Coming into Saturday’s contest against Colgate, Cornell’s defensive focus was stopping its opponent’s vaunted rushing attack. Senior tailback Jordan Scott entered the game as the Football Championship Series’ (FCS) leading rusher, averaging 186 yards per game. Throughout the first 18 minutes of the game, it didn’t seem like the Red could handle the 2007 Walter Payton award finalist as he quickly accumulated 41 yards. So when the feared tailback hit the sidelines with a high ankle sprain with 13:29 left in the first half, it seemed that there was hope for Cornell’s run defense. But the defensive corps was even less able to halt freshman Nate Eachus, who put on a standout performance of his own.

Football head coach Jim Knowles ’87 was almost at a loss for words.

“If you look at the stats, it’s, it’s,” Knowles said and paused, looking for the right word. Finally, he found it. “It’s embarrassing.”

Saturday’s 38-22 loss to Colgate (5-2, 1-0 Patriot League) was just one of those days for Cornell (3-2, 1-1 Ivy). Nothing seemed to go right from start to finish. The run defense gave up 345 yards and the secondary got burned for several long pass plays, including a 78-yard score. The offense had a touchdown called back because of a penalty, and had trouble finishing drives despite compiling 414 total yards. Even the special teams had a recovered onside kick taken back due to an inadvertent whistle.

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The last time Cornell played at home, it held Yale’s All-American tailback Mike McLeod to a mere 57 yards en route to a 17-14 upset over the preseason Ivy League favorite Bulldogs. Pla­ying tomorrow afternoon at Schoellkopf Field for just the second time this season, the Red will attempt to shut down an­other All-American running back. This time Cornell, and its No. 5-ranked run defense, welcomes Colgate and the Football Championship Series’ (FCS) leading rusher Jordan Scott.

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Harvard's offense steamrolled to seven plays of 20 yards or more

Prior to Saturday’s loss in Cambridge, Mass., the football team had stayed close in all of its three games, bouncing back to win each game at the wire. Saturday at Harvard, however, the game was essentially decided before halftime, as fifth-year quarterback Chris Pizzotti and the Crimson rolled over the Red, 38-17.

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“We got beat by a better team today,” said head coach Jim Knowles ’87. “I think they beat us in all areas and all phases of the game. Offense, defense, special teams. I thought they beat us to the punch early, but things settled down in the second half and things were fairly evenly matched.”

CAMBRIDGE, Mass. — Two weeks ago, fresh off an upset win over Ivy favorite Yale, the football team had a buzz word — blitzing. It was all the rage. Players and coaches alike talked enthusiastically about it.

“If you get your name called for a blitz, that’s like recess out there,” said senior safety Anthony Sabo after the game, in which Cornell registered five sacks and 11 tackles for a loss.

Last Saturday in Cambridge, though, Harvard took away recess. The Crimson picked up on the Red’s blitzing techniques from the film during the week. Come Saturday, Harvard read the Cornell blitz well and blocked effectively. The Crimson’s offensive tackles didn’t budge, leaving the Cornell secondary exposed time and time again — Harvard had seven plays of 20 yards or more.

It’s one thing to upset a preseason Ancient Eight favorite such as Yale on your home field in front of 11,143 screaming fans for Home­coming. It’s quite another thing to do it in front of a national audience. Tomorrow, that is exactly the challenge Cornell will tackle as it squares off against defending Ivy League champion Harvard. Versus TV will offer live coverage on its “Ivy League Game of the Week” with kickoff slated for noon in Cambridge, Mass.Next stop, ESPN: Junior Randy Barbour (30) and the Red will try to slay yet another giant when it competes against Harvard.

It’s one thing to upset a preseason Ancient Eight favorite such as Yale on your home field in front of 11,143 screaming fans for Home­coming. It’s quite another thing to do it in front of a national audience. Tomorrow, that is exactly the challenge Cornell will tackle as it squares off against defending Ivy League champion Harvard. Versus TV will offer live coverage on its “Ivy League Game of the Week” with kickoff slated for noon in Cambridge, Mass.Next stop, ESPN: Junior Randy Barbour (30) and the Red will try to slay yet another giant when it competes against Harvard.

What a difference a year makes. In 2007, the Cornell defense had been torched for 560 yards on the ground after its first three games. In 2008, Cornell no longer rolls out a “Red” carpet for opposing tailbacks to stroll down on their way to the end zone. In a remarkable turnaround, Cornell leads the Ivy League in rushing defense, surrendering a paltry 111 yards through its first three games of the campaign.

You hear NFL coaches say it all the time — unlike a similar dilemma at the quarterback position, a running back controversy is a good thing.

It may then be a case of “too much of a good thing” for the sprint football team.

Hindered by injuries, although fortunate to have a variety of personnel options, the state of the Red’s backfield is still in question heading into this weekend’s contest against conference foe Princeton at Powers Field.