Another Year, Another Schedule Scramble for the Statesmen

According to one of my D3FB coach sources (not associated with Hobart), the Thiel Tomcats of the PAC and the Allegheny Gators of the NCAC have both backed out of contracts with Alfred University and Hobart College for each teams' respective 2020 season openers.

The Statesmen were bit by these Gators with some bad news....

Allegheny played RPI in 2018 and 2019, losing 40-19 and 52-14 to the Engineers. Apparently that was enough LL for the Gators who will now take on the hapless Tomcats, who have gone 0-27 since their last win on 9/16/17 over Bethany (a program that's won nine games in the last three seasons). The Gators had a rough start to 2019, but won four of their last five to finish 4-6 on the season. The previous year former HC BJ Hammer leveraged a 6-4 year into the head job at Bowdoin in the NESCAC. The 2019 season for the Polar Bears (0-9) was not unlike what Thiel has experienced of late.

The Week 1 opening creates the possibility of a number of different opponents, given HC Kevin DeWall 00's canvasing of the East Region for a new match-up. While the Brockport 4-year (2016-19) contact has expired, it's possible it could be renewed (even just for a "one and done") given the Golden Eagles, who finished 2019 with a 9-3 overall record, are actively looking for a Week 1 game. I suppose Alfred is now as well and Hobart has scrimmaged against the Saxons for the past couple of preseasons. Alfred finished 2019 with a bit of a disappointing 5-5 finish.

Playing Brockport has a decent amount of risk and reward, from a playoff-making perspective. The main risk in my opinion isn't so much of the possibility of a loss is the fact that the LL schedule - assuming it's flipped - creates such tough gauntlet for Hobart an easier four game OOC schedule leading into LL play could be helpful:

10/3/20 vs. Union
10/10/20 @ RPI
10/17/20 vs. Ithaca
10/24/20 Bye week 
10/31/20 @ St. Lawrence
11/7/20 @ Buffalo State
11/14/20 vs. Rochester

Although the Statesmen should have the home field advantage against Union and Ithaca, playing them in Weeks 5 & 7 with no bye could be trouble if Hobart gets hit with the injury bug after another tough OOC schedule / extended grind.

While Hobart isn't expected to make any formal announcements on their schedule for at least another month or two, this is now the second year in a row an opponent has broken a game contract, to the frustration of the Statesmen program.

Maybe newly minted HWS AD Deb Stewart has some connections she can call for a ball game? In all seriousness, I know the coaching and Athletics staff is all over this and a resolution of some kind (see 2019 which turned out pretty well) is in the works.

Thanks for reading and go 'Bart!

(Boo Gators)