Monmouth University (0-0, 0-0 NEC) at #22 Colgate University (0-0, 0-0 PL)
Saturday, September 4, 2010; 6 p.m.
Andy Kerr Stadium, Hamilton, N.Y.
Radio Coverage: Shore Sports Network, WOBM 1160AM and1310AM, shoresportsnetwork.com
A look at today's game:
The Monmouth Hawks open the 2010 campaign in the same fashion it did a year ago, a showdown on the road against Colgate University of the Patriot League. As it has been since the inception of the program, the Blue and White will be led by three-time NEC Coach of the Year Kevin Callahan.
Monmouth finished the 2009 season with a 5-6 record overall and a 4-4 mark in league play, finishing tied for fifth place with Bryant. The Hawks begin their quest for a sixth league crown and the NEC's first automatic bid to the NCAA playoffs.
MU will have 12 true or fifth-year seniors starting for them in 2010, with eight overall starters returning on defense and six starters returning on the offensive side of the ball. Preseason All-NEC offensive lineman Shawn Wright leads what promises to be a more balanced attack in 2010. Junior safety Jose Gumbs, the reigning conference defensive player of the year, heads up a defense that returns the entire defensive backfield including All-NEC safety Kendall Haley.
The Raiders are coming off of a 9-2 campaign, with its only losses coming against league foes Lafayette and Holy Cross. Colgate looks to continue dominance of their competition at home, as they own a 10-1 record at Andy Kerr stadium over the last two seasons.
The 'Gate was picked first in the Patriot League coaches poll after finishing 4-2 in the league standings in 2009. The Raiders return their top passer in the Preseason PL Offensive Player of the Year, Greg Sullivan, and impressive junior running back Nate Eachus.
The coaching matchup:
Kevin Callahan is in his 18th season at Monmouth as the Hawks' head coach. Callahan owns an 102-72 career coaching record, all with Monmouth. The only coach in Monmouth history has led the Blue & White to five Northeast Conference championships, in 1996, 1998, 2003, 2004 and 2006. He earned NEC Coach of the Year accolades in 1998, 2003 and 2006. Prior to arriving in West Long Branch, Callahan served as defensive coordinator at Colgate for eight seasons and at Wagner for three years. He began his coaching career as an assistant coach at Albany (1977-79) and Syracuse (1980) before becoming a Seahawk assistant in 1981.
Colgate is led by 15th-year head coach Dick Biddle. Biddle has been head coach since the 1996 season, previous to that he was at Colgate for four seasons at various assistant coach positions. He has led the Raiders to the NCAA Division I-AA playoffs six different times, most recently in 2008, when the raiders went 9-3.
Biddle also spent time at Division I teams like Navy (two seasons), Minnesota (five seasons, three of which he was the defensive coordinator) and a two year stint at Virginia Tech. Previous to his time with the Hokies, he was an assistant coach at Colgate for six seasons, taking over the defensive coordinator position for the last two. He got his coaching start at Allegheny College, where he spent four seasons coaching mainly the defensive line and linebackers. Biddle is a 1971 graduate of Duke University where he was an All-ACC linebacker for two seasons. He also earned All-America honors as a senior, the year he served as team captain.
Inside the MU-Colgate series:
Today marks third time in history that the Hawks and Raiders have met on the gridiron. Last season MU held a 16-14 advantage at halftime but Colgate scored two TDs in a span of a minute in the third quarter to take the lead. The Red Raiders were impressive on the ground, gathering 258 rushing yards while back Nate Eachus scored three times.
In 2006 Monmouth took a 17-12 victory away from Andy Kerr Stadium, with David Sinisi scoring both of the MU touchdowns. The Monmouth defense held Colgate out of the endzone for three quarters but a pair of Raider scores within three minutes of each other closed the gap to 14-12. Special teams rose to the occasion for the Hawks, as the first PAT was blocked and then the second 2 point try was negated by the Hawks' defense. Kicker Fred Weingart connected on a 26 yard field goal to clinch the five point victory for MU.
