Coach DeWall, who takes over after Mike Cragg retired after 23 seasons, inherits a good program, but he will also have his work cut out for him. After running the table between 2011-2014, the Statesmen have only earned one conference title with multiple losses to RPI (who starts this season in the D3football.com Top 25) and Ithaca in the last three seasons. That said the Statesmen were in the mix each year, actually beating the eventual champion Saint Lawrence (who split the title with RPI but won the NCAA bid because of head-to-head win in 2015) and RPI (2017, who beat Union and Ithaca on the way to a co-championship with the Bombers, but got the NCAA bid due to the H2H win over IC).
Looking Back
I honestly feel like Hobart underachieved in 2017, ending the year with a 7-3 record. I picked them to go 10-0 in the preseason Kickoff publication, although to be fair, no one, including me, really knew how good Brockport was going to be going into that season. While 7-3 is still a good record by most standards, given Hobart had multiple All-Americans and returned a good deal of overall talent that went toe-to-toe with Mount Union the year before, this group of Statesmen just came up short in a couple of key games they probably should have won. When it was said and done, Hobart's fourth place finish in the league standings was the worst LL season they've had since 2010.
25 years ago, the Statesmen started what I'd call the "modern era of Hobart Football" and it's been a great run ever since. After having only four winning seasons in the 1980's, and none since 1987, the 1993 team ushered in the type of players and games it would take to start making the Statesmen the kind of program they have today. Bill Palmer '94 was the first of what would be many All-Americans to follow over the next quarter century (and Palmer still holds the record for most career interceptions by a Hobart Football player at 23). Although Coach Cragg's "rookie year" as a HC in 1995 ended up with a 4-6 record, Hobart hasn't had a losing season since. That's quite a run, and one I fully expect to continue for some time under Coach DeWall, even if it takes this year's team a couple of games to find it's identity this season.
Looking Ahead
As much things remain the same in Geneva with Coach DeWall and other familiar faces such as DC Aaron Backhaus '00, Assistant Coaches Art Garvey '13, Mike Green '14, Walt Bennett '05, Marc Tapscott, John Manley and Michael Cragg still on the sidelines; the theme of change applies to the bigger picture too. The Colleges themselves are at a crossroads of sorts after a clandestine faculty-led (and Board of Trustees facilitated) expulsion of now former President Greg Vincent '83. Vincent was a diversity and civil rights champion, aggressive and experienced fundraiser and proponent of student athletes, having played basketball and running XC for the Statesmen. Apparently the faculty didn't want a "jock" leading the school and the rest, as they say, is history. Add in the retirements of several key administrators like long-time Hobart Athletics Director Mike Hanna '68 and Admissions Director Bob Murphy, there a lot of things up in the air in Geneva at the moment.
Regardless, the beat must and still goes on for the football Statesmen, who will need to develop a new core group key players, given losses to graduation and otherwise. Coach DeWall is both optimistic and realistic about this "Team 125", and he believes the 2018 Liberty League race will be very similar to what we saw in the last couple of years as well as a over a decade ago when there were multiple programs always in contention for the conference championship. Based on speaking with every other LL HC this summer, I tend to agree. While I do think Ithaca and RPI are deserving of the kudos they are receiving this preseason, I wouldn't say either is lock to roll over the rest of the conference. A lot can and will happen between now and mid-November.
Joe Letizia '18, who earned 1st team All-LL honors at RB, will be missed this season
Who's Back
Offensively, the Statesmen return an outstanding player in SO RB Dakota Harvey. While he only averaged 11 RPG, he led the LL with 12 rushing TDs, earning second team All-LL honors. JR RB Brian Haeffner will look to play a bigger role as the #2 back going into 2018. These two will likely have to carry the load for the offense initially. The OL will need to be successfully retooled, and that is probably one of the biggest position battles for this upcoming camp.
Only SR LT John Deveney and JR RT Micah Holloway are returning starters. SR OL and former starter Jack Koch remains on the team as a manager but won’t play this season due to injuries. SO OL Alex Lanzana started a couple games his FY and is a tough and smart player who will be in the mix once again this season. SO OL Corey Simmons played in eight games last season, starting a couple, when Deveney was dealing with injuries.
SR TE and Co-Captain Matthew Woods will help JR QB Ryan Hofmann lead the offense while trying to make up for the lost production from the graduation of Zach Withers '18, who was the third leading receiver (and an excellent blocker) on last year’s squad. Incoming FY QB David Krewson has potential based on his highlight reel, but time will tell if he can adjust to the college game.
While Hobart does bring back a lot of depth at WR, there really isn't a deep threat like Brandon Shed '18 on the roster this season. However, JR WR Ray Conley is back after finishing second on the team with 320 receiving yards and two TDs as are classmates JR WRs Jake Catalioto and John DelliSanti.
Defensively Hobart needs to shore up what was a fairly poor pass defense from last year. The Statesmen allowed a LL-worst 251.9 YPG through the air and 16 passing TDs, ranked fifth, in 2017. To be fair, Hobart was a "bend-don't break" unit, finishing 26th in the nation in total defense because of how good they were against the run and keeping opponents out of the end zone. The Statesmen' best pass rusher Brandon Ball '18 has graduated, and JR DE Colin Hudgins jumped from reserve to starter as the DL was hit with the "injury bug". Hudgins will need to improve upon his 1.5 sack total from last season and Coach Backhaus will need to a find DE (or a combination of players) who can replicate or improve upon Ball's production. SR DT Sean Moore has reportedly slimmed down to 270 lbs. and seems primed for a big year. Probably the best player in the current front seven, Moore will likely be a target for opposing offenses and will see a lot, if nothing but, double teams all season. JR OLB and Co-Captain Jayson Prince will be one of a very few returning starters at linebacker. He and his classmate JR OLB David McCarthy tied for fourth on the team with 49 total tackles in 2017.
SR FS Kai Brandford, an All-LL honorable mention, is back and SR CB Sam Wheeler is back after an injury ended his 2017 season prematurely. Also coming back after not playing in 2017 is SR DB Gabriel Smith. JR DB Ryan Conschafter and SO DB Jared Leake will look to contribute more as well.
One area we could see some FY players making an impact early is at ILB, depending on how preseason camp goes. It's possible FY LB CJ Calero and FY LB Brian Aguilar will have opportunities to start based on what I could see from their HS film, but you won't know if that'll translate to college until after the preseason. Next to the OL, I feel like ILB is the second most important position battle going into camp (or maybe it's like 1A and 1B, actually, with CB a close 2nd given the graduation of Tommy D'Antonio '18).
On special teams Hobart will need to find a replacement for Rio Schmidt '18, who was a real weapon, but SO PK Kyle Hackett is back. He earned the LL Co-STPOTY award for going a perfect 10-10 on FGs, leading the team and the league with 73 total points. FY PK Robert DiGregorio will also get opportunities in punting and other kicking duties, pending preseason camp.
The 2018 Schedule
The lack of a Homecoming and only a nine regular season game slate notwithstanding, I think the 2018 schedule is set up in a positive way for this year's team. While an initial draw against #6 Brockport could be viewed as a negative, it should be considered in the appropriate context. The Statesmen won't be expected to win this game and they shouldn't get too high or low based on the outcome, regardless of what happens. The home opener against SUNY-Morrisville in Week 2 and the Week 3 road trip to Shenandoah in VA will place this young, inexperienced defense against three teams with very dynamic offenses right off the bat.
While the Mustangs and Hornets won a combined 10 games last season, the Statesmen can't afford to look past them. A road trip to the Boston area in Week 4 to face Endicott one last time will then have Hobart going into their first bye week at the end of September.
Regardless of how the first four games go, the Statesmen and the rest of the LL will be 0-0 going into Week 6. That week is a critical home game and league opener against Union College who beat the Statesmen for the first time in nine tries last year. I know a lot of recent alumni will be there for that one including Hobart greats Mike Berkowitz and Ali Marpet '15, who finally has a NFL bye week that works with the Statesmen's schedule.
Week 7 has former Statesmen player now new UofR HC Chad Martinovich '94 bring his Yellow Jackets squad to Geneva for the annual Centennial Cup game before Hobart has a critical LL match-up at RPI in Week 8. The Statesmen are 4-4 against the Engineers this decade.
A timely second bye week is then followed by what could be a potential championship / playoff-type of game between the Statesmen and Ithaca College Bombers in Week 10, on Senior Day, at Boswell Field. The regular season finale will be in the North Country as Hobart travels to take on St. Lawrence in Week 11.
Summary
Although there is reason for optimism, for the first time in a while, the Statesmen will likely play the somewhat unfamiliar role of underdog this season, but I don't think that's necessarily a bad thing.
I'll have more on the upcoming season as we get closer to kickoff. I plan on attending the Brockport game and am looking forward to another great season of Hobart Football.
Thanks for reading and go 'Bart!
