The Statesmen ended 2010 with a disappointing 5-4 (3-3 league) record, losing their last two games by a combined four points and missing the post-season for the second straight year. This season was also Hobart’s worst finish in the history of the LL and the lowest win total since the 1999 season.
2010 saw Hobart lead the league in most offensive categories including scoring (31.3 PPG), passing (233.7 YPG), total offense (378.9 YPG), red zone (80%), 3rd down conversions (38.7%) and pass efficiency (125.3). That said the defense was not as stout as in prior seasons (e.g. Hobart ranked 5th in the LL in scoring and pass defense) and had limited success causing takeaways (seven interceptions in 2010 compared with 19 that the 2008 playoff team generated). The Statesmen also were last in key categories such as opponent 4th down conversions (62%), penalties (52.6 YPG) and, most importantly, turnover margin (-7). The latter was especially problematic, especially in LL play. Hobart was guilty of committing four fumbles and six interceptions in their three LL losses.
The offseason wasn’t any kinder to the Statesmen with an NCAA Infractions Report going public on January 8th citing Hobart for providing financial assistance to players during the 2006 and 2007 seasons. Although the Statesmen are not barred from the playoffs in 2011, they were required to abdicate the victories from those seasons (16), provide training to Statesmen coaches and officials, hire a compliance officer and serve three years probation, among other NCAA and self-imposed penalties.
To make matters worse, a few weeks later a scheduling issue (which the Athletic Department arguably could have proactively mitigated) caused Hobart to end up with only eight regular season games. Although efforts and offers to remediate the situation occurred, no game ended up being scheduled. Consequently, this fall will be the first time since 1978 that Hobart will not play at least a nine game regular season (more on the implications of that later).
The Statesmen took another hit as long-time trainer and coordinator of sports medicine Doug Reeland lost his battle with cancer in the spring. Mr. Reeland was synonymous with HWS athletics and will be greatly missed.
Hobart again made headlines in late June when an NCAA report published by InsideHigherEd.com cited HWS as one of “six major violators” of what “is often called DIII’s bedrock principle” (i.e., providing “unjustified aid to aid athletes”). Specifically the report stated that “Hobart College showed distinguishable and unjustified patterns of award that benefited athletes”, which added further insult to injury already inflicted in January.
This offseason also saw the departures of a handful of rising seniors, the most notable being that of SR QB Doug Vella, who (unofficially) is focusing on his academics this fall instead of the gridiron. Vella was Hobart’s starting QB for the two prior seasons and was named to the LL’s 2010 first team at QB.
Needless to say Hobart is entering this fall’s camp with the goal of moving past last season’s disappointments and offseason distractions to return to the top of the LL and go back to the playoffs. Fortunately, Statesmen they have a large core group of returning players and should be once again in the thick of the Liberty League title race. A look at the Statesmen at each position; additional commentary regarding the season outlook; schedule, etc. will be posted at a later date.
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