Friday, May 20, 2016

Coach Cragg Announces 2016 Captains, Spring Ball and SAA Drive Updates

Hobart College Statesmen HC Mike Cragg sent out his monthly update to alumni, fans and friends of the Statesmen Football family earlier today.

The biggest news was the announcement of these six student athletes being named Captains for the upcoming 2016 season:


A solid mix of offensive and defensive stalwarts, each Captain is a rising SR, save for JR QB Shane Sweeney. Cragg's update included the following overview of these great Statesmen by saying:

"Patrick O’Connell – Senior offensive lineman from Walkersville, Md. Pat is a three-year letterman and two-time All-Liberty League selection. An economics major, he is also a CoSIDA Academic All-District selection.


Nick Testani – Senior offensive lineman from Pittsford, N.Y. Nick is a three-year letterman and a first team All-Liberty League selection in 2015. He is an international studies major and a two-time member of the Liberty League All-Academic Team.


Shane Sweeney – Junior quarterback from Geneva, N.Y. Shane led the Liberty League in passing efficiency (148.3) and set a Hobart single game record with six touchdown passes against Rochester during the last week of the season. He is an American studies major and psychology minor.


Matt Cragg – Senior free safety from Corry, Pa. Matt is a three-year letterman and two-year starter. He is the quarterback of our defense and a key contributor on special teams.


James Hedger – Senior defensive end from Rochester, N.Y. He is a three-year letterman and a two-year starter. James had his best year as a Statesman in 2015 with 2.5 sacks and 3.5 TFL. He is a tireless worker who constantly motivates those around him.


Marcus Jemison – Senior outside linebacker from Nyack, N.Y. Marcus is a two-time D3football.com All-East selection and a two-time first team All-Liberty League selection. He is a dynamic playmaker who contributes in all aspects of the game. He performed extremely well in his junior combine for several professional scouts this spring."

Coach also recapped the Spring game which ended in a 21-21 tie and was ultimately decided by a game of paintball (the defense won).

In other news, Hobart Football hopes you will help them win the "Day of Donors" on Monday, May 23. You can learn about this contest, hosted by the HWS Athletic Departments and Associations, by clicking this link. 

The key to winning the contest isn't the amount of money raised but the number of donors so make sure you call and help out!

Thanks again for reading and go 'Bart!

Monday, May 16, 2016

Yoder and Hornets Creating a Buzz for 2017

Yesterday marked the 191st commencement ceremony for Hobart College (the 105th for our WS sisters) and a great class of Statesmen (and Herons) earned their degrees and head out into the "real world." Given the conclusion of the 2015-16 academic (and athletic) calendar, it's time to officially close the books on this offseason and start looking to the fall and the upcoming preseason.

Now although I did review the 2016 schedule earlier in the offseason, a look ahead pointed out an interesting development. According to HWSAthletics.com it would appear as though for alum and former DC Scott Yoder '01 will be returning to Geneva with his Shenandoah Hornets to take on Hobart in 2017 (note to HWSSID - it's Doah, not Dowa). The game is slated to be on Saturday night, September 16th or Week 3 of the 2017 season.

Statesmen fans will recall that Yoder punched his ticket to the HC job at SU after leading one of the best defensive units in all of D3FB to the Elite 8 as part of the 2012 team's historic 12-1 season. Since moving himself and his family down to Winchester, VA in 2013, Coach Yoder has earned an 12-18 record as he rebuilds the Hornets' program. He's taken his lumps in the Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC), but has successfully upset some of the traditional power teams like Bridgewater and Washington & Lee in prior seasons.

Now while this is a great add to the 2017 schedule, it doesn't absolve the issue facing the Statesmen and fellow Liberty League teams after this fall. As previously reported here and elsewhere, programs like WPI, Springfield and the USMMA are leaving the LL after this season. Although Ithaca will help the LL once they join officially in 2017, the league will still need at least one new member to hang onto the NCAA AQ after the 2018 season.

Although one program was supposedly ready to join earlier this year, no announcement was ever made, either because the "deal fell through" or it's simply premature given the extended time table. Either way, Hobart and all the LL teams will lose three games in 2017 so it's good to see that friends like Coach Yoder have been able to help Hobart keep schedules closer to 10 games (I hope we never see a repeat of 2011 / the 8 game season) in future seasons.

Overall this is a positive development for both squads in that it allows a favorite Statesman to come home and it'll provide Hobart a long, playoff style road trip into relatively new territory down into Southern Northern VA in 2018.

That's all the news I have for now. Congratulations to the Classes of 2016 and go 'Bart!

Wednesday, May 4, 2016

Four More New Recruits Sign With Statesmen

Hobart College Football OC Jon Drach took to social media once again to welcome another group of strong student athletes to the Statesmen program and family.

These players included:


Please join me in welcoming these future Statesmen! Thanks for reading and go 'Bart!