I football, and is looking to shake off the freshman jitters and bring his alma mater to new heights in his second year at the helm.
Cornell’s quest for victory in 2014 will be made without the fire power of stud QB Jeff Mathews. Last year’s senior field general was signed by the Atlanta Falcons as an undrafted free agent earlier this offseason. Mathews isn’t the only player Cornell has to replace. The Big Red also graduated three of their top defenders, and will rely on underclassmen to fill major gaps in the linebacking corps & secondary.
Picked preseason seventh in the 2014 Ivy League Preseason Media Poll, Cornell is not expected to threaten for the league championship. On the upside, a young coach and some talented underclassmen have the potential to make waves in the Ivy League in the near future, and build a foundation that will sustain for years to come.
