On the Sidelines

The Princeton Tigers lost to Riverside last week 21-35. Head Coach Ted Spadaro gives one key reason for the loss - special teams.

"No. 1, it was the worst special teams that I've had in 20 years here at Princeton," Spadaro said. "I'm in charge of that and it's my fault."

Spadaro put the blame squarely on his shoulders for the poor performance of the special teams, but noted the players' role as well.

"I blame it all on myself," Spadaro said. "There were boys in there I thought I could depend on but I can't."

The Tigers now have a 3-5 record and Spadaro said that their chances to make the playoffs are slim.

"They're very slim, very slim," Spadaro said. "We did it to ourselves. We've got nobody to blame but ourselves. We let Ripley slip through our fingers, Capital, and now Riverside. So, what we got we deserve."

At best, the Princeton Tigers can achieve a 5-5 record. Spadaro said it would take a more concerted effort from his players to get there.

"More heart," Spadaro said. "More heart, believing in what we're doing. That's what it is, nothing else. You've got to believe and stay focused on what we're doing in order to win the next two ball games. And they have to want to win it."

Spadaro has said countless times over the weeks that his team needs to play four full quarters of football, something he does not think his team has been doing.

"They can't go play one or two quarters or three, but four," Spadaro said. "From the first play to the last play, that's how you win ball games. That's the only way."

Spadaro said that his offense has been doing well this season.

"I think the offense has done well, considering the injuries we've had. I think they've moved the ball well every ball game," Spadaro said.

But, Spadaro points out that there are three parts to a game - offense, defense, and special teams.

"I wasn't happy with part of our defense or special teams," Spadaro said. "It looked like some middle school or grade school team out there playing little league on special teams."

Spadaro emphasized that he will work to improve the Tiger's special teams.

"I'm in charge of that and that's my responsibility," Spadaro said. "The kids let me down. They let their team down."

The team hosts Greenbrier East tonight in their final home game of the season.

"If they come in and you try to size them up on paper and everything, it's the worst thing for us to do," Spadaro said. "We've got to go out and play four quarters against them. Their game plan will be to keep the ball as long as they can and it's our goal to get it back from them."

The Princeton Tigers finish their season next week on the road, Nov. 7, against Nitro.