Sweet 16 (Sort Of)

Yesterday the Hobart College Football program received two #16 rankings in the annual D3football.com and Sporting News Top 25 preseason polls. A link to the HWS SID announcement of this news can be found here.

My initial reaction to this ranking was mostly positive. I had been texting with my "In The HuddLLe" co-host, friend and Top 25 pollster Frank Rossi on Monday and we both predicted the Statesmen would end up in the 15-17 range. What's interesting to note is that after the 12-1 run and Elite 8 appearance in the 2012 season Hobart came into the 2013 preseason ranked 7th in the D3football.com poll.

The difference with 2015 is probably due to the fact that pollsters noted the following:

- Both offensive and defensive coordinators moving on;
- Losses to graduation of a large number of key players including two all time D3FB greats in Ali Marpet and Tyre Coleman;
- Only four returning offensive starters (albeit several reserves had significant PT throughout 2014);
- Only four home games; and
- Anything past the Top 6 or 7 is usually a total crap shoot (thus regional and other biases come into play causing broad ranges of where teams can sit and how the averages / points work out)

While the above is certainly plausible, it's mostly speculation on my part. The fact that Saint Lawrence returns a lot of the same players from the 2014 team that almost took the Liberty League (LL) crown away from the Statesmen is also in the back of the pollsters minds too. What they probably forget is that SLU game had five turnovers (not all forced) which certainly kept the Saints in the game. Without a couple of those, Hobart still wins that game, but likely by 7-14+ points.

Regardless, the ranking in and of itself is a sign of respect that Statesmen program has solidified itself in the upper echelon of D3FB. Only one other East Region team made it in the Top 25 above Hobart (#5 Wesley is typically regarded as a "South Region" team by the NCAA even though DE isn't exactly VA) which is saying something. That said it's also a sign of some skepticism on another Elite 8 (or better) run which I'm sure the team will use to motivate themselves in the upcoming season.

Either way, the bull's eye is once again on Hobart as four time defending LL champions. Preseason camp is about 30 days away now so the summer will once again give way to the weight of great hopes and expectations by fans, alums, players and coaches soon enough.

More recruiting news coming soon, thanks for reading and go 'Bart!