Football Out To Defy Media Poll For Fourth Straight Year

ITHACA, N.Y. -- The Cornell football team has been picked to finish seventh in the Ivy League's annual preseason media poll it was announced on Monday by the conference office. For the fourth straight season, the Big Red has no interest in finishing where they've been picked - and history says they'll likely place higher ... again. A year ago, Cornell was picked to finish last among the Ancient Eight. Cornell climbed to fifth in the final standings (3-4) and was in contention for the Ivy title in November for the first time since 2000. Its three Ivy League wins were the most since 2011 and tied for the best conference record by the program in more than a decade. The Big Red defeated 2017 preseason co-favorites Princeton and Harvard, topping the Crimson for the first time in 12 years. Two years ago, the Big Red was chosen to finish eighth, then started the year 3-0 and took sixth place. The year before it was eighth in the poll. Cornell didn't end there either. Head coach David Archer '05 and his team have their sights set higher - much higher. Seven All-Ivy League players return among 16 starters back in the Carnellian Red and White for 2018. Nine starters on defense will suit up, including All-Ivy corners David Jones and DJ Woullard. The offense is also well represented up the middle with decorated players at center (J. Edward Keating), quarterback (Dalton Banks) and running back (Chris Walker). Special teams is represented by All-Ivy punter/place-kicker Nickolas Null and Jones, who was one of the top returners in the league a year ago. In addition, the Big Red brings back its top rusher (Harold Coles), receiver (Owen Peters), tackler (Reis Seggebruch) and sack artists (Cyrus Nolan and Jordan Landsman). All five starters on the offensive line return, as do all four on the defensive line. Cornell will travel to nationally-ranked Delaware to begin the 2018 schedule on Saturday, Sept. 15 at 3:30 p.m. before opening its home and Ivy slate the following week as part of Homecoming when preseason Ivy favorite and defending Ancient Eight champ Yale visits Schoellkopf Field on Saturday Sept. 22 at 3 p.m.2018 Ivy League Football Preseason Media Poll (First-Place Votes) 1. Yale (11) 129 2. Princeton (3) 104 3. Harvard (1) 99 T4. Columbia (1) 76 T4. Penn (1) 76 6. Dartmouth 65 7. Cornell 37 8. Brown 26