Brown coach Phil Estes confirmed that veteran Patrick Donnelly is back and playing QB and that tailback Spiro Theodosi will be back after losing two seasons to injury . . . Asked how to defend Cornell QB Jeff Mathews Estes joked, "Hope he has a bad day."
Columbia coach Pete Mangurian said that when he was at Cornell he would wonder aloud why a recruit might want to play in New York City. He said now he knows. . . . Asked if Sean Brackett would be his starting QB, Mangurian made it clear that barring a huge surprise the answer is yes and he will be looking for the senior to play the way he did when he was healthy two years ago.
Cornell coach Kent Austin said one of the keys to his team's improvement as the season wore on last year was using Grant Gellatly in the slot. ... He confirmed that Mathews had committed to Cornell before he arrived but that the Big Red had to recruit him hard not to lose him and suggested tailback recruits will get a shot during camp.
Dartmouth coach Buddy Teevens talked about how the rest of the Ivy League is a lot more competitive than it was in his first tenure in Hanover and how that made playing catch-up more difficult. ... He stressed the Big Green's need to have a higher pass completion percentage this fall.
Harvard coach Tim Murphy said going to an H-back attack was a no-brainer with a player as versatile as tight end Kyle Juszczyk. ... He pointed out that when he started with the no-huddle, hurry-up offense 18 years ago at Harvard the Crimson was one of the first to do it and it's hardly unique these days with Yale and Princeton going that way. ... Murphy also said that if Mathews continues on the same arc of improvement he could be a third-round NFL draft pick.
Penn coach Al Bagnoli said once again that expectations were unrealistic last year after 33 players graduated. He said a result of last year's disappointment is the focus and work ethic have been better this year ... Asked about big-time recruit Cameron Countryman, he said the bluechip receiver would have a shot to prove himself early in what should be a talented receiving corps.
Princeton coach Bob Surace said any decision on the return of standout tailback Chuck Dibilio from a stroke last winter will be made by the doctors with the player's health paramount. He wouldn't venture a guess whether Dibilio will be back this year. ... He indicated that the QB race is far from settled.
Yale coach Tony Reno noted that the Bulldogs had only one real quarterback in spring ball so a couple of incoming freshmen will have every chance to get on the field if they prove themselves. ... He said his staff recruited both the new signalcallers and about half of the incoming class.
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More details on the strengths, challenges and outlook for the teams, drawn in part from today's presser, will be included in the upcoming previews on Green Alert Premium.