Aug. 31, 2009
Center Valley, Pa. - The early lead in the Patriot League Football race is on the line in Worcester, where Holy Cross hosts Georgetown to open the League schedule. Four other teams open the year with a non-League contest, and regional bragging rights will be at stake with competition against the Northeast Conference and Colonial Athletic Association.
Patriot League Football Release - 8.31.09 
Patriot League Notebook
Patriot League Opener Highlights First Saturday
The 2009 Patriot League Football season begins on Saturday, and there will be no time to settle in for Georgetown and Holy Cross. The Hoyas and Crusaders play the Patriot League opener from Worcester at 1 p.m., with the winner gaining the early advantage in the race for the League title. Holy Cross senior quarterback Dominic Randolph, the Patriot League Preseason Offensive Player of the Year, is within range of adding the all-time League passing yardage and total offense records to his current completions and passing touchdowns marks.
Four other Patriot League teams begin the year on Saturday, with three games against opponents from the Northeast Conference. Lehigh hosts Central Connecticut State at 12:30 p.m., while Colgate hosts Monmouth and Bucknell visits Duquesne in 6 p.m. affairs. Fordham will face off with Rhode Island from the Colonial Athletic Association in a 1 p.m. kickoff.
Holy Cross was picked to finish first in the Patriot League preseason poll by head coaches and football sports information directors. The Crusaders finished with 67 points and seven first-place votes, edging out Colgate with 64 points and six-first place votes. Lafayette and Lehigh tied for third, and were followed in order by Fordham, Bucknell and Georgetown.
Patriot League Preseason Players of the Year
The poll voters also projected preason players of the year, and it was no surprise that reigning two-time Patriot League Offensive Player of the Year Holy Cross quarterback Dominic Randolph was picked to win the honor for a third straight season. Lafayette linebacker Mark Leggiero earned the preseason recognition on the defensive side of the ball.
Randolph has one more season to add to an already decorated career. He was a finalist for the Walter Payton Award (FCS Most Outstanding Player) in each of the past two years, and is on the preseason watch list this season. He completed 340-of-520 passes for 3,838 yards and 34 touchdowns last season, and holds Patriot League records for career completions (821) and passing touchdowns (83). He enters his final year fewer than 150 yards away from both the League's passing yardage and total offense records.
Leggiero helped Lafayette lead the Patriot League in rushing, total and scoring defense. He made 93 tackles and 12.5 tackles for loss to earn First-Team All-Patriot League recognition, and is the League's leading returning tackler. He has been named to the All-Patriot League team in each of the last two seasons.
Holy Cross Starts 2009 Season at No. 25
Holy Cross is not just the favorite in the Patriot League, but the Crusaders are also among the elite teams in the nation entering the 2009 campaign. Holy Cross was ranked No. 25 in the preseason Sports Network FCS rankings, marking the first time it has appeared in the poll since Sept. 16, 2002. The Crusaders also became the first Patriot League team ranked by The Sports Network in the preseason since Lehigh in 2005.
Holy Cross, Colgate Ranked in Preseason Publications
Holy Cross and Colgate have each received spots in the top 25 of various preseason magazines. The Crusaders captured the highest ranking at No. 13 in Phil Steele's 2009 College Football Preview, and were also picked 18th in Athlon and 21st by Lindy's. Defending Patriot League champion Colgate came in at No. 20 in Sporting News and No. 22 in USA Today Sports Weekly.
18 Patriot Leaguers Receive Preseason All-America Honors
A host of Patriot Leaguers have earned at least one All-America mention going into the 2009 campaign, with 18 players named on one list or more. The group includes six players that were placed on a first, second or third team by one or more organizations. Holy Cross quarterback Dominic Randolph and Colgate wide receiver Pat Simonds were second-team selections by both The Sports Network and Phil Steele's 2009 College Football Preview, while Lehigh linebacker Matt Cohen earned the League's lone first-team nod on the Phil Steele's list. Lafayette placekicker Davis Rodriguez was a second-team pick by The Sports Network, while Lehigh offensive lineman Will Rackley and Bucknell wide receiver Shaun Pasternak were each placed on the organization's third team. All of the players except Simonds also received at least one honorable mention nod. Also receiving honorable mention plaudits were: Bucknell RB/RS A.J. Kizekai, Bucknell DB Ahkiel White, Fordham QB John Skelton, Fordham DB James Crockett, Holy Cross OL Aaron Jones, Holy Cross DB Michael Wright, Lafayette OL Brian Wycinowski, Lafayette DL Andrew Poulson, Lafayette LB Mark Leggiero, Lehigh DL B.J. Benning, Lehigh DB John Kennedy and Lehigh DB Jarard Cribbs. Skelton was also chosen as the ninth-rated senior quarterback prospect in the country by Gil Brandt of NFL.com.
Randolph Named to Preseason Walter Payton Award List....
Holy Cross quarterback Dominic Randolph has been selected among the top players in the FCS with a spot on the Walter Payton Award (Most Outstanding FCS Player) watch list. Randolph is on the list for the third year in a row after placing ninth in the voting in 2008 and 12th in 2007. Randolph will hope the third time is a charm in more ways than one, as he also looks to become just the third Patriot Leaguer to earn three major awards in his career. Randolph has won the past two Offensive Player of the Year honors. The only previous players to claim three honors were Lafayette running back Erik Marsh (Offensive Player of the Year 1992/93, Player of the Year 1994) and Colgate quarterback Ryan Vena (Player of the Year 1996, 1997, 1999).
...And Has a Chance to Re-Write the League Record Book Again Dominic Randolph enters the 2009 season as the Patriot League career leader in completions (821) and passing touchdowns (83), and he's on the doorstep of two more marks. Randolph's 9,679 passing yards are 140 away from the Patriot League record, and his 9,984 yards of total offense are 80 off the League mark. Both records are currently held by Lafayette's Marko Glavic (2000-03). Randolph led the Football Championship Subdivision in passing yards, total offense and completions per game in 2008, and enters the 2009 campaign as the nation's active career leader in each category.
Patriot League Teams Hit the Airwaves Patriot League fans won't have to go far to keep track of the action in 2009, with 24 games already scheduled for regional or national television. The highlight comes on Oct. 8, when Colgate visits Princeton in a nationally-televised game on ESPNU. There will be at least two televised games every week during the 2009 season, with Lafayette once again televising each of its contests through the Lafayette Sports Network. Lehigh will have nine televised games, including each home game live on Service Electric 2 Sports. Holy Cross and Colgate each have three home games televised regionally. Every Patriot League team will appear on television at least once during the 2009 season. Lehigh and Colgate will each play a televised game on Saturday.
Home Cooking on Non-League Schedule
Fans will have plenty of opportunities to see their team in action in 2009, as 21 of the 35 non-League contests will be played at the home of the Patriot League school. Lehigh has four of its five non-League contests at home, while every other team except Bucknell plays three non-League games at home. The Patriot League once again plays an all Division I schedule, facing off with five different FCS conferences. The slate includes 18 games against Ivy League foes.
Regional Bragging Rights At Stake
The Patriot League won't begin its yearly series with the Ivy League for two more weeks, but all four of this week's non-League games will still feature a matchup with a team from the Patriot League's footprint. Patriot League teams face three opponents from the Northeast Conference (Central Connecticut State, Monmouth, Duquesne) on Saturday, while also taking on a Colonial Athletic Association opponent as Fordham visits Rhode Island.
Under the Lights
With new lights installed, Colgate will play the first of three home night games on Saturday, marking the first night action at Andy Kerr Stadium. Georgetown will follow with its first night contest at Multi-Sport Field on Sept. 12 against Lafayette. Bucknell, Fordham and Lafayette will also play at least one home game under the lights this season, as Patriot League teams will host 10 night games in September and October.
24 All-League Performers Return in 2009
Randolph headlines a group of 24 All-Patriot League players that return to the field in 2009. The list features 10 First-Team performers, including Lafayette senior linebacker Mark Leggiero, the Preseason Defensive Player of the Year. Every Patriot League team has at least one All-League performer back, with defending champion Colgate leading the way with seven returning All-League players.
Coaching Stability
Each Patriot League head coach enters at least his fourth season at the helm, with Colgate's Dick Biddle the elder statesman of the group in his 14th year in Hamilton. Biddle has already set Patriot League records for overall wins (104), League games coached (78) and League wins (62).
Six Former Patriot Leaguers Participating in NFL Preseason
Three recent graduates join three veterans to give the Patriot League six players currently competing for roster spots in NFL preseason camps. Among the departed stars from 2008, Colgate's Nick Hennessey and Georgetown's Ataefiok Etukeren are with the Buffalo Bills and Holy Cross' Brett McDermott is with the Indianapolis Colts. Former Lafayette star Blake Costanzo is with the Cleveland Browns after spending parts of the past two years on the Bills' active roster, while Bucknell's Sean Conover is with the Detroit Lions after playing the 2006 and 2007 seasons on the Tennessee Titans roster. Georgetown's Alex Buzbee is in his third straight preseason camp with the Washington Redskins.
Keep Track of the Patriot League Through Social Media
In addition to visiting www.patriotleague.org, League fans and followers have plenty of new ways to stay updated and involved during the 2009 season and beyond. The Patriot League has accounts on Facebook and Twitter, and has now started a blog to give more information on the action on the field. All three accounts are accessible through the multimedia link at the right-hand sidebar on the front page of www.patriotleague.org.
This Week in the Patriot League
Georgetown (0-0, 0-0) at No. 25 Holy Cross (0-0, 0-0)
Fitton Field; Worcester, Mass. - Saturday, 1 p.m.
Series Holy Cross, 14-7
Streak Holy Cross, Nine Wins Last Meeting Holy Cross, 38-14 (9.27.08)
Last Georgetown Win 34-16 (9.11.99) Last Five Meetings Holy Cross, 5-0
Georgetown Head Coach Kevin Kelly, Springfield, 1982
Career Record 5-27 (Fourth Season) Overall/Georgetown; 1-16 Patriot League
Holy Cross Head Coach Tom Gilmore, Penn, 1986
Career Record 30-25 (Sixth Season) Overall/Holy Cross; 17-13 Patriot League
Georgetown and Holy Cross open the season with a Patriot League contest at Fitton Field on Saturday afternoon...The Crusaders are trying to maintain their recent success against the Hoyas, going for their 10th straight win in the series...Holy Cross has won all eight Patriot League meetings between the schools...The Crusaders have opened their Patriot League schedule with a win over the Hoyas in each of the past four seasons...Georgetown has not opened League play with a win since 2005, when the Hoyas won at Bucknell in overtime in the season opener...It is the first time that two Patriot League teams face off on the opening weekend since Holy Cross won at Georgetown in 2006...The closest Patriot League matchup between the schools came in 2004, when the Crusaders won, 31-28, in overtime on the final day of the regular season...Holy Cross Head Coach Tom Gilmore is 5-0 against the Hoyas, and 3-0 against counterpart Kevin Kelly...Gilmore is 2-3 in season openers, while Kelly is 1-2...Georgetown's first two games are both against Patriot League opponents, as the Hoyas host Lafayette next week...Holy Cross opens the year with a three-game homestand, facing Sacred Heart and Harvard in non-League games in the next two weeks.
Georgetown The Hoyas bring back 19 starters from last year's team, with eight on offense and nine on defense in addition to a pair on special teams...Nick Parrish (73), Travis Mack (69) and Chris Rau (68) are all back after finishing as the team's top three tacklers last year, but Ataefiok Etukeren (61 TT, 15 TFL) graduated and is now in training camp with the Buffalo Bills...Senior Robert Lane was selected to wear the No. 35 jersey, which has been given for the last seven years to a Georgetown football player who best embodies the spirit of Joe Eacobacci, a former Hoya standout who was killed in the Sept. 11, 2001 World Trade Center terrorist attacks...Georgetown will open its home schedule next week with a Patriot League game against Lafayette...The game will kickoff at 6 p.m. as the first night contest at Multi-Sport Field.
Holy Cross The Crusaders have been picked first in the Patriot League preseason poll after finishing in second place a year ago...Holy Cross is ranked No. 25 in The Sports Network top 25, the first ranking for the Crusaders in the poll since 2002 and the first preseason spot for a Patriot League team since 2005...Holy Cross senior quarterback Dominic Randolph is a preseason All-American and candidate for the Walter Payton Award (Most Outstanding FCS Player) in addition to Patriot League Preseason Offensive Player of the Year...Randolph holds Patriot League records for completions (821) and passing touchdowns (83)...He is within 140 yards from the League's passing yardage record, and just 80 yards away from the total offense mark...Randolph was named a preseason second-team All-American by The Sports Network and Phil Steele's 2009 College Football Preview, while offensive lineman Aaron Jones and defensive back Michael Wright were both honorable mention All-America choices...Holy Cross has six starters back on offense, and nine returning on defense...Randolph, Jones, Wright, offensive lineman Chris Poole and linebackers Marcus Rodriguez and Sean Lamkin each earned All-Patriot League recognition a year ago, with Randolph taking his second straight Offensive Player of the Year Award.
Central Connecticut State (0-0, 0-0 NEC) at Lehigh (0-0, 0-0)
Goodman Stadium; Bethlehem, Pa. - Saturday, 12:30 p.m.
Series Lehigh, 1-0 TV Service Electric 2 Sports (live), Fox College Sports Atlantic (tape-delay)
Streak Lehigh, One Win Last Meeting Lehigh, 58-10 (9.29.2001)
CCSU Head Coach Jeff McInerney, Slippery Rock, 1982
Career Record 21-12 (Fourth Season) Overall/CCSU
Lehigh Head Coach Andy Coen, Gettysburg, 1986
Career Record 16-17 (Fourth Season) Overall/Lehigh; 11-7 Patriot League
Lehigh opens its 2009 season at home against Central Connecticut State, facing the Blue Devils for just the second time in school history...The Mountain Hawks scored an easy 58-10 win in the only previous matchup at Goodman Stadium in 2001...Lehigh is 1-2 in season openers under Head Coach Andy Coen...Patriot League schools are just 1-1 all-time against Central Connecticut State, with the Blue Devils winning the other contest at Colgate in 2005.
Lehigh The Mountain Hawks enter the 2009 season tied for third in the Patriot League preseason poll, coming off a year where they were 5-6 overall and 4-2 in the Patriot League...Lehigh has 10 starters back, with quarterback J.B. Clark as one of four on the offense...Offensive lineman Will Rackley, defensive lineman B.J. Benning, linebacker Matt Cohen, and defensive back Jarard Cribbs each earned All-Patriot League honors a year ago...Each of the four players also were named to a preseason All-America list, along with defensive back John Kennedy...Cohen was a first-team preseason All-America pick by Phil Steele's 2009 College Football Preview, while Rackley was a third-team choice by The Sports Network...Lehigh plays the first of seven home games, including a four-game homestand from Sept. 26-Oct. 17...The Mountain Hawks open at home for the seventh straight year...They visit No. 5/5 Villanova next week.
Fordham (0-0, 0-0) at Rhode Island (0-0, 0-0 CAA)
Meade Stadium, Kingston, R.I. - Saturday, 1 p.m.
Series Fordham, 5-3
Streak Fordham, Two Wins Last Meeting Fordham, 16-0 (9.7.2008)
Last Rhode Island Win 34-20 (9.3.2005) Last Five Meetings Fordham, 3-2
Fordham Head Coach Tom Masella, Wagner, 1981
Career Record 33-44 (Eighth Season) Overall/16-18 (Fourth Season) at Fordham; 7-11 PL
Rhode Island Head Coach Joe Trainer, Dickinson, 1990
Career Record 13-20 (Fourth Season) Overall/0-0 (First Season) at Rhode Island
Fordham will try to open its season with a win over Rhode Island for the third straight year...Fordham won, 16-0, at home last year and earned a 27-23 victory at Rhode Island to begin the 2007 campaign...It is the fifth time in the last six years that the teams have faced off in Fordham's season opener...Joe Trainer is in his first game as Rhode Island head coach...Patriot League teams are 4-2 all-time against Rhode Island, with Fordham holding a 3-2 mark as a League member against the Rams...Fordham is 2-1 in season openers under Head Coach Tom Masella.
Fordham The Rams are fifth in the Patriot League presesaon poll after going 5-6 overall and 1-5 in the League a year ago...Fordham has 16 starters back overall, including eight on offense and seven on defense...Senior quarterback John Skelton and defensive back James Crockett were both named honorable mention preseason All-Americans...Crockett was also an All-Patriot League player a year ago...Skelton is in the top 15 in Patriot League annals in passing yards, completions, attempts and total offense...Running back Xavier Martin led the Patriot League with 1,237 yards last season...The Rams have an open date next week before beginning their home schedule against Columbia on Sept. 19.
Monmouth (0-0, 0-0 NEC) at Colgate (0-0, 0-0)
Andy Kerr Stadium; Hamilton, N.Y. - Saturday, 6 p.m.
Series Monmouth, 1-0 TV Time Warner Sports Central New York
Streak Monmouth, One Win Last Meeting Monmouth, 17-12 (9.23.2006)
Monmouth Head Coach Kevin Callahan, Rochester, 1977
Career Record 96-66 (17th Season) Overall/Monmouth
Colgate Head Coach Dick Biddle, Duke, 1971
Career Record 104-49 (14th Season) Overall/Colgate; 62-16 Patriot League
Colgate plays its first-ever nighttime home game at Andy Kerr Stadium on Saturday against Monmouth...The Raiders are facing Monmouth for just the second time in school history, and trying to earn payback for a 17-12 loss at home in 2006...The head coaches in the contest have combined for 200 wins, with 104 for Colgate's Dick Biddle and 96 for Monmouth's Kevin Callahan....Patriot League teams have an 8-5 all-time record against Monmouth, with the last meeting coming when the Raiders fell in 2006...Biddle has a 3-10 record in season openers.
Colgate The defending champion Raiders were picked to finish second in the Patriot League preseason poll, just three points behind first-place Holy Cross...Colgate has won eight consecutive regular-season games entering the 2009 campaign....The Raiders have 12 starters returning, with five on offense and seven on defense...Seven returning players earned All-Patriot League honors in 2008, with wide receiver Pat Simonds, running back Nate Eachus and defensive back Wayne Moten on the first team and quarterback Greg Sullivan, defensive linemen Austin Douglas and Paul Mancuso and linebacker Greg Hadley on the second team...Simonds was also named a second-team preseason All-American by Phil Steele's 2009 College Football Preview and The Sports Network...Colgate was picked as a top 25 team by USA Today Sports Weekly and The Sporting News, and finished just outside the rankings in the preseason Sports Network top 25...Colgate opens the season with four of its first five games at home, with 6 p.m. start times for next week's matchup with Stony Brook and a Sept. 26 game with Fordham.
Bucknell (0-0, 0-0) at Duquesne (0-0, 0-0 NEC)
Arthur J. Rooney Field; Pittsburgh, Pa. - Saturday, 6 p.m.
Series Bucknell, 9-3
Streak Bucknell, Five Wins Last Meeting Bucknell, 48-42 (9.6.2008)
Last Duquesne Win 35-14 (9.7.2002) Last Five Meetings Bucknell, 5-0
Bucknell Head Coach Tim Landis, Randolph-Macon, 1986
Career Record 81-91-1 (17th Season) Overall/28-39 (Seventh Season) at Bucknell; 14-23 Patriot League
Duquesne Head Coach Jerry Schmitt, Westminster, 1983
Career Record 51-38 (10th Season) Overall/23-17 (Fifth Season) at Duquesne
Bucknell tries to open its season with a win over Duquesne for the fourth year in a row...Bucknell won at home, 48-42, to begin the 2008 season, and also won 28-19 at Duquesne in the 2007 season opener and 31-28 in overtime at home in 2006...Bucknell has scored at least 28 points against the Dukes in each of its five consecutive wins in the series...Bucknell Head Coach Tim Landis is 4-2 in season openers with the Bison, with each of the wins coming against Duquesne...Patriot League teams have an 11-8 all-time mark against Duquesne.
Bucknell The Bison were picked sixth in the Patriot League preseason poll, but do have nine starters back on offense and eight on defense...Included in the offensive returnees are wide receiver Shaun Pasternak and running back/return specialist A.J. Kizekai, who each earned preseason All-America honors and are returning All-Patriot League performers...Defensive back Ahkiel White also received a preseason All-America honorable mention nod...The Bison open their home schedule against Robert Morris next week...Bucknell started the 2008 season with a 2-0 mark against the same pair of opponents.
Team Notebook
Lafayette The Leopards are idle for the first week of the season, and begin their 2009 campaign with a Patriot League game on the road at Georgetown next Saturday...Lafayette had a share of third place in the Patriot League preseason poll...The Leopards have 12 returning starters, with six on both offense and defense...Patriot League Preseason Defensive Player of the Year Mark Leggiero is part of that group at linebacker...Leggiero, placekicker Davis Rodriguez, defensive lineman Andrew Poulson and offensive lineman Brian Wycinowski were all named preseason All-Americans...Leggiero and Rodriguez were also named All-Patriot League players last year, along with offensive lineman Ryan Hart-Predmore...The Leopards open their home schedule on Sept. 19 against Liberty.
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