Aug. 20, 2008
Note - The Patriot League is profiling one student-athlete from each of the seven football-playing institutions ahead of the 2008 season. The interviews were conducted at the 2008 Patriot League Football Media Day on July 31. Stories will be released in alphabetical order by school, and can be found here along with a video clip from a student-athlete from each of the schools.
Colgate's Hennessey Leads Strong Offensive Line
By Matt Dougherty, Patriot League Media Relations Director
Colgate senior running back Jordan Scott is primed to break the Patriot League rushing record in 2008, and figures to have his name in a prominent position in League and national record books while contending for the Walter Payton Award.
While Scott will grab headlines and acclaim in his final season, none of the accomplishments would be possible without an experienced and talented offensive line in front of him, including senior preseason All-American offensive tackle Nick Hennessey.
"It makes everything a lot easier with a group that has played together," said Hennessey, who will be in the starting lineup alongside classmates Steve Jonas (offensive tackle) and Rich Rosabella (offensive guard) for the third consecutive season, with junior offensive guard Zach Posey back for his second year as a starter. "Steve and Rich have been in there for a few years, and three other guys come back after getting playing time. We all know what we are doing with the calls and are on the same page."
Hennessey and Jonas are the leaders of the group, and have already garnered Patriot League and national honors. Jonas earned First-Team All-League and honorable mention All-America status in 2007, while Hennessey was a Second-Team All-League performer last year and was named to the second team on Phil Steele's 2008 College Football Preview in the preseason.
In 2005, Jonas became the first freshman offensive lineman to start for Colgate Head Coach Dick Biddle, while Hennessey did not see game action that year. Still, the season of working with another strong group of offensive lineman helped Hennessey in his development.
"We had a lot of experienced linemen in my first year (including All-Patriot League selections Jeremy Wurst and Jake Sulovski), and they showed the guys now how to get it done and how to prepare each day to be successful."
While his predecessors helped the current offensive line, Hennessey believes Biddle, the all-time Patriot League wins leader in overall and League contests, is the main reason for the sustained success at Colgate.
"I love playing for Coach Biddle," Hennessey said. "His only goal is to win and we work hard to win, and he's been very successful with it."
Winning is what drives Hennessey and his team in 2008, after coming one quarter away from a share of the Patriot League title and possible at-large berth in the FCS playoffs last year. Colgate held a 20-10 lead in the second half of the season finale at Holy Cross, but fell, 27-20, to finish the season at 7-4 overall and 4-2 in the Patriot League.
"We all think last year was disappointing," Hennessey said. "We were right there and got outplayed in the second half at Holy Cross. We had over 50 guys stay here over the summer and really just want to get back out there."
He added, "This year is certainly as good as the League has been since I've been here. Fordham really emerged last year and there are three or four other teams that are still strong."
With 16 starters back, including nine on the offensive side of the ball, Colgate appears to be in as good of a position as any contender to make a run for the League title. And Hennessey believes senior quarterback Alex Relph will do just fine in his second season starting under center.
"Alex is a really smart player, he always makes the right reads and throws and gets out of the pocket at the right time," Hennessey said.
But the bread and butter of the Colgate offense should still focus on the running game, after Hennessey and his teammates put up a League-high 195.6 rushing yards per contest a year ago and Scott led the nation with 170.5 rushing yards per game.
"A back like Jordan makes our job a whole lot easier," Hennessey said. "He's always making the right read and is tenacious when he runs the ball."
Hennessey and his offensive line mates make Scott's job much easier as well, and will look to once again play the unheralded role in a success story in 2008.
