It's a full 10-game slate with some old and new out-of-conference foes, as well as the usual Liberty League ones - with one new addition.
Let's break it down:
Week 1 - 9/7/19 - Home and season opener vs. Brockport
The Golden Eagles (11-1) were upset in the NCAA playoffs by LL Champions RPI (10-2) and will lose a huge amount of it's top-ranked defensive players to graduation. SR QB Joe Germiniero is back however, so this will be a highly-anticipated game for both teams. Brockport will likely be ranked in most preseason Top 25 polls.
Week 2 - 9/14/19 @ SUNY-Morrisville
The Mustangs finished with a respectable 6-5 season, including a 4-3 mark in the always competitive Empire 8. They earned an ECAC bowl berth against Grove City of the Presidents Athletic Conference (PAC), but lost in a 56-48 shootout.
Week 3 - 9/21/19 vs. Rowan
So I may have had a hand in this game getting on the schedule after I interviewed Rowan HC Jay Accorsi on ITH and texted HC Kevin DeWall '00 about Rowan's open dates directly thereafter. To be fair, the NJAC lost two teams (Frostburg to D2 and Southern VA to the ODAC), so this could have happened regardless. Even though the Profs had an up and down year finishing 6-4, they are a huge add to the 2019 Hobart schedule. This will be a very closely watched East Region OOC battle.
Week 4 - 9/28/19 - Homecoming & Family Weekend vs. Montclair State
One of the surprise teams of 2018, the Red Hawks were 10 points away from being undefeated NJAC Champions. They almost cracked the NCAA bracket (and probably should have been in) as an at-large selection. This will be another tough test for the Statesmen prior to shifting into LL play.
Week 5 - 10/5/19 @ Union
Union will be looking for redemption after losing 29-28 to the Statesmen in 2018. The Dutchmen found new QB, RB and WR stars for their team but are graduating a lot of defense.
Week 6 - 10/12/19 vs. RPI
The Statesmen have struggled with the Engineers of late and it's likely RPI enter 2019 as a Top 25 ranked team and rated as the LL favorites. The Statesmen have lost three straight to the Engineers and are 3-5 against them this decade (Hobart won three in a row between the 2012-14 seasons). A win here would be big.
Week 7 - 10/19/19 @ Ithaca
Hobart will look to break another losing streak on the road against the Bombers. It's been well documented that the Statesmen have never won at Butterfield Stadium. This is the last in a brutal gauntlet of games against teams that finished with winning records last season.
Week 8 - 10/26/19
The bye week.
Week 9 - 11/2/19 vs. SLU
Hobart's home stretch for the regular season starts with Saint Lawrence. The Saints were a young team in 2018 and will be bringing back a lot of talent like the Statesmen.
Week 10 - 11/9/19 vs. Buffalo State
Long time preseason scrimmage opponent Buff State has joined the LL as an affiliate member. Long time HC Jerry Boyes retired after a disappointing 1-9 2018 campaign. Christian Ozolins is the interim HC but provides continuity having been on staff since 2003.
Week 11 - 11/16/19 vs. UofR
The Centennial Cup is back as the regular season finale again. HC Chad Martinovich '94 also endured a 1-9 campaign in 2018, but should start showing signs of improvement with his first recruiting class coming in for 2019.
Summary
Six home games, two against NJAC teams means this is one of the most competitive schedules you'll see in the East Region. While this isn't a surprise to some Hobart fans after they finished with the #1 SOS in the nation in 2018, it'll be one of the most demanding slates the Statesmen have faced in some time. I can't wait to see how the team tackles this challenge after returning so many young players who had significant starting / playing time in 2018.
Exciting times are ahead for Hobart Football fans and family.
Thanks as always for reading and go 'Bart!
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