Defending Ivy Champion Brown Football Ready To Open Pre-Season Camp

Providence, RI - The defending Ivy League Champion Brown Football Team will report to pre-season camp on Tuesday, August 25, looking to become the first squad in Brown history to capture back-to-back Ivy League titles.  After winning two of the last four Ivy titles, Bears' head coach Phil Estes will welcome 108 players to camp, including 12 starters and six All-Ivy players.

Brown, chosen third in the Ivy League preseason poll for the third time in the last five years, will give its fans a preview of the 2009 season with a scrimmage against Columbia on September 4th at Wein Stadium in New York City.

Brown kicks-off its 132nd season of intercollegiate football on the road against Stony Brook on Saturday, September 19th, under the lights (6:00 p.m.) at LaValle Stadium in Stony Brook, New York.

The Bears launch their Ivy League schedule in a match-up of last year's co-champions, traveling to Boston to face Harvard on Friday, September 25 at 7:00 p.m., before returning to Providence for its home opener on October 3 against Rhode Island at Brown Stadium in the battle for the Governor's Cup.

Three of Brown's returning All-Ivy players are on the offensive side of the ball.  Senior preseason All-American wide receivers Buddy Farnham and Bobby Sewall are already ranked among the top wide receivers in Ivy League football history, while senior co-captain and offensive tackle Paul Jasinowski is a dominant offensive lineman and a two-time All-Ivy selection.  Senior center Mark Callahan, senior guard Tim Danser and senior fullback Matt Mangiacotti also return to the starting lineup.

While the Bears are solid at wide receiver and the offensive line, the biggest question mark comes at quarterback where the Bears will feature a quarterback who has never attempted a varsity pass.  Senior Joe Springer junior Kyle Newhall and sophomore Patrick Pakan seem to have the inside track at quarterback heading into preseason camp.

Brown's wide-open offense often grabs the headlines, but it was Brown's defense which stepped up a year ago and allowed just 77.1 rushing yards per game to lead the Ivy League and rank fourth nationally.  Headlining the returnees is perhaps the most dominant defensive lineman in the Ivy League, preseason All-American David Howard, a first team All-Ivy selection a year ago. Two second team All-Ivy selections also return to the Bears defense, senior co-captain and defensive end James Develin, a three-year starter for the Bears, and senior Chris Perkins, a hard hitting safety. Senior end Peter Hughes also returns to the starting defensive lineup, as well as senior inside linebacker Kelly Cox and senior corner back David Clement.