Cornell is coming off a rough season, finishing with a 1-9 record in 2014, including a measly 1-6 against conference opponents. However, junior wide receiver Collin Shaw believes that the team’s hard work this offseason could pay off on the field and result in a big turnaround for the program.
“I expect the team to prove on the field what we have done all offseason, which is work extremely hard and take advantage of our opportunities,” Shaw said.
Taking advantage of their opportunities was something the Big Red struggled to do last year due to an extremely inexperienced squad. This factor convinced the Ivy League to rank the Cornell football team as the worst in the conference, yet Shaw’s hopes remain high for this year’s team. “The expectations are winning and dominating other teams that we face,” stated Shaw.
“The team goal is and always has been to win an Ivy League Championship and that is our expectation. Anything less is unacceptable.”
Shaw has continued to dedicate himself both on and off the field to help his team be successful this upcoming season. “I have worked on my route running, ball drills, and overall craft,” he explained.
Heading into the 2015 season, Shaw only has one goal: win an Ivy League title. “There are no certain offensive records I want to beat, I just want to do whatever it takes to beat the opposing team,” he said.
Being pre-ranked as the worst team in the Ivy League has provided the team with an extra spark to prove the voters wrong. “Keeping that thought in the back of my mind provides the team with a lot of motivation. We are going to do things a lot differently and our team has matured immensely,” remarked Shaw.
It has also put a hunger in Coach Archer’s belly. According to Shaw, “Coach Archer is just ready to play football and prove some people wrong, along with the rest of the team. Archer has preached that we should take our record very personally and attack each day with a mindset to become a better version of ourselves everyday in the classroom, weight room, and on the field.”
One of the reasons they struggled to take advantage of the opportunities given to them last fall was due to a young offensive line, but there were several improvements made during the offseason.
“The once young offensive line we had has matured, and they have been taking care off business this offseason, so I don’t worry about them,” Shaw said. “The big fellas have made serious gains in the weight room and on the field. Our offense will look polar opposite compared to last year.”
This could be Cornell’s year for success, as Shaw feels “an excitement for this upcoming season because almost all of the starters are back and ready to take full advantage of the season.”
He was Cornell’s most lethal offensive weapon last year, finishing the season with 520 yards and four touchdowns, but Shaw realizes in order for the entire team to be successful, everyone will have to contribute.
“I don’t have a plan to produce the most, I have a plan to win no matter who gets the ball or who scores,” he said.
Could the team win an Ivy League Championship? Shaw sure thinks so. “We are ready, but we have to take care of business on Saturdays and two Fridays.”
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