Rating Passers, Ignoring Wikipedia

My great-grandfather used to say that the sports pages should present the day’s docket of football games like they do the baseball schedule, with the quarterback’s name and stats in the place normally reserved for the starting pitcher.

They don’t, mostly because no one’s too sure how much the quality of the quarterback affects the quality of the result.

Super Bowl-winning signal-callers of the past decade include Trent Dilfer and Brad Johnson. But also John Elway and Brett Favre.

The last three college champs? Vince Young, Matt Leinart, and Carson Palmer. Ever heard of them?

The three before that? Craig Krenzel, Ken Dorsey, and Josh Heupel. Ever heard of them?

Wikipedia tells us “one misguided view of quarterbacks is that they can ‘win’ football games in a similar way pitchers can dominate a game in baseball.” However, “the neutrality of this section is disputed.” Hrmph.

In any event, we’re going to put Papa’s postulate into practice for this edition of Around the Ivies. With so many fresh faces taking snaps in the Ivy League these days, and a new one every week for Harvard, I figure at the very least we’ll familiarize ourselves with the names. At the most, we’ll let the passers influence our picks, no matter how misguided Wikipedia thinks we might be.

NO. 22 HARVARD (2-0, 1-0 Ivy) AT LEHIGH (1-2)

Richard Irvin: 2-for-3, 46 yds, 0 TD, 0 int

Sedale Threatt: 45-for-76, 570 yds, 3 TD, 2 int

We knew the Crimson would have the best defensive front in the league. They lead the nation in rushing defense. We didn’t know the O-line would be this good. They’re opening up running lanes and keeping the QB du jour’s shirt clean, having permitted just one sack through two games.

Cheng Ho, which incidentally was also the name of a famous 15th century Chinese admiral and explorer, has been a revelation in the backfield. And, oh yeah, Clifton Dawson’s pretty good too.

Richard Irvin is like the Darko Milicic of Ivy League football—an enigmatic import who has somehow worked his way into the doghouse but has enormous upside. Imagine if, back in 2004, Rasheed (O’Hagan) had been suspended, Elden Campbell (Pizzotti) had gone down with an injury, and then Mehmet Okur (Witt) had gotten hurt too, would the Pistons still have gone all the way?

He’s des-Irvin of a second chance. I mean, he started for Tulane as a freshman. That’s, like, a real school.

In related news, I saw Irvin at dinner the other night, patiently waiting for a fresh tray of the roast lamb. If he displays that kind of poise in the pocket tomorrow, he’ll be just fine.

Plus, an anonymous wideout told me earlier this week of the team’s receivers: “Just put it near us and we’ll catch it.”

Lehigh, coming off a bye week, has had Harvard’s number in recent years, capturing the last three meetings between the two schools. But the Mountain Hawks, under new coach Andy Coen, have stumbled of late, losing two straight home games—the most recent to surging Princeton.

Threatt keeps them in it (and prevents a cover), but Lehigh can’t curb the Irv.

Prediction: Harvard (and Irvin) 30, Lehigh (and Threatt) 24

COLUMBIA (2-0) VS. PRINCETON (2-0)

Craig Hormann: 28-for-47, 312 yds, 2 TD, 2 int

Jeff Terrell: 36-for-58, 466 yds, 4 TD, 4 int

This game features two of the Ivies’ three returning quarterbacks and two of the league’s three undefeated teams. Both throwers are unremarkable but consistent, while both squads are newsworthy and exciting in their early success.

The Lions are off to a roaring 2-0 start, albeit against doormats Fordham and Georgetown, with Norries Wilson at the helm. Against the Hoyas last Saturday, Hormann took care of the football, attempting 25 passes without a pick, as Columbia took a 20-0 lead in the third quarter in an eventual 23-20 win. An added boon, kicker Jon Rocholl connected twice from long distance, making 41- and 45-yard field goals.

Princeton, meanwhile, is quickly cementing a reputation as the cardiac kids of the Ancient Eight. The Tigers overcame a late deficit last weekend with two fourth-quarter TDs. A strong commitment to the run (that also swung the time of possession battle dramatically in Princeton’s favor) kept the skies open for Terrell, who excelled to the tune of 261 yards and three scores.

The defense restricted Lafayette to just a shade over 200 yards, dispelling the rumor that the graduation losses from 2005 would soften the unit.

Lions and Tigers and the spread is too high. Princeton, but not in a cakewalk.

Prediction: Princeton (and Terrell) 20, Columbia (and Hormann) 13

BROWN (1-1, 0-1) AT RHODE ISLAND (1-2)

Joe DiGiacomo: 31-for-54, 444 yds, 2 TD, 1 int

Derek Cassidy: 15-for-39, 206 yds, 2 TD, 5 int

Oyalowo? More like oy vey! Nick Hartigan’s replacement at running back, Akin Oyalowo, has managed just 124 yards through two games. DiGiacomo, the polished senior, can’t do it by himself, as seen in last week’s drubbing by Harvard.

Cassidy, just a sophomore, runs as much as he throws, with 41 carries to only 39 passing attempts through the Rams’ first three games.

The Bears take the Governor’s Cup in a bounce-back win.

Prediction: Brown (and DiGiacomo) 27, Rhode Island (and Cassidy) 17

CORNELL (0-2, 0-1) VS. NO. 23 ALBANY (3-1)

Nathan Ford: 31-for-57, 375 yds, 0 TD, 3 int

Daniel Bocanegra: 24-for-46, 244 yds, 2 TD, 3 int

The Great Danes made their first ever appearance in the national polls this week. From the good karma file: their running back is named Marcus Allen.

Their opponent, upstate neighbor Cornell, outgained its foe by a comfortable margin and, for the second straight week, still lost by more than ten points. The team still hasn’t scored a touchdown.

Two schools of thought then: the breaks even out and the Big Red will soon find its way into the endzone or the squad is jinxed. I’m not superstitious or anything, but I suspect the latter. I’m off the bandwagon. Pass the salt.

Prediction: Albany (and Bocanegra) 25, Cornell (and Ford) 12

PENN (1-1) VS. DARTMOUTH (0-2)

Robert Irvin: 28-for-51, 269 yds, 0 TD, 2 int

Mike Fritz: 17-for-28, 208 yds, 2 TD, 2 int

I don’t want to be mean, but if you have the time, go to Penn’s athletics website and check out Irvin’s photo. What a stiff!

Fortunately for the Quakers, though, they are a vastly superior team to Buddy Teevens’ inept Big Green.

The lone bright spot for Dartmouth has been receiver Ryan Fuselier, who caught 10 balls for 156 yards and two touchdowns in last week’s loss at UNH.

Prediction: Penn (and Irvin) 29, Dartmouth (and Fritz) 10

YALE (1-1, 1-0) AT LAFAYETTE (2-2)

Matt Polhemus: 20-for-47, 293 yds, 2 TD, 2 int

Brad Maurer: 49-for-90, 699 yds, 2 TD, 3 int

I’m 0-for-2 betting on Lafayette. But I cannot stomach Polhemus’ 43% completion percentage. If the third time isn’t the charm, I’m a total sucker.

Prediction: Lafayette (and Maurer) 24, Yale (and Polhemus) 14

Record to date: 6-8

Against the spread: 6-8

—Staff writer Jonathan Lehman can be reached at jlehman@fas.harvard.edu.