2011 Season Retrospective

The 2011 Hobart Statesmen football team came into this fall with a lot of offseason baggage but went quietly about their work in getting back on top of the Liberty League and returning to the NCAA playoffs for the first time since 2008.

2011 really seemed like a “tale of two seasons” in that the Statesmen completely blew away their competition by an average score of 39-13 in their first five games. Then, in the snow and cold of the WPI game, Hobart’s offense seemed to lose its spark, getting shut out in the second half and scoring no more than 28 points in their last two regular season games. Even the Statesmen’s previously lock-down defense gave up a season high 29 points in their only losing effort to RPI on Senior Day. Although the Statesmen would recover to capture a share of the LL title and the automatic qualifying bid to the NCAA’s (due to a 41-24 win over Union on 10/8) the following week against Rochester, Hobart would lose their star QB Nick Strang to a concussion, their top WR Garth Muratori to a PCL injury and their punter and third WR Yosh Karbonwiczak to an ankle sprain all in the same game. SR LB Reggie Robinson also suffered a concussion, but obviously a milder one, as he was able to play in the playoffs.

Still this Hobart team, and particularily the defense, came back with a chip on their shoulder, ultimately proving they were one of the top teams in the country by taking #7 Wesley College to the brink, before falling 35-28 on the road in the first round of the playoffs.  While the Wolverines exploited the Statesmen's one true achilles heel (i.e., struggle to defend the deep ball when a team has more than one receiving threat), Hobart forced multiple turnovers and saw back up JR QB Kelly Olney rise to the occasion passing for over 200 yards against one of the best defenses in Division III.

Although 7-2 is somewhat a disappointing finish given the talent level of this team, it does signify a return to form for a Statesmen program that went to the playoffs six times in eight seasons during the last decade.  Hobart graduates several key contributors including SR DB Drake Woodard, Robinson, Muratori and five SR OL including Anthony Coletta, Kelvin Cruz, Jarrid Blades, Kyle Sandy and Brendan Hatlee but several underclassmen saw playing time on both sides of the ball.
 
One nice change in 2012 is the return of a 10 game regular season schedule.  Springfield College joins the LL as an associate member and new OOC games with Utica and Geneva College have been added to Hobart's slate.
 
Thanks to all who've followed the blog this season (up to 9,755 views and counting since Sept 2009).  As always I will be on the look out for new recruits over the offseason and other Statesmen-related news.

Happy Thanksgiving!