July 28, 2008
Center Valley, Pa. - Defending Patriot League champion Fordham received three top 25 spots and Colgate picked up the highest position for a Patriot League team at No. 20 in Football Championship Subdivision rankings released in preseason magazines and websites.
Fordham was rated as high as No. 21 by USA Today, and also came in at No. 23 in the Any Given Saturday fan poll and No. 25 in The Sporting News. The Rams won the 2007 Patriot League title after finishing 5-1 in League action, and recorded an 8-4 overall record. They have 16 starters returning, with eight back on both offense and defense. Junior quarterback John Skelton is one of six returnees that earned All-Patriot League honors in 2007.
Colgate picked up the No. 20 ranking in Phil Steele's 2008 College Football Preview. The Raiders finished 7-4 overall a year ago, and came in a three-way tie for second place with a 4-2 Patriot League record. Nine starters return on offense while seven are back on defense, with senior running back Jordan Scott among four players that received All-Patriot League recognition last season.
The preseason prognosticators also differ on the eventual 2008 Patriot League champion. The Sporting News picked Fordham to repeat, while Phil Steele's went with Colgate and Lindy's selected Holy Cross.
The two major FCS polls, The Sports Network and the FCS Coaches Poll, will be released in August.
The 2008 Patriot League football season begins on August 30 when Colgate travels to Stony Brook, with all seven teams in action the next weekend on Sept. 6. The first League game occurs on Sept. 13, with Georgetown visiting Lafayette.
Patriot League Football Media Day is set for Thursday, when the League's preseason poll and preseason offensive and defensive player of the year honors will be announced.
