Deckhead:

Juniors Blessing and Lempa take over

Body:

A trademark of exceptional programs nationwide is the ability to immediately plug gaps left by the departure of dominant stars. This season, USC needed a new Leinart, Texas replaced Young and The O.C. is introducing a few new faces to offset the loss of the late Marissa Cooper. For the new starting linebackers of the 2006 Cornell football team, this transition should be seamless.

Deckhead:

Talented group should contribute on ground and in passing attack

Body:

The core of the nation’s eighth-ranked rushing offense returns to the gridiron for the Red this season, and if that isn’t scary enough for the seven other teams in the conference, the position promises to be even more of a threat in 2006.

Body:

It’s hard to believe that at this time last year, the offensive line was considered somewhat of a question mark. But, before last season, only two of the five starters had played a varsity snap, raising concern about how their play would translate to the game speed of the regular season. After leading both junior Luke Siwula and Ryan Kuhn ’05 to 1,000-yard campaigns and first team All-Ivy selections, those concerns are nowhere to be found.

Body:

The 2005 Cornell offense was the definition of one-dimensional. Junior tailback Luke Siwula had a breakout season, rushing for over 1,086 yards and earning a first-team All-Ivy League selection.

However, as was the case on many afternoons, he wasn’t even the leading rusher on his own team. Quarterback Ryan Kuhn ’06 also eclipsed the 1,000-yard mark, garnering a first-team selection of his own. In fact, Kuhn ended last season with 199 rushing attempts — 20 more than the number of passes he threw.

Deckhead:

Seniors seek Ivy title in final campaign

Body:

At each practice, head coach Jim Knowles ’87 gives the football team an “edge” — an idea he plants in the minds of his players to motivate them to work harder. Usually, the week before the last game for the seniors on the roster, he’ll ask them to share an edge with their teammates, to explain why Cornell football has been worthy of so many hours of dedication and hard work. This year, however, he did things a little differently. He asked the Class of 2007 to give an edge during fall camp.

Body:

Over the past two seasons, the Cornell defense has ranked No. 2 in the country in rushing yards allowed — including first in the Ivy League both years. For the Red, stopping the run starts with the defensive line, which has been a team strength ever since head coach Jim Knowles ’87 took over in 2004. With three returning senior starters in tri-captain Jonathan Lucas, Jeff Dicks and Ryan Kiscadden, that trend should continue.

Body:

They may be young, but they can play. The losses of short safety Jeff Hahn ’06, free safety Kevin Rex ’06 and cornerback Jason Cloyd ’06 — the Red’s leader in interceptions (two) and passes defended (seven) last season — to graduation has brought in a new crop of younger players. But there will be familiar faces too. Senior Matt Grant, junior Michael Boyd at whip and sophomore free safety Tim Bax will all start again.

Body:

While most of the spots vacated by graduation have been claimed by starters that emerged during the off-season and fall camp, one area in which the football team still has lingering questions is on special teams.