Given scheduling challenges due to the fact football games are arranged many years in advance, it appears as though the Hobart Statesmen Football team will only have eight regular season games in 2011. Although Hobart considered a few offers (and was turned down by a number of schools as well), there were no teams willing to play in the NCAA East Region who still had an opening that worked with the Statesmen's schedule.
However, a ninth "contest" is in the works for September that could be an interesting test for the Hobart gridders.
Word from Geneva is that the Statesmen may face off against the Big Red of Cornell University's "sub-varsity" team this fall. More good news is, after this fall, Hobart has their schedule set for the next two years having added the Utica College Pioneers in 2012 and 2013.
This game, plus the Geneva College season opener and the addition of Springfield to the LL, means Hobart will once again play a 10 game regular season - something that hasn't happened since 1997.
Although it's a shame that the Statesmen will have a shorter season in 2011, football scheduling is done so far in advance that any curveball like the one received in late January makes it almost impossible to find suitable alternative opponents.
That said a contest vs. Cornell would be nice consolation to say the least and a great tune up prior to the Fisher game on 9/24. I've made an inquiry to determine whether or not this "game" will receive any WEOS coverage. More to come on this one.
Go 'Bart!
