Nov. 9, 2005
by Nick Nagel
Media 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 in the Patriot League. This week we look at five-time league champions Holy Cross.
The Crusaders of Holy Cross are another one of the Patriot League storied football programs. Entering the 2005 season the Crusaders were ranked 13th in Division I-AA victories with 556. During its 109-year history, Holy Cross has in many impressive games. The first win in program history came in its inaugural season when it defeated Boston College, 6-4. In 1946, Holy Cross played Miami in the Orange Bowl. The Crusaders and Hurricanes were tied with no time remaining when a Miami defender intercepted a Holy Cross and ran it back for a touchdown with no time remaining to give the Crusaders the 13-6 victory.
Holy Cross' storied history also extended into Patriot League play where the Crusaders have won five conference titles (1986-87, 1989-91). In the early years of Patriot League football Holy Cross was dominant. In their first six years in the League the Crusaders went 25-1 in conference play and 60-5-1 overall.
Championships were a plenty for the Crusaders. In its first two seasons in the League Holy Cross went a combined 8-0 in conference play and 21-1 overall. Their only loss in that two-year span came to I-A member Boston College. In the Crusaders run from 1989-91, Holy Cross went a perfect 14-0 in Patriot League play and 30-2 overall. The only losses in 1989 and 1990 came to I-A member Army.
During their run in the Patriot League the Crusaders has had four head coaches. Mark Duffner led the Crusaders into conference play. He was highly successful in his time at Holy Cross amassing a 60-5-1 record, coaching the Crusaders to all five of their League titles and being awarded the Eddie Robinson Award in 1987 as the top coach in Division I-AA. Peter Vaas then took over in 1992 and was head coach until 1995. Dan Allen would then led Holy Cross until 2003. Current head coach Tom Gilmore took over in 2004 and has a 8-12 overall record as head coach.
A look at the record book for Holy Cross will show many names familiar to Patriot League fans. Tom Ciaccio is second all-time in career passing yards with 8,603. In the running game Going into the 2005 season, Holy Cross was picked to finish sixth by the League's coaches and sports information directors receiving 20 points overall. Currently the Crusaders are 5-4 overall and 2-2 in the Patriot League. They return to action Saturday when they host Lafayette for a Patriot League game slated for a 12:30 p.m start.
The Patriot League continues its look at 20 years of football next Wednesday when Georgetown will be featured.
