What a Great Day to be a Statesman!

#HWSADoD = A Big Success!

The HWS Athletics Day of Donors, which ran from February 27th at 8 AM until the 28th, was a big success. Over 3,500 alums, families and friends donated almost $166,000 in just 24 hours (which may be a record - I don't recall seeing this much activity in prior years, but that could be wrong. Update - it's a record).

The Hobart College Statesmen football team ended up with 219 donors - well over 100 more than their goal. While the football team ended up in seventh place overall as far as donors go, they had the second highest dollar amount raised of any HWS team with over $16,000. They finished 3rd overall in the donor category for Hobart teams, earning a $2,000 bonus.

You can see the final leader board and results here.

Asst Coach Art Garvey '13 apparently will have to jump into the cold waters of Seneca Lake to make good on a pledge he made. Hopefully there's video that will follow - there is and it's awesome. Speaking of video, Ali Marpet '15 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers showed his Hobart Football and HWS spirit, cutting a few short "commercials" to encourage other alums to donate and support the cause. The coaching staff produced a pretty hilarious video also.

All in all, it was a great day to be a Statesman.

Bombers Release 2019 Schedule

In other news, about 30 miles south of Geneva, on the shores of the Cayuga, the Ithaca College Bombers finally released their 2019 regular season schedule.

While we already knew some of this information, especially the big Week 7 showdown with the Statesmen, the rest of the schedule was confirmed with a couple of surprises. With a full slate of LL games back, the Bombers only kept a couple former Empire 8 opponents on their schedule - Alfred and SJFC. We knew that the Week 11 MetLife Stadium / Cortaca match-up as well as the Week 1, 9 and 10 games against St. Vincent, Union and RPI were happening, but now we have a clearer picture.

What stands out to me is, other than Alfred (who finished 2018 7-4, 4-3), Ithaca doesn't play a program with a winning record in 2018 until the Hobart game. This means it's highly likely the Bombers will be undefeated or a one-loss team going into that key Week 7 tilt. A Week 2 bye will help them prep for Alfred, but they will have to grind out the rest of the season from Week 3 on.

What also stands out is that unlike Hobart, Union and RPI, the Bombers only have four home games this season. The one advantage they do have however, is they have three in a four week stretch between Weeks 6-9 which is helpful.

Ithaca's LL schedule is also more back heavy, facing SLU, Buff State and UofR while having some space between the Hobart and RPI contests. That Week 10 RPI game will likely be assumed to be for the LL title, but I'm hoping the Statesmen will have something to say about that three weeks prior.

Spring Practice

The Statesmen will start practicing for the 2019 season this weekend. I'm guessing with temperatures still in the 30's, the team will get a lot of use of the new bubble facility. While spring practice is non-contact, it's a great way to develop mentally and get into good habits and technique prior to preseason full-contact camp. I'll see what, if any, news comes out of these sessions.

Thanks again for reading - it's been a really busy February - and go 'Bart!

St. John's Hanley is Heading to Hobart

Massachusetts Division 1 State Champion OLB James Hanley has announced on his Twitter feed that he has committed to attend and play football at Hobart College. Hanley was a big part of St. John's Prep (MA) 2018 championship run and having one of their best defensive seasons in history (which is saying a lot because SJP is one of the best programs in NE and has been since even back when I was in HS).

Looking at Hanley's highlight reel what comes across to me James is a hitter. At 6' 200 lbs. I could see Hanley in a SS role as a college player and his motor and aggressiveness could get him into the lineup quickly, depending on how preseason camp goes. Either way, Coach Backhaus '00 is going to love having a complete player like Hanley on defense as he is effective in pass coverage, stout against the run and is an effective blitzer.

Please join me in welcoming James and the Hanley extended family to the Hobart Statesmen one!

Thanks for reading and go 'Bart!

Powers Picks Statesmen

Yesterday several Western NY news outlets, including the Niagara Gazette and Buffalo News, reported on the commitment by SR OL/DL Joe Powers of Lewiston-Porter HS to attend Hobart College. The All-WNY lineman was being looked at by several DII and Patriot League schools, so this is a great get for HC Kevin DeWall '00 and the Statesmen coaching staff.

In an announcement via his Twitter feed, Powers stated:

"I'm very happy and proud to announce that I will be continuing my academic and football career at Hobart and William Smith Colleges. I am grateful to my family for helping me with this decision and supporting me no matter what happens. I am also thankful for my friends and others for all the support through my high school career. And finally, a huge thank you to Coach Bradshaw for pushing me to extend my limits and teaching me to never be satisfied with how things are and to strive to be great. I wouldn't have the opportunities I have without everyone else's help. Very excited to put on the purple and orange!"

Hobart Football fans will be grateful too after viewing his highlight reel. Powers lives up to his name with a relentless motor, athleticism and technique. Please join me in welcoming Joe and the extended Powers family to the Hobart Statesmen one!

Thanks again for reading - will post more recruiting news soon as it's in full swing during this time of year.

Go 'Bart!

Two More Sign with Statesmen

Ben Frank, a SR DL / OL out of Cuba-Rushford HS (NY) and SR RT Chris Wright of St. Anthony's (NY) have committed to attending Hobart College as part of the Class of 2023.

Frank is edge rusher who used his size in HS (6'5" 225 lbs) to also dominate on the OL. While he'll need to bulk up for college ball, he shows good instincts in his highlight reel. I could also see Frank get looked at as a TE.

Wright was the SR Captain of the Friars, a team that went 7-2 overall, and each loss was only by a single point. Wright has a strong burst and can really finish his blocks. His pass protection is strong and should we well suited for the type of offense Coach DeWall '00 likes to run. You can see more in his highlight reel.

Welcome to both Ben, Chris and the extended Frank and Wright families to the Hobart one!

Go 'Bart!

From Holderness to Hobart, Pelletier Picks Statesmen

SR QB of the Holderness School, Joseph Pelletier, officially committed to attend Hobart College earlier this week via his Twitter feed.

In the message Pelletier stated that he was "excited to officially announce that I will be continuing my academic and athletic career at Hobart College! I want to thank my friends, family, @CoachAGarvey @Coach_DeWall and @HoldBullsFBall for this opportunity! #rollstatemen #rollbulls"

The 6'4" 210 lbs southpaw helped the Bulls to a 6-1 record for the games he appeared in. He passed for 15 and rushed for 10 TDs. Originally from Portland, ME, Pelletier attended Derry HS before going to the Holderness School (Plymouth, NH) after his SO year. A star on the gridiron and hardwood for both schools, Pelletier is a simply a solid all-around athlete who can make plays.

His highlight reel shows good vision, and the arm strength to get the ball deep downfield. Should the pocket break down, or if he reads an opening at the LOS, he can tuck the ball and make plays with his feet. While it should be noted he played in an 8-man league (i.e., only three OL blocking, 3 WRs and 1 RB) and will face bigger and faster competition in college, Pelletier has the right tools to run the RPO offense that is becoming more common place in today's game.

Congratulations to Joe and welcome to the Pelletier family into the Hobart one! As a guy with some family ties to Holderness, I'll definitely be keeping an eye on Joe and his Statesmen career.

Thanks for reading and go 'Bart!

More 2019 Schedule Releases Underway

The Hobart College Statesmen (aka Team 126) were one of the first D3FB programs to release their 2019 schedule, but some of the opposition has finally taken to social media and elsewhere to do the same. As previously covered in this blog, the 2019 Hobart slate is one of the toughest in the East Region if not the nation - following on the heels of the 2018 one earning the #1 SOS ranking in the nation.

Looking at some of Hobart's 2019 opponents, they don't seem to be taking quite as difficult a path, but let's break down three of the Statesmen's top foes - Brockport, RPI and Union - and how their 2019 schedules shake out:

Brockport Golden Eagles

The Golden Eagles were a mainstay in the Top 5 for pretty much the entire 2018 season but came up short of expectations in a 21-13 loss to RPI in the second round of the NCAA playoffs. My ITH co-host Frank Rossi and I learned after the fact that the loss shook up things between rising SR QB Joe Germinierio and the team, and it appears as though Joe is no longer on the roster. While this definitely impacts the Golden Eagles, this is still a program that has won 24 games in the past two seasons. With four of five OL starters, JR RB Justin Morrison coming be back from injury and national DC of the year Mike Fox also returning, the cupboard is hardly bare. Given HC Mangone's recruiting prowess, you can expect Brockport to end up in the preseason Top 25 - probably in the 11-15 range - going into 2019.

What's interesting about the Brockport schedule is the addition of and a rematch against Framingham State - who earned a NCAA berth via the MASCAC Pool A bid. The Eagles beat the Rams 40-27 in the first round of the playoffs in what may have been a more lopsided game than the final score indicated. Still, FSU is arguably the best NE program as far as overall talent, size and speed goes.

After Week 2, you could say things lighten up considerably for Brockport facing four teams that combined for only seven wins in 2018 (Fisher had the best mark at 3-6), then getting a bye in Week 7. Things get more challenging with games against Utica (2018 ECAC bowl winner), Cortland (the E8 runner up) and Alfred between Weeks 8-10. The Week 11 finale against Morrisville State could be one where they rest up for the playoffs, but that will really be determined how the Cortland and Alfred games go. I could see the Red Dragons as a potential spoiler to Brockport for the E8 crown this season (they almost were in 2018 too).

I'd rate the Brockport schedule as moderately easy, especially compared to 2018. The Statesmen have a big opportunity to avenge last season's opening debacle and put the East on notice, if they beat the Golden Eagles in Week 1.

RPI Engineers

The defending LL champion Engineers will enjoy six home games (which seems to be a common theme for LL teams given shifts in other conferences) this fall and face a pretty easy OOC schedule also. While Allegheny did improve to a 6-4 record in 2018, their HC is now at Bowdoin so the Gators may face an uphill battle in 2019. WPI had a down year in 2018 and while Utica gave RPI a scare last season, the Engineers will once again be the favorite in this game, especially at the ECAV. The Week 6 match up vs. Hobart looms as a huge game for both teams, especially given the fact that the Engineers have had Hobart's number of late, but the Statesmen did best RPI 30-0 in Geneva back in 2017.

What's tough for RPI is two of their LL rival games against the Statesmen and Union Dutchmen are both on the road. The Engineers will have home field against Ithaca in Week 10 - a game many may view as the de facto LL championship game (unless of course Hobart has something to say about it).

The key road games on the back half of the schedule make RPI's 2019 slate more of a moderate one - tougher than Brockport's schedule, but not by much. I'll be interested to see if this group of Engineers - who like the Golden Eagles will come into 2019 ranked in the preseason Top 25 - can keep finding ways to win close games like they did last season?

Union College Dutchmen

Union opens 2019 with three straight opponents from New England, so it's likely the Dutchmen will enter the Week 5 LL opener vs. Hobart (with an extra week to prepare no less), 3-0. The Statesmen will have run a brutal four week gauntlet prior to the game in Schenectady, so a coming up with a win there would be a huge get for Hobart, especially with RPI the following week. Like RPI and Hobart, the Dutchmen also enjoy a six home game slate, their longest road trip being to Buffalo State in Week 8.

The Union schedule is mostly back heavy, with games against Ithaca, Utica and RPI in Weeks 9-11. Fortunately for the Dutchmen, most of their rivalry / tougher games are at home. The one exception is having to go to Ithaca in Week 9. Honestly this looks like a 6-4 or 7-3 season once again for the Dutchmen. That being the case, I'd rate Union's schedule similar to Brockport's, moderately easy.

Speaking of Ithaca, as of this posting, their 2019 schedule has yet to be revealed, but we can glean the following from the above:

They will likely open up with St. Vincent again (in PA, as IC hosted in 2018), but won't face Brockport in Week 2 like they did in 2018. We know they'll play SJFC at home in Week 4 after the Cardinals posted their new schedule earlier this week.

That said, the back end of the Bombers 2019 schedule looks like:

Week 7 vs. Hobart
Week 8 - likely bye (Statesmen also have same bye week)
Week 9 vs. Union
Week 10 @ RPI
Week 11 @ Metlife Stadium vs. Cortland (looking to break the D3FB game attendance record)

which is pretty tough also, but they do have the advantage of hosting Hobart and Union (is this the year the Statesmen finally break the Butterfield curse / streak?). Assuming IC keeps teams like Alfred from the E8 on their 2019 slate, the Bombers will be in a similar boat with Hobart, as far as SOS goes.

I will post any more schedule and recruiting news as it comes in. If you're looking for some more off-season D3FB coverage, please check out Frank and my latest ITH update which was posted a couple of days ago.

Thanks again as always for reading (hard to believe we're creeping towards 250k views) and go 'Bart!

Presidents, Bubbles, Lions and Huns, Oh My!

Yesterday the HWS and Geneva community welcomed Dr. Joyce P. Jacobsen as the 29th president of Hobart and the 18th of William Smith Colleges. Currently serving as the Provost and SVP for Academic Affairs of Wesleyan University (CT), Jacobsen will officially take over for interim President Pat McGuire on July 1st. While the delayed start may mean we won't have a new Hobart Athletic Director until after football season, Dr. Jacobsen's appointment establishes a sound leader at the top of HWS for years to come. Her academic credentials are second to none, which should appease an entitled and vocal faculty while her training as an economist will be handy after some financial mismanagement of the annual budget and endowment investing at the tail end of the Gearan regime.

The official news release can be seen here.

One of my former Hobart class and teammates, current SAA director and all around solid guy, Dave "Gibby" Gibbons '94 reports that the new indoor facility is up and looks impressive. I am proud to be one of several alums who contributed (and still am btw) to getting this building on campus.

Here are some shots he took from the outside and inside of the "bubble":

In other news, Brandon Shed '18 has reportedly signed with the BC Lions of the Canadian Football League. According to Matt Baker (no relation ;), Shed was one of three new "internationals" to sign with the club. 

A link to the article can be seen here.

The CFL preseason opens over Memorial Day weekend and the regular season lasts throughout the summer months and into the fall. The Lions play an 18 week regular season schedule which will hopefully culminate in an appearance in the Grey Cup Championship game, which is slated for November 24th at 6:00 PM ET. I'll have more news on Brandon's work towards a roster spot in the coming months.

Last, but definitely not least, I'd like to extend a welcome to SR FS/SS from the Hun School of Princeton, Blake Hansen to Hobart. The rangy safety signed with the Statesmen after gaining admission via Early Decision. At 6'2" 180 lbs, Hansen showed good coverage and football smarts in his highlight reel. He has a nose for the football and is a sound tackler with a good burst and technique at the point of attack. 

Well, that's a wrap for now. Will post more recruiting and other news as it comes up. Thanks again for reading and go 'Bart!

PS - if you're looking for an AAF team to follow, I'm a new fan of the Orlando Apollos. Hey, the Orange and Blue uniforms kind of go with Hobart colors you know ;)

Lake Brantley's Cecere Commits to Statesmen

The Class of 2023 (wow I feel old ;) is starting to come in and the first commitment comes from my home city of Orlando, FL of all places! While I've yet to meet Cade Cecere, an OL/DE from Lake Brantley HS, I am happy to have come across his Twitter feed where he made the announcement.

Cecere was the LBHS Varsity Football Captain earning All District, First Team All Conference and 2nd Team All Sentinel Varsity awards during his SR season. While a bit undersized at 6' 240 lbs, as far as Coach DeWall's usual OLmen go, I am sure Coach Gray will bulk him up. Not only a strong football player, Cecere is a star in the classroom, sporting a 3.8 GPA and is a member of the National Honor Society.

Congratulations on your admission to Hobart. I'll look forward to following your Statesmen career from your "backyard".

Thanks for reading and go 'Bart!