2008 Woodie Awards
Football Ready to Rebound After Tough Year
Can They Overtake Lafayette and Lehigh To Do So?
Bill Stoklosa
Issue date: 8/30/07 Section: Sports
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The Raiders entered last season as the favorites to repeat as Patriot League (PL) champions but they finished the year with their first losing record since Head Coach Dick Biddle began his tenure in 1996. This year however, the Raiders hope to get back on top of the Patriot League standings with the help of junior running back Jordan Scott, senior linebacker Mike Gallihugh and others.
The 2006 Raiders struggled to a 3-3 PL record and a 4-7 mark overall. Consecutive losses to division foes Lafayette and Lehigh near the end of the season sealed Colgate's fate and knocked them out of Patriot League title contention. Yet, there is reason to be optimistic for this season, as the Raiders have two of the best players in the Patriot League. On the offensive side of the ball, Colgate will be looking to Scott to carry the load. He led Colgate with 1,234 yards rushing and 13 total touchdowns. He also displayed Thurman Thomas-esque versatility, finishing fourth on the team in receptions as well.
On defense, the unquestioned leader is Gallihugh. He amassed a whopping 148 tackles and four sacks last year. The Virginia native was recently named Patriot League Preseason Defensive Player of the Year. The Raiders will need another stellar year from Gallihugh to contend for the conference title.
Colgate's secondary will be hurting this year after the departure of stellar safety Geoff Bean '07. Bean was second on the team in tackles and contributed greatly on special teams as well. Veterans in the secondary such as senior cornerback Cody Williams and junior corner Chris Ekpo will need to step up and fill some big shoes. Both showed great potential last season as Williams led the team with three picks while Ekpo was sixth on the team in tackles. The loss of Bean does not overly concern Coach Biddle.
"Both corners are back and we still have three out of four starters returning," Biddle said. "So we still have a lot of experience, and the secondary is an area that tends to get better as you go on."
The 2006 Raiders struggled to a 3-3 PL record and a 4-7 mark overall. Consecutive losses to division foes Lafayette and Lehigh near the end of the season sealed Colgate's fate and knocked them out of Patriot League title contention. Yet, there is reason to be optimistic for this season, as the Raiders have two of the best players in the Patriot League. On the offensive side of the ball, Colgate will be looking to Scott to carry the load. He led Colgate with 1,234 yards rushing and 13 total touchdowns. He also displayed Thurman Thomas-esque versatility, finishing fourth on the team in receptions as well.
On defense, the unquestioned leader is Gallihugh. He amassed a whopping 148 tackles and four sacks last year. The Virginia native was recently named Patriot League Preseason Defensive Player of the Year. The Raiders will need another stellar year from Gallihugh to contend for the conference title.
Colgate's secondary will be hurting this year after the departure of stellar safety Geoff Bean '07. Bean was second on the team in tackles and contributed greatly on special teams as well. Veterans in the secondary such as senior cornerback Cody Williams and junior corner Chris Ekpo will need to step up and fill some big shoes. Both showed great potential last season as Williams led the team with three picks while Ekpo was sixth on the team in tackles. The loss of Bean does not overly concern Coach Biddle.
"Both corners are back and we still have three out of four starters returning," Biddle said. "So we still have a lot of experience, and the secondary is an area that tends to get better as you go on."
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