Behind Enemy Lines: Princeton football coach Bob Surace

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After going 1-9 in each of his first two seasons as head coach of Princeton, Bob Surace has turned the struggling Tigers around, improving to 5-5 last season before bursting onto the scene this year with a 6-1 start. We went behind enemy lines with coach Surace and touched on the play of All-American defensive tackle Caraun Reid, the meaning of the Penn-Princeton rivalry, and more:

Daily Pennsylvanian: Your team made big strides last season, but I don’t think too many outside observers could have predicted your start to this season. What do you think has influenced your team’s growth over the course of this year?

Bob Surace: I think the biggest area is that we have been consistent in terms of turnover margin which has been a big emphasis for us.

DP: Everyone’s talking about Quinn Epperly and his performance against Cornell, but lost in the shuffle was the way your defense shut down Jeff Mathews, recording seven sacks. What kind of impact do you think your pass rush will have against Penn, especially going up against an offensive line that’s been struggling?

BS: I disagree that Penn’s offensive line has been struggling. They have run the ball effectively with a number of different backs against a very demanding schedule, and having watched every offensive play they have run on video, they have done a very good job in pass protection as well.  They continue to be a physical group and finish their blocks.  The added challenge is that both quarterbacks they use are mobile and difficult to contain if we lose a rush lane, and we can’t just “pin our ears back and go” as we did last week against Cornell.

DP: Billy Ragone’s status is up in the air for Saturday. If Ryan Becker starts in place of Ragone, will that affect the way you gameplan for Penn?

BS: They have played two quarterbacks in almost every game I have evaluated the past three plus years, so we will prepare for both as if they are healthy. Like us, having a “righty” and “lefty” does present some complications. The good news is that they do have some similarities in that both have great experience and make excellent decisions as 5^th year seniors, they both are extremely athletic, they both have had success throwing the ball efficiently and making plays out of the pocket when necessary, and Ragone cemented his “historic” status last year as one of the few quarterbacks to win 2 Ivy titles as a starter.

DP: Caraun Reid has been having another strong season on the defensive line. How much of an advantage is it having a returning All-American like him, not just as a player, but as a leader?

BS: Vocal leadership is probably the biggest area that Caraun has improved.  His growth as a leader has been exceptional and valued by the team and coaches.  He is a talented player, but even better person, and that is very meaningful.

DP: The last time your team came to Franklin Field, it suffered a tough 37-9 defeat. Are memories of that game still in your player’s minds?

BS: That is a good question, as I still remember plays we made and didn’t make in some hard fought contests in the late 1980s in our games against Penn. I’m not sure now if our guys remember plays from 3 weeks ago, they move on to the next opponent much quicker. In addition, over half of the guys we will travel this week were in high school or didn’t make that trip in 2011. We will obviously use past games in our preparation, both in previous years and their games against other opponents this year, but we want our guys focused on playing one play at a time in the present once the game starts.

DP:  What does the Penn-Princeton rivalry mean to you and your team?

BS: Penn is the defending Ivy League champion and has won 3 out of the last 4 titles.  In addition, the consistent success the Penn football program has had over 30 plus years is truly remarkable. They are exceptionally well coached, their players play physical football with great effort and intensity, and we have great respect for what they have accomplished over this long period of time.  As importantly, they again are an outstanding team this season and when both teams control their own destiny this late in the race it makes for an exciting game for the coaches, players, alumni and communities.