TODAY Hosts Row Against Princeton University Crew

The TODAY Show hosts predicted they would be the greatest rowers to have never held an oar.

The Princeton University Crew team members would be “dazzled,” by the Rainbow Warriors, Al Roker predicted.

Matt Lauer looked out over Lake Carnegie and wasn’t so sure.

“I generally prefer water that is chlorinated and bright blue,” he said.

Thursday’s “TODAY Takes On” segment, filmed in Princeton on April 26, featured hosts Lauer, Roker, Ann Curry and Natalie Morales as they took on a rowing challenge against members of Princeton University Crew.

The Princeton rowers, equipped with core balance, strength and cardiovascular endurance, towered over their competition.

The TV hosts began to reel off their own ailments: two shoulder surgeries, bad knees, an elbow surgery, a back injury from a helicopter crash, wrist surgery and a possible kidney stone.

Princeton sophomore and heavyweight crew member Jason Kopelman and senior Kelly Pierce, a member of the Tigers open women's crew team, helped train the novice rowers, using jumping jacks and on the rowing

“I’m having a stroke,” Roker said.

Back on the dock, the Princeton team tied scarves over their eyes as blindfolds and tied one hand behind their backs.

“There is no way they can win the race, but it will be funny to see what happens when they try,” Kopelman said.

The TODAY Show team got the benefit of four Princeton rowers- and won.

“We beat a team that was blindfolded and had one arm tied behind their back- YEAH!” Roker said.

But once the team lost the help of the University rowers  and had to fend for themselves, things changed. The Princeton students handily beat their opponents, even with the handicap.

The hosts accepted their defeat with grace and took away an important lesson.

“It seems to me the best part of this sport might be the teamwork, the people in the boat work in harmony,” Curry said.

To watch the watch the race, click here.