July 31, 2008
2008 Patriot League Football Media Day Photo Gallery
Bethlehem, Pa. - Defending Patriot League champion Fordham has been picked to repeat its title in 2008 in a poll of the League's head coaches and sports information directors, it was announced Thursday at Patriot League Football Media Day at Green Pond Country Club.
Fordham earned a first-place selection on nine of the 14 ballots, and received 68 points overall. Holy Cross claimed four first-place votes and 56 overall points to claim the second position, followed by Colgate with the remaining first-place vote and 53 points in third place. Lafayette placed fourth with 48 points, with Lehigh (35), Bucknell (18) and Georgetown (16) rounding out the preseason poll.
The poll voters also predicted a repeat performance for the Patriot League Offensive and Defensive Player of the Year honors, as the 2007 winners received the preseason recognition. Holy Cross senior quarterback Dominic Randolph was selected as Patriot League Preseason Offensive Player of the Year, while Lafayette senior linebacker Andy Romans was picked as the League's Preseason Defensive Player of the Year.
Fordham completed an outstanding turnaround season in 2007, improving from 1-5 in Patriot League play the year before to a 5-1 finish and the first outright Patriot League title in school history to earn the League's berth in the NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision postseason. The Rams also became the first squad to earn sole possession of the League crown since 2003, while finishing with an 8-4 overall record. Fordham won its first five Patriot League games and recorded a six-game winning streak that concluded with a 24-21 victory over Holy Cross on Nov. 3 that wrapped up the League's postseason berth. Fordham Head Coach Tom Masella has an 11-12 mark in two seasons with the Rams, and is 6-6 in Patriot League play.
The Rams bring back eight starters on each side of the ball, and have 57 letterwinners returning. Quarterback John Skelton, running back Xavier Martin and wide receiver Asa Lucas lead an offense that also has four starters back on the line, while James Crockett, Matt Loucks and Isiejah Allen are the top returnees on defense.
Holy Cross, Colgate and Lafayette take the next three spots in the poll after finishing in a three-way tie for second place at 4-2 in the Patriot League in 2007, and all finishing at 7-4 overall.
The Crusaders have Randolph back at the helm of an offense that returns eight starters after leading the Patriot League in passing, scoring and total offense in 2007. Four starters are back on the offensive line, along with running back Terrance Gass and wide receivers Jon Brock and Brett McDermott. The Crusader defense has six starters back in the fold, including linebackers Marcus Rodriguez and Ryan Stewart. Holy Cross is 23-21 overall and 12-12 in Patriot League play in Head Coach Tom Gilmore's four campaigns, and has finished 4-2 in League action in each of the last two seasons.
Colgate matches Fordham with a League-high 16 starters returning, including nine on the offensive side of the ball. One of those is running back Jordan Scott, who enters the 2008 season needing 362 yards to become the Patriot League's all-time leading rusher. Scott will get help from the return of four starters on the offensive line, as well as quarterback Alex Relph. Linebackers Ted Marshall and Greg Hadley are among seven returning starters on defense. Colgate Head Coach Dick Biddle enters his 13th season at the helm with records of 57-16 in Patriot League action and 95-46 overall.
Lafayette saw its string of three consecutive Patriot League titles come to an end in 2007, but was still able to post its fourth consecutive winning record in League play for Head Coach Frank Tavani, who is 45-46 overall and 28-23 in League action during his eight seasons in Easton. The Leopards enter the 2008 season with 13 starters returning, including wide receiver Shaun Adair and quarterback Rob Curley on offense and Romans and fellow linebacker Mark Leggiero on defense. The Leopards led the Patriot League in rushing, passing, scoring and total defense in 2007, finishing first nationally with 260.9 yards allowed per game.
Lehigh finished 5-6 overall and 2-4 in the Patriot League in 2007, and will try to rebound from its first losing marks since 1997 with 13 starters returning. Running back Jaren Walker and wide receivers Sekou Yansane and Mike Fitzgerald are part of an offense with eight starters back, while defensive lineman Brian Jackson and linebacker Tim Diamond headline the defense. Lehigh Head Coach Andy Coen is 11-11 overall and 7-5 in the Patriot League in his first two seasons.
Bucknell and Georgetown round out the poll after finishing in a tie for sixth place in the League standings with 1-5 marks a year ago. Bucknell finished 3-8 overall, but has 14 starters back including eight on the defensive side of the ball. Quarterback Marcello Trigg and running back A.J. Kizekai are among the six returning starters on offense, while linebacker Todd Manjuck and safety Brigham Farrand lead the defense. Bucknell Head Coach Tim Landis enters his sixth season in Lewisburg with records of 23-33 overall and 12-19 in the Patriot League.
Georgetown finished with a 1-10 record in 2007, but returns 15 starters in 2008. Running back Charlie Houghton and four offensive linemen are among the eight returning starters on offense, while defensive back Chris Rau is part of the group of seven on defense. Georgetown Head Coach Kevin Kelly is 3-19 overall and 1-11 in League action in his first two years.
Randolph earns the Preseason Offensive Player of the Year honor after finishing the 2007 season by completing 297-of-482 passes for 3,604 yards with 30 touchdown passes and eight interceptions. His 34 touchdowns responsible for (four rushing) tied a League record, and Randolph was named as a candidate for the Walter Payton Award (FCS Most Outstanding Player) in addition to his Patriot League Offensive Player of the Year and First-Team All-League recognition. He enters the 2008 season as the active FCS and all-time Patriot League leader with 292 passing yards per game.
Romans led a Lafayette defense that finished in the top 10 nationally in scoring, rushing and total defense. He received First-Team All-Patriot League honors in addition to Defensive Player of the Year recognition after recording 113 tackles, 12.5 tackles for loss, three sacks, three forced fumbles and three fumble recoveries in 2007.
Colgate will be the first Patriot League team to kick off the season, as the Raiders will play a 12-game schedule that starts at Stony Brook on Aug. 30. The entire League is in action on Sept. 6, which includes home openers for Holy Cross (Massachusetts), Lehigh (Drake), Fordham (Rhode Island) and Bucknell (Duquesne). Georgetown kicks off its season at Howard, while Lafayette opens up at Marist. The Hoyas and Leopards will face off in the League opener the next week, as they play under the lights in Easton at 6 p.m. on Sept. 13.
Patriot League Preseason Poll Results
1. Fordham (9) 68
2. Holy Cross (4) 56
3. Colgate (1) 53
4. Lafayette 48
5. Lehigh 35
6. Bucknell 18
7. Georgetown 16
Patriot League Preseason Award Winners
Offensive Player of the Year: Dominic Randolph, QB, Holy Cross (Sr., 6'3, 223, Amelia, Ohio/St. Xavier)
Defensive Player of the Year: Andy Romans, LB, Lafayette (Sr., 5'11, 215, Allendale, N.J./St. Joseph Regional)
