Oct. 26, 2005

by Nick Nagel
Meida Relations Assistant

In honor of 20 years of Patriot League football, the Patriot League will profile the seven current members of the League. Bucknell, Colgate, Holy Cross, Lafayette and Lehigh have played in all 20 seasons, while Fordham has played 16 seasons and Georgetown has participated in five campaigns This week we look at the Raiders of Colgate.

Colgate is another one of the Patriot League's storied football programs. They were ranked 12th all-time in wins at the NCAA Division I-AA level entering the 2005 season with 559. During its 110-year history, Colgate has registered many landmark victories. Its most famous came in their magical 2003 campaign, which saw Colgate advanced to the NCAA Division I-AA national championship game, the only Patriot League team to ever do so.

During its time in the Patriot League, the Raiders have won four conference titles (1997, 1999, 2002, 2003). Its first title in 1997 saw Colgate go a perfect 6-0 in League play and 7-5 overall. The Raiders then went on to the I-AA playoffs where they fell to a powerful Villanova team, 49-28. Colgate would return to the playoffs in 1999 after winning the Patriot League title with a 5-1 conference mark and 10-2 overall. That year the Raiders played I-AA power Illinois State, and fell, 56-13. Colgate and Fordham were co-champions in 2002,and the Rams receivedthe automatic bid the NCAA playoffs.

The Raiders erased all memories of past performances in the 2003 season. The magical season saw Colgate go 15-1 overall and 7-0 in a strong Patriot League. The 15 wins set a Patriot League record. After running through its regular season schedule undefeated, Colgate opened the 2003 I-AA playoffs at home against Massachusetts. Colgate not only overcame the Minutemen, but also a strong snow storm that swept through Hamilton, to prevail 19-7. The win earned them another home game against Western Illinois, which Colgate won, (28-27). The next game would come on the road in the I-AA semifinals at Florida Atlantic. Colgate triumped 36-24 before falling in the national championship to Delaware.

During its run in the Patriot League, Colgate has had four head coaches. Fred Dunlap led the Raiders into conference play coaching from 1976-87. He amassed a 77-49-3 record while in Hamilton. Mike Foley guided Colgate from 1988-92. Ed Sweeney coached from 1993-95 before current head coach Dick Biddle took over in 1996. Biddle has led the Raiders to all four of its Patriot League championships and going into the 2005 season owned 76-31 career record.

A look at the record book for Colgate will show many names familiar to Patriot League fans. Dave Goodwin, holds the single season passing yards record, throwing for 3,352 yards in 1990. Jamaal Branch set the Patriot League and Raiders' single-season mark for rushing yards with 2,326 in 2003. Corey Hill recorded the most receiving yards in a single season with 1,287 in 1998. Defensively Adam Sofran is fourth all-time in single season tackles (151) in 1996. Running backs Branch (2002) and Kenny Gamble (1987) are the only two Patriot League student-athletes to win the Walter Payton Award as the top offensive player in I-AA football.

Going into the 2005 season, Colgate was picked to finish third by the League's coaches and sports information directors, receiving one first-place vote and 49 points overall. Currently the Raiders are 5-2, 2-0 in the Patriot League. They return to action Saturday when they host Lehigh for a Patriot League game slated for 1 p.m start. The game will be shown on Time Warner, WFMZ, and FCS-Service Electric. The Patriot League continues its look at 20 years of football next Wednesday when Bucknell will be featured.

Oct. 19 Feature: Lehigh University Mountain Hawks

Oct. 12 Feature: Fordham University Rams

Oct. 5 Feature: Lafayette College Leopards