HAMILTON, N.Y. – Colgate University head football coach Dick Biddle will greet 31 freshmen candidates on Tuesday, August 7, as the Raiders open their 2001 preseason camp.

            The upperclassmen are slated to arrive on campus, Thursday, August 9.

            The freshmen will go through their physicals and orientation on Tuesday, before practicing together for the first time on Wednesday morning.

            The upperclassmen come into camp on Thursday morning and take their physicals later that day.  The entire squad will practice together beginning, Saturday morning, August 11.

            Colgate opens its season on Thursday, August 30, on the road at Villanova University.

SEASON OUTLOOK

            Colgate has posted five straight winning seasons under head coach Dick Biddle.  The Raiders’ winning ways should continue in 2001 with 38 returning letterwinners from last year’s 7-4 team.

QUARTERBACK

            The Raiders are excited by the return of junior quarterback Tom McCune (Hookstown, PA.), who missed the final six games last season with a broken hand.  Before he went down with the injury, McCune had guided the team to a 4-1 mark.  The talented signal-caller was leading the Patriot League in several statistical categories including passing efficiency (137.71) and total offense (216.3 yards per game).

            If he plays to the potential he showed last season, McCune should be in line for several postseason honors.  Last year he passed for 1,230 yards and 10 touchdowns, and ran for seven touchdowns before being injured on the first series against Cornell.

            Behind him is junior Rob Markert (Binghamton, NY), who moved back to quarterback from tight end after McCune went down.  He saw action in the final four games including a starting assignment in the season finale against Bucknell.  He completed 54 percent of his passes last fall for 263 yards and two touchdowns.  Markert played with a lot of confidence this spring.

            Another upperclassman on the depth chart is sophomore J.P. Gerald (Lanham, MD).  Gerald, who could end up at wide receiver, took a few snaps against Cornell last fall, before suffering a season ending collapsed lung in a junior varsity game against Bridgton Academy.

TIGHT END

            This is a rebuilding season for the Raiders with the loss of second team all-league tight end Barry HoAire and his solid backup Chris Rossi through graduation.

            The Raiders may lack experience entering the 2001 season but the potential to be as good or even better than the previous season is there.

            Sophomore John Frieser (Endwell, N.Y.) has the most experience after lettering in his rookie season.  He has outstanding athletic ability while possessing good size and great hands.  He is a prototype tight end.

            Junior Mark Iacone (McKeesport, PA) was moved to tight end this spring from defensive tackle.  He has proven to be an outstanding blocker, who should provide excellent depth.  Junior Barry Jones (Windsor, ONT) returns to tight end after spending last season at wide receiver.

WIDE RECEIVER

            The Raiders have three experienced wideouts returning for the 2001 campaign led by standout senior Joe Parker (Crofton, MD), who has 25 games of varsity experience.  He was Colgate’s leading receiver last year with 46 catches for 636 yards and four touchdowns.  In three seasons, Parker has caught 73 passes for 1,037 yards and nine touchdowns.  He has the potential to be an all-league performer.

            Senior Ryan Ojeda (Absecon, NJ) and junior Jamal Lamb (Southfield, MI), who both won varsity letters last fall, join Parker at wide receiver.  Ojeda caught 11 passes for 201 yards and two touchdowns, while Lamb grabbed seven receptions for 137 yards and one TD.

            The biggest concern is depth at wideout.  The Raiders normally rotate a lot of players at wide receiver and will look for help from sophomore Corey Stirpe (Newark, NY), senior Josh Kirklin (Friendswood, TX) and sophomore Dan Sells (Evergreen, C0).  Kirklin, who played quarterback last fall, broke his foot during the off-season and missed spring practice.

RUNNING BACK

            Junior Nate Thomas (Dorchester, MA) and sophomore Jamaal Branch (Mashpee, MA) should more than make up for the graduation of leading rusher Randall Joseph, who gained 3,218 yards during his career with the Raiders.

            Thomas and Branch are strong runners, who are capable of carrying the pigskin 25 or 30 times a game.  Thomas rushed for 286 yards last season (5.1 yards per carry) and one touchdown, while Branch carried 15 times for 94 yards (6.3 yards per carry) and one touchdown.  The Raiders are confident that these two powerful runners will combine for over 1,000 yards from the tailback position.

            With the departure of Jason Smith and the unknown status of Tim Lavoie (Tewksbury, MA), the Raiders have some work to do at fullback.  Colgate will have to develop two or more players for this position because of the injury factor at fullback.  Junior Justin Polk (Grand Prairie, TX), sophomore Matt Kobelski (Tewksbury, MA), junior Jeff Stone (Newburyport, MA) and sophomore Matt Spack (LaFayette, NY) will create a very competitive situation in the fall.

            A starter will come from this quartet and all four will play at some point in the season.  Lavoie, who was slated to start last fall, missed the entire season with a hamstring injury.  He is expected to return to campus in August.

OFFENSIVE LINE

            The Raiders are a lot further along at this time than they were last season when they faced a major rebuilding effort.  Senior co-captain Ken Kubec (Parma Heights, OH), first team all-Patriot League, heads a group of veteran players, who gained plenty of experience under fire last season.

            Kubec will start at left guard for the Raiders, and junior Matt Shepard (Natick, MA) is slated for the left tackle position.  The other three positions on the interior will depend on the healthy status of some injured players.

            Colgate is hoping that juniors Andy Barr (Shelter Island Heights, NY) and Mike Murphy (New Milford, NJ) can return to full strength from injuries.  If healthy, Barr should start at center and Murphy at right guard.

            Sophomore Joe Hashey (Endicott, NY) could fill the right tackle position, while junior Josh Jinks (Newark, NY), senior Viral Keshwala (Madison, CT), sophomore Marc Sclafani (Belmont, MA) and sophomore Mike Peters (North Syracuse, NY) will get serious consideration in the fall.

DEFENSIVE LINE

            There will be some new faces in the lineup this fall with the departure of Alex Houston and Duevorn Harris - two veteran members from the front four.

            The returning starters are senior defensive end Eric Tee (Ithaca, NY) and defensive tackle Mike Latek (Rochester, NY).  Tee, a three-year letterwinner, made 42 tackles last season including a pair of quarterback sacks, while Latek, who moved into the starting lineup in the third game last fall, had 43 tackles including three QB sacks and eight quarterback hurries.  Latek has a chance to earn all-league honors.

            The top candidates to fill the void left by the loss of Houston and Harris are junior Maurice Bowers (Plainfield, NJ) at nose tackle and senior Brian Schaffer (Beverly Hills, MI) at defensive tackle.

            The Raiders won’t have a dominated player on the front four, so consistency from several players will be needed.

            Depth will come from senior defensive end Brian Lemek (Slatersville, RI), and sophomore tackles Nick Susko (Tolland, CT), Josh Sabo (White Oak, PA), and Mike Parker (Crofton, MD).

LINEBACKER

            The Raiders lost all three starting linebackers from last season – outside backer Ahmad Russell, and inside backers John Costantino and Mark Herman.  Russell and Costantino were second team all-Patriot League selection, and Herman was Colgate’s defensive MVP.

            Senior co-captain Ron Hampton (Miami, FL) should step in at inside linebacker.  He is a three-year letterwinner with plenty of experience.  Last season he made 37 tackles including four quarterback sacks and two forced fumbles.

            Along side Hampton will be either sophomore Ryan Disch (North Plainfield, NJ) or classmate Tem Lukabu (Avenel, NJ).  These two players lettered in their rookie seasons.  Another highly-promising player is sophomore Robert Hannah (Endicott, NY), who will also see action on the inside.

            The best bet for Russell’s replacement is junior Chris Rowland (Fayetteville, NY).  Rowland played in 10 games last season.

SECONDARY

            The Colgate secondary has perhaps the most experience of any position on the team.  The Raiders will return junior cornerback Max Wynn (Atlanta, GA), along with sophomore safety Sean McCune (Hookstown, PA) and junior safeties Phil Bowman (Cheshire, CT) and Ameer Riley (Norwood, MA).

            Bowman and Riley were starters on Colgate’s 10-2 team in 1999.  Bowman was injured in last year’s opener, and Riley was off-campus in 2000.  Their return along with McCune’s experience makes for a solid middle in the secondary.

            Colgate will have to replace all-league cornerback Brandon Tinson.  Tinson was first team all-Patriot League and all-ECAC, and honorable mention All-America.  He finished his career with 12 interceptions and 227 tackles.

Junior Maurice Robertson (Riverdale, GA) will be given the first opportunity to replace Tinson.  Robertson played in all 11 games last season, being used primarily as Colgate’s nickel back.

            Wynn, a two-year starter, has a chance to make a statement this season in the Patriot League.  He should be a candidate for all-league honors.  Last season, he made 53 tackles, forced two fumbles and recovered one.

Sophomore Ainsworth Minott (Englewood, NJ) will be a solid backup.  In the fall, the Raiders will be looking to develop some depth.

SPECIAL TEAMS

            Junior Brendon Biddle (Hamilton, NY) returns to handle the punting duties, but the Raiders must find a replacement for placekicker Russ Abrams, who transferred after his rookie season.

            Biddle punted 55 times for a 37.7 average, while incoming freshmen Mike Chrystie (Oxford, NY) and Lane Schwarzberg (Winter Haven, FL) will compete for the vacant placekicking duties.

SCHEDULE

            Colgate opens its season with a pair of tough road contests against Atlantic 10 Conference teams.  The earliest start in school history will come on Aug. 30, when the Raiders travel to Villanova for a night game, followed by a date with Maine on Sept. 8 in Orono.

            Colgate will return home for three straight games at Andy Kerr Stadium beginning with Ivy League opponent Dartmouth, followed by Fordham and Cornell.  The Fordham game on Sept. 22 is Colgate’s Patriot League opener and Family Weekend, and Cornell on Sept. 29 is Homecoming.

            The Raiders will close out their non-conference schedule on Oct. 6 with a trip to Princeton, before playing five straight Patriot League games to close out the campaign.

            Colgate will play Towson, Lehigh and Bucknell at home, while meeting Lafayette and Holy Cross on the road.