I remember listening to then SR RPI QB Mike Hermann and missed FGs sink the Statesmen in 2011. I was in Denver, CO that weekend and sat in shock as Hobart saw a potential undefeated season taken down by an undermanned but determined foe.
The only positive of that 29-28 loss was it became the launch pad for Hobart's next three seasons as it served as a reminder of what could have been, and the Statesmen ended up taking care of business and went on multiple Liberty League title and NCAA playoff runs (well, maybe not in 2013 but the undefeated regular season was legit). That Hobart squad who lost that heartbreaking one point game they should have won against RPI proved themselves against #3 Wesley in a 35-28 battle and in 2012 took off and never looked back.
Until today.
RPI (6-2, 4-1) finally closed the chapter on Hobart's epic run with another one point killer of a game - a 21-20 decision - in Geneva today. The loss drops the Statesmen to 4-3 overall and 2-2 in the LL, basically ending any and all chances of a fifth straight NCAA berth barring extreme circumstances. Hobart's home regular season home win streak ended and so was their one of about eight D3FB programs nationally that had advanced to the NCAA tournament streak dating back to 2011.
While an end of the road in some ways, you can look at it as a crossroads also. Looking back to the last decade, the Statesmen had a lot of success between the 2004-08 seasons before encountering some struggles in 2009-10. The question now is, can Hobart rally and finish this year and/or find a way to regroup after hitting a low they haven't experienced since the 09-10 seasons? I think there's enough talent and character to do so, but it'll require some hard work and tough decisions going forward.
Today's game story was basically both squads would score on their opening possessions but gave way to a defensive struggle. The Statesmen actually out gained RPI overall but struggled on key downs and had some questionable play calls on fourth down especially. A lot of dropped passes and bounces just didn't go Hobart's way which kind of has been the main difference this season and the prior three.
In the end it was RPI's making just enough plays (and getting lucky on a few calls - it's amazing how in both football and lacrosse the Statesmen never have and had home field advantage at the Boz in the officiating department) to hang onto the win.
The Statesmen will need to regroup against a win-less Union College squad that squandered a big lead against Rochester today and is likely going to lose their long time HC John Audino after this season.
Halloween will be a tough game between two programs that are not used to the directions they've headed.
More on this one in the next day or so....
Just a few comments on the season and the game. This team was singled out for something that had nothing to do with and told they were not to celebrate after the games! Keep politics out of the locker room. The coaching staff trying to fix something that wasn't broken. Abandoning the running game and emphasizing the passing game with new inexperienced quarterbacks! This is basically the reason this season hasn't been successful. As for the game against RPI I was shocked with a 15 to 20 mile an hour wind at our backs the ball on our 36 yard line 4th and six they let the clock run out and went for it into the wind giving them excellent field position. The game at the time was 14--14 any pop warner coach would have punted the ball with the wind at our backs, common football sense. The team left everything out on the field the coaches however forgot what made Hobart football so successful...
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